Valerie Taylor

Valerie Taylor AM is a global marine pioneer, conservationist, multiple awarded photographer and filmmaker and an inaugural member of the diving hall-of-fame. Through her media profile, she has communicated to mass audiences the wonders, behaviors and joys of the natural world, especially the marine environment. She has long implored governments, businesses and the public of the importance of the conservation of our oceans and their inhabitants. It would take an encyclopedia size entry to describe Taylor’s life and work. Her partnership with husband Ron Taylor produced a prolific body of work and achievement that only ended with his passing in 2012. Since then, she has continued to dive and passionately advocate for the oceans and ocean wildlife. She is also an artist and author.

Some of her awards include
1986- His Royal Highness, Prince Bernard of the Netherlands, awarded Taylor the Rider of the Order of the Golden Ark for marine conservation for having Cormorant pass protected for the endangered Potato Cod.
1992 – Australian Geographic Adventurer of the Year.
1997 – jury award for the film “Shark Pod” at the Antibes Underwater Festival, France. 1998 – Golden Palm Award for the book “Blue Wilderness,” 25th World Festival of Underwater Pictures.
2000 – International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame.
2002 – Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia’s Serventy Conservation Medal.
2008 – Australian Geographic Lifetime of Conservation Award.
2011 – Australian Cinematographers Society Hall of Fame.
2012 – renaming of the newly declared Neptune Islands Group Marine Park surrounding the Neptune Islands in South Australia to the Neptune Islands Group (Ron and Valerie Taylor) Marine Park.