Ramsey gets up close with sharks
In the waters off Hawaii, USA, a great white shark swims leisurely underwater when a woman slowly approaches, swimming alongside it before reaching out to grab its fin and hitching a ride. For this woman, dancing with sharks is about showcasing the gentle side of these fierce creatures and aims to promote shark conservation.
Dancing with sharks
The brave woman, named Ocean Ramsey, is a free-diving expert from Honolulu, Hawaii, who is passionate about shark conservation. Recently, she uploaded a video of herself dancing with a great white shark to the internet, drawing widespread amazement.
Ramsey recalled to reporters from Australia's Daily Telegraph that she first observed the great white shark from inside a metal cage, and two days later entered open water, gradually getting closer—from touching to grabbing the fin.
Ramsey said that when free-diving without an oxygen tank, it’s essential to lower your heart rate and breathe gently to avoid creating bubbles that might startle the shark; during the approach, you need to observe the shark and wait for it to notice you.
“I stayed quiet and calm, letting it swim close to me, letting it accept my touch, allowing me to swim on its back and tail,” Ramsey said. “I petted several sharks and even hitched a ride, feeling just like I was with a horse.”
Speaking of the moment she grabbed the shark’s fin, she said she felt an overwhelming sense of “incredible joy and excitement.”
Filming wasn’t easy
Ocean photographer Juan Oliphant captured this human-shark interaction. He said that while great white sharks are often perceived as highly aggressive and dangerous animals, the video he filmed shows their gentle side.
The filming process wasn’t easy. Oliphant said that great white sharks are afraid of lights and the presence of the crew, so everyone worked hard to stay quiet and avoid making too much noise. “You have to earn the trust of these animals. They are very conservative, very cautious, and easily startled.”
Great white sharks are massive, reaching up to 20 feet (6.1 meters) in length and weighing as much as 5,000 pounds (2,268 kilograms). Considered one of the most formidable predators, they prey on other fish and seabirds. Since the release of Steven Spielberg’s Hollywood blockbuster Jaws, this species has become a nightmare for beachgoers.
Promoting protection
Ramsey said the goal of dancing with sharks is “to show them as they truly are, not as Hollywood movies portray them—where a single drop of blood in the water drives them into a frenzy.”
She said many people fear sharks, “but in reality, sharks are intelligent, calculating, and very cautious around humans who approach them.”
Ramsey has been free-diving since the age of 14 and once held her breath underwater for 5 minutes and 45 seconds without an oxygen tank. She said she loves the ocean and marine life, enjoys being underwater, and regularly teaches tourists how to use scuba gear, dive, and surf.
Her other mission is promoting shark conservation. She is concerned that sharks, known as “aggressive killers,” may be hunted as a result. “Sharks deserve the same recognition as other wildlife. As apex predators in the marine ecosystem, their role should be acknowledged.”