ANDY NALES

Artistic Biography – Andy Omar Nales Flores

Andy Omar Nales Flores is an underwater photographer, diver, and military veteran born and raised in Bayamón. His work emerges from the deep connection between the ocean,human resilience, and the need to transform life experiences into visual art. From an early age, he developed a fascination with both the sea and photography. He was always the person searching for the perfect angle, the right light, and the colors capable of conveying the true emotion of a moment. However, it was years later, surrounded by a group of diver friends he now considers family, that both passions merged into a single artistic language: underwater photography.

Andy studied Chemical Engineering at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez and later gained experience in the manufacturing process industry. At the same time, he served in the Puerto Rico National Guard as an Army Combat Engineer, reaching the rank of Sergeant. During his military service in Iraq, he was wounded in combat, an experience that eventually led to his retirement from the military and for which he received the Purple Heart. The physical and emotional aftermath of war profoundly changed his perspective on life. It was in the ocean where he found a form of therapy and healing. Diving became a place of peace, and underwater photography became a way to reconnect with himself and with the natural world. His work is defined by an honest and naturalistic approach to marine life.

Andy strives to capture the ocean exactly as he experiences it during his dives, minimizing digital manipulation and preserving the authenticity of the moment. His images aim to immerse the viewer into the scene, allowing them to experience the feeling of sharing the water, the darkness, and the encounter with marine species in their natural environment. Although relatively new to the international competitive photography scene, his work has already received significant worldwide recognition. In 2024, he participated in World Shootout, reaching semifinal stages in multiple categories including Best Picture, Macro, Black Water, and Amateur.

During 2025 and 2026, he continued building his international presence through recognitions in competitions such as International Photography Awards, where his images “Blanket Octopus” and “Ephemeral Encounters: A Fish and a Jellyfish” received Honorable Mention and Official Selection distinctions in the Nature Underwater category. He also received multiple recognitions at the Refocus Awards, earning Honorable Mention in the Underwater category of the 2025 World Photo Annual for the works “Traveling Partner” and “The Blanket Octopus.”