"Ocean Ramsey: Shark Whisperer”, a masterpiece not to be missed
Last night I watched the Ocean Ramsey documentary on Netflix, who I’ve been following on social media for years. As a videomaker, I can only say: the image quality is insane, some of the most beautiful underwater footage I’ve ever seen. Truly impeccable work.
A lot of people criticize her, saying she takes too many risks, that she’s a bad example because people might try to copy her and get hurt. But the film makes her true goal perfectly clear: this isn’t for show, it’s about education. Her message is simple: sharks don’t see us as food. If they attack, it’s almost always a mistake or a defensive reaction because we’ve disturbed them. And this message is crucial, especially when you look at the real numbers.
Every year, humans are responsible for a veritable slaughter of sharks. Estimates point to about 100 million individuals killed. The main cause is a cruel and unsustainable practice called shark finning: the shark is caught, its fins are cut off while it’s still alive, and the body is thrown back into the sea, where it dies in excruciating pain. All for “shark fin soup,” a status symbol in some shameful Asian cultures. Add to this bycatch (accidental fishing) and the market for its meat, often sold under different names to deceive the consumer.
Now, let’s compare this data with attacks on humans. In 2023, worldwide, there were 69 “unprovoked” bites and 10 fatalities.
The contrast speaks for itself: 100 million versus 10. Numbers that prove who the real predator is.
And in this scenario, Ocean Ramsey doesn’t just talk. She’s an ecologist and a conservationist, and the proof that these aren’t just words is a concrete fact: she was the one who pushed a law through in Hawaii to protect sharks, banning their killing. The first state in US history.
Then, there are the scenes that are worth the price of admission alone. The interactions with tiger sharks are incredible, but when she swims alongside “Deep Blue,” the largest great white shark ever filmed, and you see her gently redirect the massive animal with a touch of its fin, you realize you’re witnessing a unique relationship.
All in all, a film I highly recommend. It’s the story of a person who champions a specific idea and who, like it or not, has the ability to make you think.
