How Free Divers and Spear Fishermen and Women are Leading the Shark Conservation Charge
If you've spent time in the water, chances are the thought of a shark encounter has crossed your mind. No other apex predator inspires fear or fascination like sharks. Since the release of Jaws in the summer of 1975, a stigma has surrounded sharks, especially Great Whites, which has only heightened the sense of terror and misunderstanding surrounding these creatures.
In recent years, thanks in part to a widespread cultural fascination with sharks and programs like Shark Week, scientists and conservationists have leveraged that public interest to shift the narrative and promote shark conservation through education, research, and storytelling. Those leading the charge are often the ones spending the most time in the water: free divers, spearfishermen, and women. Those leading the charge are often the individuals who spend the most time in the water: freedivers and spearfishers who have gained a deeper understanding of sharks through their own lived experiences. Here are a few of the individuals redefining what shark conservation looks like from beneath the surface.
Jillian Morris - Marine Biologist, Shark Conservationist, & KOOK Ambassador
Jillian Morris is a true Renaissance woman; she's a marine biologist, a passionate diver, an underwater photographer, and the founder of Sharks4Kids. Jillian has dedicated her life to studying, protecting, and sharing the incredible world of sharks. On Instagram, she has amassed a dedicated following by sharing educational content that's both informative and visually stunning. Her current research focuses on neonate and juvenile lemon sharks in the Turks and Caicos. In addition to her research, Jillian also regularly appears on shark-focused platforms, including Shark Week, to amplify her message and promote female representation in marine science, and authored Norman, the Nurse Shark, a children’s book designed to foster a fascination with marine life for young readers. Jillian is truly prolific in everything she does, from her research and foundation work to her creative pursuits and beyond.
Mark Healey - Professional Big Wave Surfer, World Class Spearfisherman, Hollywood Stuntman
Mark Healey is a waterman in every sense of the word. Hailing from Hawaii, Healey grew up being pushed into waves before he could walk and hanging off his dad's freediving buoy, floating next to his fish stringer while his dad spearfished. Today, Healey splits his time between chasing XXL swells around the world, blue water spearfishing, and working as a Hollywood stuntman. As an avid freediver and spear fisherman, Healey is no stranger to shark encounters. His unique skill set made him the perfect candidate to assist in a research project in the Philippines in 2014, focusing on pelagic thresher sharks. Mark's role in the project was to free dive and use his spear gun to tag sharks using acoustic tags. Tagging via freediving and speargun is far less traumatic than catching sharks by rod and reel, which can exhaust them to a near-death state and disrupt their natural behavior patterns, impacting research.
Ocean Ramsey - Marine Biologist, Shark Conservationist, Free Diver
Ocean Ramsey grew up in Hawaii, surrounded by ocean lovers and divers. Her father helped foster her passion for wildlife and marine life, specifically sharks. Her first underwater shark encounter sparked a deep fascination, which continues to drive her today. Ramsey has gained international recognition for her bold and mesmerizing free dives with great white and tiger sharks, but she is far more than just a viral free diver. She has delivered over 1,200 presentations around the world, co-founded One Ocean Diving with Juan Oliphant to offer no-cage shark snorkel experiences focused on education and emotional connection, developed and teaches "shark redirecting" techniques to improve human–shark interactions, and created Hawaii's first non-invasive photo ID database to track shark behavior, and more.
Kimi Werner - Champion Freediver, Environmental Advocate, and Culinary Artist
Kimi Werner can't be confined to a single title. She's a National Spearfishing Champion, trained chef, environmentalist, and celebrated freediver. Raised off-grid on the island of Maui, Werner began diving alongside her father at a young age—a lifestyle that shaped her deep connection to the ocean. That early experience helped turn her into one of the world's top freedivers and a champion spearfisher. Her passion for fishing naturally extends to the kitchen, where she continues to prepare meals from the sea, keeping her diving practice rooted in sustenance and sustainability. Werner has had several well-documented cageless shark encounters where she swims alongside great whites and other species. In interviews, she advocates for intelligent and safe diving practices when dealing with sharks. She uses her platform to build a bridge between spearfishing and conservation, advocating for the interconnectedness of sustainable harvesting and environmental awareness. Check out Kimi’s latest collaboration with June Shine. See it in person at our June event, Art & Action for the Ocean
Shark conservation leaders don't just work in labs and universities; they're divers, surfers, and ocean lovers who believe in protecting our playground. From free diving to shark tagging to spreading awareness about ocean safety, conservation, and sustainable fish harvesting, watermen and women from all over the planet are leading the charge for changing the misconception about these predators. Want to help change the narrative? Start by following these leaders, supporting their programs, or simply using reef-safe beauty products.