Cynthia Hankins is an accomplished photographer and diver who has been shooting the underwater world for more than 10 years. Born in Massachusetts, she spent her childhood as a self-proclaimed "Air Force brat" moving with her family to Japan, Texas, Wisconsin and California. No matter where she went she loved the water and from the age of seven until she was eighteen years old, this "water bug" participated in competitive swimming.
She settled in California where she attended University of California - Santa Cruz earning a degree in biology. It wasn't until nine years later while living in the Sierra foothills of Auburn, California where she took up diving. In 1997 she was certified as a NAUI Open Water diver in Monterey. In 2000, she recieved her instructor certification and began teaching scuba for High Sierra Divers in Auburn.
Years later working as an associate at an architectural firm in northern California she decided to leave her old life to pursue the dream. She moved to Kailua Kona, Hawaii, where she currently resides, to dive full time and concentrate all her energies on underwater photography. Here she dives year round which affords her the opportunity to photograph manta rays, dolphin, turtles and whales as well as a multitude of other marine life. From minute to gargantuan Cynthia is able to capture the beauty and excitement of the ocean and it's creatures. This intense desire coupled with her degree in biology works hand in hand giving her a unique perspective allowing her to capture the honesty and majesty of her subjects.
As a scuba instructor and underwater guide she focuses on teaching about the interconnectedness of reef life. By studying the behavior and understanding the habits of the reef's inhabitants she’s able to capture images that tell a story and ignite the imagination.