Joni has a special ability to unlock hidden gems to share with others on Google Maps. A photographer by trade and adventurer by heart, Joni photographs everything from underwater dives and desert locales, to night to drone photography.

Having lived his life in Israel, near desert and sea in the small desert town of Arad, Joni's artful take imparts an insider's peek, whether he's sharing an encounter with a Bedouin man in the Judean desert or diving deep with underwater photography of marine life or sites like the Yatush shipwreck on the floor of the Red Sea. Joni said, "I believe that [mapping and photographing] helps divers find out more about dive sites and attracts others to try and learn more about diving and the nature under the waves."

Joni fosters community around his gifts via creating a helpful series on Connect, sharing the underwater photography equipment he uses, how to take underwater photos or engaging others to talk about their favorite photo spots. He maps ancient desert locales utilizing Google Maps technology, highlights archeological sites like the ancient town of Susya, and creates lists that tackle lesser known destinations, like Best Dive Sites in Eilat and Interesting Zagoria Villages.

Joni also loves by mapping beaches, nature reserves, dive sites, even a camel ranch. He has deeply explored his home country during the pandemic, when he normally might be traveling the world. "I learned this year that I can find many new places to travel even without leaving my country," Joni explains. "My goal this year is to reveal and expose more new places for the community and get ready for the end of the pandemic when the tourists will be back to Israel. I love that I have the opportunity to reveal the beauty of [our] Desert and the underwater world."

Want to learn more about this incredible Local Guide? Check out his contributions on Google Maps and follow his profile on Connect.