Steve Benjamin: Sharing Ocean Experiences | Interview with Roger Horrocks

“I share ocean experiences. That’s the simplest way to explain what I do.” – Steve Benjamin

In this vlog, world-renowned cinematographer Roger Horrocks (Blue Planet II, Our Planet) sits down with Steve Benjamin — one of South Africa’s leading ocean photographers and expedition leaders — for a deep dive into his story.

Roger has been a huge mentor to Steve, and being asked to share his journey on the Ocean Footage Mastery Program podcast is something Steve is profoundly grateful for.

Steve explains how “nothing fills my heart more than photographing and filming ocean life” — a passion that has carried him from building Animal Ocean in Cape Town, to filming the Sardine Run for global productions, to creating unforgettable safaris for travelers and film crews alike. His philosophy remains simple: “Every single person that dives with me must leave with the best ocean experience possible.”

This conversation isn’t just about photography — it’s about passion, resilience, and building a career around the ocean.

👉 Watch the vlog to hear Steve’s story, and learn more about Roger Horrocks’ Ocean Footage Mastery Program, designed to help the next generation of ocean storytellers turn their craft into a career.

This episode of Ocean Memos is a straight-talk conversation between wildlife cameraman and ocean-safari operator Steve Benjamin and filmmaker Roger Horrocks about turning ocean obsession into a durable career. They cover Steve’s path from zoology grad to entrepreneur, his hard pivot from high-volume seal snorkeling after the 2024 rabies outbreak to leaner, smarter ocean safaris, the brutal logistics and addictive highs of the Sardine Run, and the craft realities of underwater cinematography—access, patience, and selling stock that actually moves. It’s also about leverage: using images, relationships, and intentional choices to keep the boat afloat when the industry softens, and building digital products so the work sells while you sleep. No romance—just what works, what broke, and what’s next. Roger: We’re live. Steve, great to see you—welcome to the Ocean Memos podcast. It’s a privilege to have you on.

Steve: Stoked to be here. Can’t wait to dive into the depths of my ocean life with you.

Roger: Funny thing is, I’ve known you since what—2007? 2008?—and there’s still so much I don’t know. Quick context for listeners: I launched the Ocean Footage Mastery program this year. It’s aimed at skilled divers with access to great locations, and I teach frameworks to take footage from “meh” to broadcast-quality—think BBC, Blue Planet II. There are three pillars:

1. Decisive Cine for dynamic, short-lived moments;

2. Sequence Craft OS for coming home from a 30-day shoot with exceptional rushes;

3. Ocean Leverage OS, which is about turning passion and craft into real value—income, independence, impact.

You’re a great case study because your enthusiasm is legendary, but you also built a business around it. So—elevator pitch—what do you actually do?

Steve: I share ocean experiences. That’s the core. Practically, it splits in two: tourism and storytelling. On the water in Cape Town, we take guests out—ocean safaris, kelp forest snorkeling. While doing that, we witness interesting behavior and sightings, and I film and photograph them. Those images feed films, TV sequences, blogs, even local news. Sometimes it’s a once-off trip; sometimes it becomes a full film shoot. The through-line is simple: live at sea, bring people with me—on boats, on screens, and on the page.

Roger: Have you ever had a full-time job?

Steve: Not really. I studied zoology at UCT and ichthyology at Rhodes. First job was a year on a fish farm, then a year in the dive industry at Aliwal Shoal. In 2009 I bought a boat, built a website, started my own company—and never looked back. I’ve worked for myself since.

Roger: Mentors?

Steve: My parents first—entrepreneurs, very supportive, big on “you can do this.” Professionally: you, Roger; Thomas Peschak; Mark White. Different skills, honest feedback. I like collecting viewpoints before I make a call.

Roger: Self-belief seems to be a big theme for you.

Steve: It’s a muscle. You learn to walk into unknown situations at sea and navigate to an outcome. That’s business: uncertainty + skills + resolve.

Roger: Let’s talk pivoting. You owned the “seal snorkeling” niche in Cape Town for years—specialists, great delivery, huge volume. Then the rabies outbreak hit the Cape fur seals in 2024 and you shut it down. Walk us through that.

Steve: We ran seal snorkeling for about 15 years—60–90 people a day at peak, full dive centre, multiple boats, big marketing machine. Post-COVID we rebuilt. Then rabies arrived via jackals on the West Coast and we started seeing aggressive, sick seals along the coast. Ethically and practically, daily in-water seal trips were no longer safe—for staff or guests. I pulled the plug.

That meant retrenchments, selling the dive center, downscaling, retooling the brand overnight. Our lifeline was a product we’d already been running for private clients: Ocean Safaris—longer, broader, more educational. We reframed to viewing seals safely, plus kelp forest snorkeling (which blew up after My Octopus Teacher), seabird action, Cape Point runs—show people the whole system. We leaned on reputation and organic search instead of heavy paid campaigns, rehired the best staff as freelancers, and rebuilt.

Roger: Textbook adaptation. And your operating principle?

Steve: Solve the client’s problem. They want to see the ocean without queues and buses—get on my boat. They want legitimacy—deliver consistently and let reviews, photos, and word of mouth compound. Every guest should leave as a walking billboard. That means good kit, on-time departures, answered emails, refunds when warranted, and staff empowered to do the right thing.

Roger: You’re intentional about life design too.

Steve: 100%. I want ocean time, family time, freedom, security. That means hiring people, letting go of control, and building an ethos: “Make customers happy.” I’d rather instill judgment than micromanage. The hard bit was accepting that “good enough, consistently” beats “perfect, only when I’m there.”

Roger: And the annual sardine run?

Steve: My highlight of the year. Since 2008 we’ve moved a pop-up operation to the Wild Coast for ~6 weeks—two boats, compressors, sheets, lamps, the lot. It fills Cape Town’s winter gap and delivers true mega-fauna chaos—sharks, dolphins, birds, tuna, whales all feeding. It’s physically and logistically brutal and totally addictive. Spreadsheets down to the last glass of wine. Worth it.

Roger: Cinematography: you DP, you run logistics, you dive like a fish, you’ve done international shoots and lots locally. Where do you place yourself?

Steve: I love the hunt for images. Stills taught me the eye; spear-fishing taught me patience, body control, and timing around animals—useful for camera work. I run Sony A7 rigs underwater. I’m very comfortable as a local DP and a strong support on blue-chip shoots. I haven’t chased owning a RED—cost/benefit and the role I want to play.

Roger: Stock footage?

Steve: Important revenue stream. I’ve sold everything from crusty 720p GoPro to 4K Sony. If the behavior is unique and useful, editors will upres or work around tech limits. I don’t rely on agencies; I share low-res string-outs with slate names so editors can browse widely. I stay in touch with producers and researchers: “What are you hunting? What else do you need?” YouTube pulls occasional leads. When someone bites, I offer more than they asked for.

Roger: You’re also good at digital leverage—clips and posts as always-on signboards.

Steve: Exactly. The content from real trips sells the next trip. A good example of intentionality: I wanted Casey Neistat-level exposure. I built a relationship with Dan Mace, did real value first—free trips, genuine collab. When Casey came, we delivered. One vlog with millions of views still sends clients. You give, give, give—then something converts.

Roger: The industry’s softened; I’ve had fewer shoots this year. When the phone stops ringing, you can’t wait—you have to evolve meta-skills and build in public. Your model proves it: if you can delight eight people on a boat, you can delight 80,000 online—if you package it right.

Steve: That’s the game: navigate the unknown, keep showing up, keep iterating.

Roger: Final word: you’ve turned a mandate—“be on the ocean every day”—into a business that creates real value. You’ve weathered curveballs, pivoted hard, and there’s still a ton of digital upside ahead. I’m excited to collaborate more.

Steve: Likewise. Thanks for having me—let’s get back out there.

Roger: Soon. Cheers.

Steve: Cheers.