Ocean Ramsey Swims With Enormous Great White Shark in Hawaii

Conservationists Swim with One of the Largest Great White Sharks Ever Recorded

By Jessica Stewart on January 28, 2019

In a secret location off the coast of Oahu, renowned marine biologist and conservationist Ocean Ramsey, along with her team from One Ocean Diving, had the experience of a lifetime. These experts, who focus their efforts on educating the public about sharks and studying shark behavior, not only came upon a great white shark, but were able to spend a significant amount of time with the majestic animal.

Though Ramsey works with great white sharks around the world, this was a particularly exciting encounter. Great white sharks are quite rare in Hawaii and at around 20 feet long, this was a big one. The large female swam up and brushed against their boat repeatedly, making her presence known to the group. Contrary to popular belief, the shark wasn't lurking around to cause harm, but for a much more important reason.

“There is a theory that large females come here when they are possibly pregnant trailing whales,” Ramsey shares. “There was a dead sperm whale in the area and we did observe her from a distance swimming over to it and eating it on a regular basis throughout the day. Sharks [play a] role in the ecosystem, to pick off the dead, dying, weak, wounded, sick, injured, etc. thereby keeping lower trophic levels healthy and in balance.”

Photo: Juan Oliphant /OneOceanDiving

The poignant photographs taken of Ramsey interacting with the shark are just a small demonstration of how One Ocean Diving would like the public to see sharks. These incredible giants of the marine world are at great risk, with shark populations in Hawaii declining due to a lack of strict laws about their slaughter. One Ocean Diving is on a mission to not only educate the public about shark behavior and how to have positive interactions with them, but to gather data on behavior in order to assist in conservation efforts.

“I have so much respect for sharks for their ecological role, scientifically, culturally in Hawaii as aumakua, and from a conservation standpoint I've dedicated my life to speaking up for them and educating others about them and their plight while studying to continue to understand more about them,” says Ramsey. “We hope these images and videos will spark a movement for more laws to protect sharks here in Hawaii and around the world.”

Learn more about what you can do to help save shark populations in Hawaii at Help Save Sharks and One Ocean Conservation.