Its just past 7am and the sunrise here off the coast of Kenya is quite spectacular and with enough of a gentle sea breeze the mosquitoes are kept at bay which means I can drink my coffee in peace (but I still have to take my anti-malarials).

 

2012 has been an incredible year, one of those once in a lifetime years, truly memorable, never to be forgotten years. It started out just like all others, with many filming trips abroad, bull sharks & sailfish in Mexico to volcanic vents in Papua New Guinea along with film projects at home in Borneo, Orang Utans with Brian Cox to the deep jungle with Bill Bailey. However these were all overshadowed as my wife had grown massive, humungous in fact, but in the best of ways - we were expecting twins - our lives were going to change in the most spectacular and amazing of ways! With the prospect of a premature birth I was allowed one last overseas filming assignment and promised to be back home by the end of april.

 

On Saturday May 12th I went out with one of my mates for one last fishing trip and how right that turned out to be - literally minutes after hooking and landing a 5kg catfish and whilst wiping off the fish slime I got a call from my wife to say I needed to get back immediately, she was in the local maternity clinic and needed to go to the hospital now now. We managed to get to the hospital in time and settle the twins and my wifes condition and lasted another 4 days before the twins wouldn't hold back any longer. On May 16th 2 beautiful baby boys were brought into this world by emergency c-section in perfect condition. Unfortunately due to the nature of the operation and ensuing complications my wife, babies and myself had to stay in hospital for about 3 weeks. Intense times made a lot easier by the arrival of my own mum, nurse Vicki! The arrival of our twins is by far the most incredible experience I have ever had by far and the hardest I have ever worked so far too! My wife, however, continues to prove each and every day how amazing she is and now only needs a cape and some spandex to complete the "Super Mum" persona she has become.

 

I remained home in Borneo for the first 3 months working from home and sharing the care of our gorgeous boys - blessed times. At 3 months my wife and boys were strong enough for their first trip home and we spent a glorious 4 weeks back in Denmark and the UK. The boys have already taken in the Feltwell playing fields, fish and chip shop and even the West End pub!

 

However it soon became time for me to head out and film away from home once again. The first trip was less than a week and although I love being underwater filming and bringing back beautiful images of the worlds underwater realm to viewers who may never have the opportunity to see it with their own eyes I now had 3 very good reasons to miss my home, not just the one as before. A very strange and powerful mix of feelings I can tell you. I then started heading further afield and filming under more extreme circumstances. A few weeks back I was diving and filming off the Mexican island of Guadalupe, 26 hours sailing from the west coast out in the Pacific, Guadalupe has become famous for its population of Great White Sharks. I have filmed there before from fully closed to open cages with shark scientists and TV presenters but this time we were filming outside of the cages, swimming next too these amazing sharks. When the day came we had 6 great whites circling the boat ranging from 12feet up to a majestic 16foot female. She was very calm and graceful and so we entered the water - over the next couple of hours we swam beside her as she calmly watched us watching her. At no time did she show aggression towards us but of course there was always a possibility - she was after all an Apex predator but with our considered safety systems in place and by working slowly, calmly and always observing her behavior we managed to film all we needed safely and responsibly.

 

Some may say I take unnecessary risks at times when I film however trust me I have a very healthy respect of my own mortality and so I always take highly calculated risks. Doing what I do, filming the way I film is what makes me who I am and now with my boys always on my mind those risks are more calculated than ever because there is nothing sweeter than finishing an incredible shoot and returning to my wife and happy giggling drooling munchkins.

 

So here I am on a small island off of the Kenyan coast filming a ship wreck salvage operation, as well as local fishermen and marine life, but believe me I am also counting down the days to when i shall jump on that plane and head home for our very first Christmas & New Year together.

 

As i say 2012 has been a truly unforgettable year  - I wonder what 2013 will bring?

I wish you all the very best for what I truly hope will be a great year for everyone.

 

Cheers!