ENTRY DESCRIPTION
Up close with a Critically Endangered Oceanic Whitetip Shark. These sharks have an amazing presence in the water. Although they have been described as the most dangerous shark in the ocean due to their bold nature and opportunistic feeding habits, in reality they generally avoid human interaction. After a number of dives with these beautiful sharks always staying at a distance, I was thrilled to have this inquisitive female come in close for a portrait and be able to capture her stunning eye in focus as sheswam by gracefully. Moments that I will never forget and that demonstrate how deeply sharks are misunderstood and misrepresented. Although historically one of the most abundant shark species in the ocean, Oceanic Whitetips are sadly now on the edge of extinction. As pelagic sharks, they live offshore in deep warm waters around the world, but spend much of their time near the surface in search of potential food and mates where both are scarce. Unfortunately, this has made them very easy targets for shark fishing/finning and extremely susceptible as bycatch in commercial longline and purse seine fisheries, which has caused global populations to plummet by a shocking 98 percent.

AUTHOR
Remuna is an artist, award-winning self-taught photographer, filmmaker, and passionate advocate for conservation and animal welfare. Her underwater work aims to capture the beauty and fragility of the ocean and the incredible diversity of marine life who inhabit it. Although we are all connected to the ocean, few people truly experience the world beneath the surface or witness the significant impacts we are having on it. Through her photography and film, Remuna hopes to raise awareness and inspire a deeper appreciation and will to protect these critical ecosystems and species. Her favorite subjects are sharks—one of the most misunderstood and threatened species on the planet—and advocating for their conservation by dispelling misconceptions and instilling the same love and fascination she has for them in others.

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