From the Academy Award®-winning director of My Octopus Teacher comes Shark Whisperer, a provocative and visually arresting documentary that dives into the murky waters of modern conservation, where science, activism, and spectacle collide.
At its center is marine conservationist and social media lightning rod Ocean Ramsey, whose viral videos of swimming freely with sharks have sparked global fascination—and fierce debate. Driven by a desire to leave the cage and decode shark language up close, Ocean strives to connect with these predators on an unprecedented level— hoping to challenge the negative perception of sharks. To her supporters, she’s a fearless advocate giving a voice to misunderstood predators. To her critics, she represents a troubling trend of self-promotion disguised as environmentalism.
Through intimate character study and breathtaking underwater cinematography, the film explores the tensions between advocacy and ethics, media influence and ecological integrity. With insight from marine biologists, indigenous knowledge holders, and fellow conservationists—both supportive and dissenting—it paints a nuanced portrait of a polarizing figure and the broader questions she provokes.
This is not just a story about sharks. It’s a story about how we choose to tell stories—about nature, ourselves, and what we’re willing to risk to be heard.
At its center is marine conservationist and social media lightning rod Ocean Ramsey, whose viral videos of swimming freely with sharks have sparked global fascination—and fierce debate. Driven by a desire to leave the cage and decode shark language up close, Ocean strives to connect with these predators on an unprecedented level— hoping to challenge the negative perception of sharks. To her supporters, she’s a fearless advocate giving a voice to misunderstood predators. To her critics, she represents a troubling trend of self-promotion disguised as environmentalism.
Through intimate character study and breathtaking underwater cinematography, the film explores the tensions between advocacy and ethics, media influence and ecological integrity. With insight from marine biologists, indigenous knowledge holders, and fellow conservationists—both supportive and dissenting—it paints a nuanced portrait of a polarizing figure and the broader questions she provokes.
This is not just a story about sharks. It’s a story about how we choose to tell stories—about nature, ourselves, and what we’re willing to risk to be heard.
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TVTranscript
00:00I'm not a crazy person. I'm hyper aware of what they're capable of. It's not a
00:10video game. There is no pause.
00:15Hello, I'm Ocean Ramsey. I'm a shark and marine conservationist. I want to prove
00:20to the world that they're not monsters. I'm good to go anytime. I want to push
00:25the limits. And if it doesn't go well, don't blame the shark. She's like this
00:32beautiful wild animal. I just filmed every interaction that I possibly can. Juan
00:38is the only person I think that understands me.
00:43With those images, it's an opportunity to reach the entire public.
00:49It's more for show than it is for science. More for the grab. More for
00:58the shot. People look first and listen second. I'll use my appearance. I'll put
01:05myself out there for a cause. As a female, I'll get a different level of attention
01:10and criticism. Whatever reason you feel the need to have your hand on this animal,
01:19you better understand what you're getting yourself into. By catching people's attention,
01:23people actually care about a shark. We need to protect these animals. All of them
01:29are headed towards the brink of extinction. And people want to comment on my
01:32approach to conservation. The change makers are the ones that try something a
01:36little different. We knew we had to do something more extreme to cut through
01:41the bullshit. The deepest fear that everybody has of sharks, it's always the
01:48image of a great white. And then up from the depths comes this massive 20 plus foot
01:57great white shark. Oh my God.