Author. Travel writer. Film producer. Underwater photographer.
Storyteller at heart.
Pier Nirandara is an award-winning author, travel writer, film producer, and underwater photographer. She began her career as Thailand’s youngest English-writing author of three #1 national bestselling novels, graphic novels, and short stories with over 200,000 copies sold. She has represented literary clients at ICM Partners, served as Director of Development at Sony Pictures, and as VP of Film & TV at A-Major Media, Hollywood’s first Asian American-driven production company.
A multi-TEDx speaker and former literary ambassador for the Bangkok Metropolitan/UNESCO, Pier has written for the BBC, Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, AFAR, Lonely Planet, Off Assignment, Catapult, Oceanographic Magazine, Adventure.com, and more, and teaches at the annual Book Passage Travel Writing & Photography Conference. She is a recipient of the Lowell Thomas Awards from the Society of American Travel Writers, the Solas Awards for Best Travel Writing of the Year, and was named the 2024 Regenerative Travel Storyteller of the Year.
Meanwhile, Pier’s underwater photography has been recognized in competitions including Ocean Photographer of the Year Award, UN World Oceans Day, the Ocean Conservancy Annual Photo Contest, Photographers Without Borders, and the 2023 Save Our Seas Ocean Storytelling Photography Grant. She is a PADI AmbassaDiver™ (the world’s largest dive organization), was the Los Angeles chair of the UN-affiliated organization, Oceanic Global, Brand Ambassador for Coral Gardeners and named the inaugural Storyteller in Residence for Hidden Compass.
Most recently, Pier founded Immersiv Expeditions, where she leads trips to swim with marine wildlife. She joined Dr. Sylvia Earle at The Explorer’s Club as a speaker and part of the Rolex media crew for World Ocean’s Week in NYC June 2024, attended the NatGeo Explorers Festival as part of the Philip Stephenson Foundation, and photographed aquanaut Fabien Cousteau in Curacao to document his new underwater research station.
Pier’s relationships span from literary luminaries to legendary explorers and conservationists. An advocate for solo female travel, she has had the privilege of traveling to over 100 countries across 7 continents, and can be found in Los Angeles, Cape Town, and @piersgreatperhaps.
Pier is represented by Mina Hamedi at Janklow & Nesbit.
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Books
Upcoming novel represented by Janklow & Nesbit
Pocket Phuket - Lonely Planet, publishing May 2025
Bangkok 14 - Lonely Planet, July 2024
The Ocean Speaks (contributor) - White Lion Publishing/Quarto Books, May 2024
Articles & Essays
“Amazon’s Inland Ocean: Dolphins, Floods, and the Future of Conservation” - Travel + Leisure, February 2025
“The 25 best places to travel in 2025: Dominica” - BBC, January 2025
“The seven best diving destinations around the world” - Roadbook, November 2024
“Where to Go in 2025: Wild Coast, South Africa” - AFAR, November 2024
“A Meditative Ascent in Bhutan” - Hidden Compass, September 2024
“Diving and Foraging for Wild Food in Cape Town’s False Bay” - Conde Nast Traveler, September 2024
“Documentarian Craig Foster's guide to Cape Town's most epic underwater adventures” - BBC, August 2024
"Wintering on the White Continent" - Hidden Compass, July 2024
“Thirteen photos that will make you care about the ocean” - BBC, June 2024
“Finding a True Thai Night Market—in Hollywood” - AFAR, May 2024
“How is scuba diving supporting regenerative travel?” - Roadbook, November 2023
“What photographing bioluminescence in Cape Town taught me about impermanence” - Ori Magazine, inaugural issue, November 2023
“To the Thai Woman On the Waterfront” - Off Assignment, July 2023. Grand Prize Bronze Winner in the Eighteenth Annual Solas Awards by Travelers’ Tales; Bronze at the Book Passage Travel Writers & Photographers Conference 2023; Bronze at the 2024 Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Awards by the Society of American Travel Writers
“Dive Into the Wild Side” - Scuba Diver Australasia, June 2023
“From the Andes to the Atlantic” - Rolex & National Geographic, June 2023
“The Sardine Run: Diving into privilege and accessibility in South Africa’s ‘Blue Serengeti’” - Adventure.com, May 2023. Gold Winner in the Eighteenth Annual Solas Awards - Travel and the Environment category by Travelers’ Tales
“To the Young Mom on Flight 1122” - Travelers’ Tales / Solas House, March 2023. Grand Prize Bronze Winner in the Seventeenth Annual Solas Awards by Travelers’ Tales; Silver at the 2023 Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Awards by the Society of American Travel Writers
“Selling the seas: swimming with whales and the commodification of wildlife encounters” - Oceanographic Magazine, January 2023. A version of this story was awarded bronze at the 2023 Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Awards by the Society of American Travel Writers; Bronze Winner in the Eighteenth Annual Solas Awards - Culture and Ideas category by Travelers’ Tales
“How to Photograph Marine Wildlife” - PADI.com, January 2023
“Searching for the elusive Thai dugong” - Oceanographic Magazine, December 2022
“Diving into history in Cape Town, South Africa” - Roadbook, October 2022
“The Roadside Cafe” - Catapult, April 2022. Gold Winner in the Seventeenth Annual Solas Awards - Travel & Food category by Travelers’ Tales
“On the Wild Coast” - Divers for the Environment, March 2020
“The plight of 12 lost boys in a cave has brought a turbulent Thailand back together” - New Statesman, July 2018
Misc.
Featured photography on “Sea Change" - Vera Magazine on Virgin Atlantic, May 2022
Featured photography in Ocean for Dummies by Philippe and Ashlan Cousteau, January 2022
Featured photography “Shamier Magmoet Seas the Bigger Picture“ - Getaway Magazine, January 2022
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Regenerative Travel Impact Awards - Storyteller of the Year 2024
Solas Award / Travelers’ Tales - three 2024 Solas Awards, including Bronze in the Grand Prize for Best Travel Story of the Year, Gold in Travel and the Environment, and Bronze in Culture and Ideas
Society of American Travel Writers Foundation - two 2023 Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Awards
Book Passage Travel Writers & Photographers Conference 2023 - First Prize for Photography; Third Prize for Writing
Solas Award / Travelers’ Tales - two 2023 Solas Awards, including Bronze in the Grand Prize for Best Travel Story of the Year, and Gold in Travel & Food
Save Our Seas Foundation - Winner of the Ocean Storytelling Photography Grant 2023
Oceanographic Magazine - Ocean Photographer of the Year Finalist: Human Connection Award and Female Fathoms Award
Ocean Conservancy - Spectacular Seascapes Winner: The Cave by Pier Nirandara
Scuba Diving Magazine - 1st Place in the 2024 Through Your Lens photo contest
The Explorers Club Annual Photo Competition - Finalist
Scuba Diving Magazine - Honorable Mention in the 2023 Through Your Lens photo contest2024 Regenerative Travel Storyteller of the Year
San Sebastian International Underwater Film Festival - Special Awards (Photography) AQUA MAGAZINE Prize for the best new photographer in the Cimasub
Close-Up Photographer of the Year - Underwater Shortlist
100 for the Ocean - Honorable Mention
Parley TV x AnOther Magazine - #StateoftheOceans competiton finalist
Photographers Without Borders - top 5 community choices for our Through Your Lens contest
US Embassy and Tourism Authority of Thailand - featured in the Thai-American Friendship exhibit
One Young World - nominated as a delegate for 2014 conference
S.E.A. Write Award - finalist for ASEAN Young Writers Award
Bangkok Office of the Educational Council - Outstanding Youth Award
Thailand Author’s Hall of Fame - Nanmeebooks
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PADI - Introducing the New 2022 PADI AmbassaDivers™ / Pier Nirandara
Save Our Seas Foundation - 2023 Ocean Storytelling Photography Grant Winners
Tufts Now - Pier Nirandara: Making Waves - Across Media
The Hollywood Reporter - Swimming With Sharks (Literally): Hollywood Exec Launches Exclusive Divers Club
Deadline - MRC-Backed A-Major Media Names Pier Nirandara As Vice President, Film & TV
Ocean Culture Life - Storytellers: Pier Nirandara
Conde Nast Traveler - Seven Wonders of the World to Visit in 2023
The Bangkok Post - What a wonderful world - Pier tells magical tales
Koktail Magazine - The Future List 2022: Praekarn (Pier) Nirandara
A Day Magazine - บทที่หนึ่งถึงอนันต์ของ Pier Nirandara จากนักเขียนไทยอายุน้อยที่สุดสู่พรมแดงในฮอลลีวูด
BookRiot - THE MOST POPULAR CHILDREN’S BOOKS FROM EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD
Save Our Seas Foundation - Celebrating Ocean Wins
VoyageLA - Meet Pier Nirandara of PiersGreatPerhaps in West Hollywood
The Epoch Times - Divers Mesmerized by Swarm of Thousands of Mobula Rays in Baja—and the Photos Are Surreal
Shoutout LA - Pier Nirandara | Film Executive, Bestselling Author & Underwater Photographer
deeperblue - Hollywood Execs Launch Exclusive Dive Club
StoryTrender - MESMERISING SNAPS CAPTURE LUCKY DIVERS SWIMMING AMONGST THOUSANDS OF MOBULA RAYS
Mozaik - Pier Nirandara | Mozaik Ambassador
Johnny Jet - Travel Style: Pier Nirandara
Included in The Dictionary of Creative Women - Editions des Femmes
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TEDxAssumptionU - You’re Not Limited To One Path - A Giant Stride Into the Unknown
TEDxYouth@Krungthep - Pier Nirandara: Bangkok Read for Life
The Explorer’s Club - World Oceans Week - Education at Sea: Fostering Tomorrow's Ocean Stewards
Exploring By The Seat Of Your Pants - Exploring Our Ocean with Pier Nirandara
Mission Blue - The Role of Photography in Ocean Conservation with Dr. Sylvia Earle
South Africa Tourism campaign - #WhySouthAfrica: Pier Nirandara
The Community Writing Chat Show - Writing around the world with Pier Nirandara
Conscious Traveler Podcast - Episode 8: The Ethics of Swimming with Dolphins and Whales
Neilson Hays Young Writers Competition - Speaker and judge
USC School of Cinematic Arts - Judge for Feminist Media Festival
UCLA MFA-Screenwriting Program - Judge for Screenwriting Showcase
Frankfurt International Book Fair - Guest speaker and panelist
Brahmaputra International Literary Festival - Guest speaker and moderator
Emirates Diving Association - Underwater Photography & Film Competition judge
Author, travel writer, film producer, and underwater photographer Pier Nirandara went from swimming with sharks in Hollywood to swimming with actual sharks. After traveling to over 100 countries across 7 continents, she discusses the philosophy of embracing a giant stride into the unknown.
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