Thirty-one years ago I encountered my first shark underwater. It was a blue shark, about five feet in length, swimming off the coast of Rhode Island. I can recall vividly how elegantly this animal moved, like a fluid fighter jet cruising through temperate seas. That experience hooked me on sharks, and in the years since I have found them a quintessential photo subject—representing the perfect blend of grace and power. But as beautiful as these animals are visually, I have become increasingly interested in producing stories about their lives because I have realized how important they are to our planet and that they are in trouble.

When I swam with my first shark in 1982, few divers were actually hoping to