PERFECT AMBASSADORS
A L I F E B E L O W T H E S U R FAC E W I T H
T H E OCE A N ’S RU L ER S Sha rk defender Em ma Casag ra nde devotes her l i fe to spread i ng k nowledge a nd understa nd i ng , usi ng her secret weapon – her ca mera. Wit h it she doc u ments her ex per iences a nd advent ures i n t he ocea n for t he whole world to sha re.
BY MY TILJESTAM
PHOTO: ANDY CASAGRANDE
“It’s an amazing experience to see the animals up close underwater, in their own habitat. Through my pictures, I want to share the beauty of what lives below the surface. Photos and films allow me to spread information about our oceans around the world, so people can see and experience what’s deep down at the bottom of the ocean, even if they haven’t been at that particular place themselves,” says Emma. “Oceans are so extremely important to our planet. Large parts of the oceans are dying extremely quickly because of lack of knowledge, so it’s important to act now,” she continues.
dents are bait-related; that is, when a diver swims with caught fish, or bait. Sharks can also misinterpret what they see. “A surfer can easily be mistaken for a seal as sharks see surfers from below, like silhouettes on the surface. It is much safer to dive with the sharks under the water so they can see what you are, than to surf on top of the water. If you’ve just caught a fish and are swimming around with it attached to your waist, things can easily go wrong. Accidents can happen even though humans aren’t actually on the sharks’ menu. I have a great deal of respect for these fascinating animals when I swim in their company,” says Emma.
SH A R KS DO NOT E AT PEOPLE Emma has swum with white sharks and tiger sharks and dived in oceans all over the world. “It’s important to be calm and confident in the water if you want sharks to come close enough so that you can film them. If you move too fast, the sharks might swim away, and then you’ll have to wait again. The various shark species behaves quite differently, so it’s important to be knowledgeable when you are close to them. Staying calm and attentive works best with all wild animals,” she explains.
She loves to take still pictures underwater but also films sometimes. Emma travels and works with her husband Andy, an underwater photographer, and his team. “I learn so much from the knowledgeable and experienced people who are part of the filming team, about photo and film creation, but also about sharks and other marine wildlife. Through my pictures, I want to show the importance of our oceans’ underwater life, so that more people choose to contribute to a better world. I absolutely believe that people want to do the right thing, but they may not always have the knowledge they need,” says Emma, who has been an ambassador for The Perfect World Foundation since it was founded in 2010.
Sharks eat fish and seals… not humans. Virtually all shark acci126
