WITH its vibrant colours and exotic habitat, you would think it was a snapshot of the famous Great Barrier Reef or the Red Sea.

But the stunning picture above, by an award-winning Hampshire photographer, was taken a lot closer to home.

It is the first photograph of a snakelocks anemone shrimp and it was snapped swimming around a reef at Swanage pier.

It’s the work of top photographer Dr Matt Doggett, a marine biologist who works in Southampton.

He is making his way to Moors Valley Country Park in Hampshire on June 8 for an illustrated talk on what the south’s vast coastal area has to offer.

The talk is set to take the audience on an underwater tour of the Dorset and Hampshire coastline and focus on the rich biodiversity of our local waters using his photography work.

Dr Doggett, who works for engineering firm Jacobs in Southampton, was a winner at the British Wildlife Photography Awards last year.

He said: “I started out as an underwater photographer when I was working in the Philippines. I lived next to a coral reef for about seven months and when I came home I carried on doing work underwater.

“I had been a wildlife photographer for many years, and as it’s gone on it has developed into more of a passion rather than just taking scientific pictures.”

His amazing photos are captured by a basic waterproof Cannon SLR camera and often trick its viewers into thinking they are from exotic locations.

The 34-year-old, who grew up in Weymouth, has also scoured the Solent in an attempt to record its vast habitat.

He added: “People generally say they didn’t realise we had stuff so colourful and exciting in our seas as we do. It’s nice that is has opened people’s eyes.”

The illustrated talk is part of a series of 25 wildlife events marking the 25th anniversary of Moors Valley Country Park.

It starts at 7.30pm and admission is £4, with parking included.

For more i n formation and to book call 01425 470721 or visit moorsv a l l e y .

co.uk.