In December of 2014, our team traveled to Raja Ampat Indonesia for the culmination of a 10 year initiative, a film and tour celebrating the conservation history of Raja Ampat and cementing communities to continued defense of their natural treasures.

A thousand faces glowed in the light of the 2-story-tall outdoor theater screen, and the mood of the crowd changed minute to minute in reaction to the film: excited whispers and inside jokes as they saw themselves and their village on screen; pursed lips and angry sideways glances as a fish bomb exploded; nods of agreement, sweet smiles and even tears at the end.

But the end of the film was only the midpoint in this event, and moments later hundreds of fists flew into the air as Edo Kondologit – Papua’s most famous singer, who donated his time to headline the tour – leaned forward into the climax of his song Aku Papua, “I AM Papua.” The crowd screamed the lyrics into the night, proclaiming their heritage, declaring their solidarity in the name of conservation.

Over the course of three weeks, we worked with the tireless crew and education team of The Kalabia, a 100-foot floating classroom, to haul the 3000lbs of gear and setup the outdoor theater in 12 villages, one in each district of Raja Ampat. In all, more than 10,000 people – ¼ of the region’s population – participated in this unprecedented film and concert tour through the remote communities of Raja Ampat, Indonesia. And in the community commentary after each show, Christians and Muslims, men and women, elders and children all spoke as one, calling for even greater protection of Raja Ampat’s waters – the richest marine ecosystem on earth.

“The tour was truly awesome. It felt like we were reconnecting a people. We wish you could have seen hundreds of children throwing their fists in the air to Edo’s “Aku Papua”, heard the southern Muslim leaders quoting northern Christian Priests, felt the crowd shutter at the fish bomb blast in the film. The pride was palpable. People were impassioned. What an honor to work with such a fantastic team of people and organizations to make this happen…”
– John Weller and Shawn Heinrichs

Raja Ampat is one of the world’s greatest ocean success stories. Building on centuries of traditional conservation practiced by the communities of Raja Ampat, Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy, and other NGOs have worked for more than a decade to catalyze the creation and wise management of seven large Marine Protected Areas in the region. But the work is far from done, and it seems that the sheer success of conservation in Raja Ampat is creating more challenges. Conservation has resulted in great increases in the fish populations in the protected areas. This new wealth is an irresistible draw for outsiders who sneak past the patrol boats, bringing destructive practices back to region: fish bombs, shark finning, and long-lining.

In partnership with Conservation International, The Kalabia Foundation, and Vulcan Philanthropy — and with valuable support from Wolcott Henry and the Henry Foundation, the Walton Family Foundation, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, The Safina Center, the Blue Sphere Foundation, Misool Baseftin Foundation and others – The Guardians of Raja Ampat Film and Concert Tour harnessed the voices of the community. It galvanized community leaders across the entire regency to take a decisive stand against bomb fishing and other destructive practices, and catalyzed strategic discussions about how to stamp it out.

The tour also engaged the current and incoming regional government: in Raja Ampat’s capital city of Waisai, 3,000 people gathered for the show, cheering the current Bupati (regional governor) for his work to protect Raja Ampat, and calling on the next Bupati to take even bolder steps. Further, the project engaged the national government and concluded with a showing at the US Embassy’s “@America” venue in Jakarta. The show was jam-packed, including USAID representatives, high-ranking government officials, Indonesian university students and the US Ambassador, who publicly committed to use his office to directly promote conservation agendas in Raja Ampat and across Indonesia. Finally, the film has become a communications centerpiece for our partner organizations as they engage key donors to support a significant long-term endowment for Raja Ampat conservation programs.

“Overall the film and tour have been declared a smashing success in highlighting the wisdom and courage of the people and leaders of Raja Ampat in setting aside nearly half of their reefs in MPAs and vigorously defending these reserves.”
– Mark Erdmann, Conservation International

The Guardians of Raja Ampat Film and Concert Tour exceeded our imagination. We witnessed the greatest outpouring of community spirit, determination, and wisdom that any of us had ever seen. We are proud to have helped amplify these important voices, connect the people of Raja Ampat to their own story, and ignite a new fire of commitment to conservation that crosses the boundaries of religion, culture, gender, and generation. But more than anything we were all honored to contribute to a decade of visionary conservation work. The great success in Raja Ampat is the result of collaboration between NGOs, government and communities. When we speak of “The Guardians of Raja Ampat,” we mean all the organizations and incredible individuals that devote their lives and resources to the protection of this global treasure. We also mean you, dear reader, because it will be in part by your support that these organizations and communities continue into the next chapter of their collaboration, enabled to overcome new threats.

Please join us and become a Guardian of Raja Ampat. Read more, connect to our partner organizations, and take action at http://www.oceantheater.org

Margo Sanchez

Silent Empowerment

The convulsions were becoming more constant … “2 min 30 seconds check” … a deep voice in the background and a poke on my shoulder. Almost by instinct my hand goes out and signals…OK. My diaphragm is punishing me as I push further… “it’s the carbon dioxide…ignore it…push through…” I hear the voice again and it pounds in my head as I feel my arms and legs tingle and my diaphragm pulsing begin to slow. “TIME”, I lift my head as I hear Stephanie say “BREATH” and count 1…2…3… I had done it…static breath hold of 3 minutes. Stephanie is beaming and gives me a high five.

I have been scuba diving for 8 years and have hundreds of dives from sunny coast of California to remote islands of Papua New Guinea. It has always been fun and exciting, but the time when I feel the most at one with the ocean is when I shed my tank, throw on my mask and fins and dive beneath the surface into the silent but dynamic world on just one breathe.

For years, I have spent countless hours eye to eye with myriads of species as I silently cruise along after a duck dive, a pull with my arms and a few kicks driving me downward. But those beautiful moments are always ended within 30 seconds by my body saying, “breath dummy!” This reflex sends me propelling to the surface with remorse that I cannot spend more time with my marine friends below. I have long thought about getting formally trained in freediving to increase my bottom time and learn the safety aspects about of the art and sport of freediving, but never pursued it. That all changed the day I received an email from filmmaker and conservationist Shawn Heinrichs with a video attachment labeled, “Tigress Shark- Woman Dances with Tiger Sharks”.

I opened the video and found myself mesmerized by the featured freediver/dancer Hannah Fraser. Her makeup and outfit were exquisite, as if she channeled the tiger shark’s spirit and transformed into the human form of the spectacular creature. Her dance was strong but sultry and she moved purposefully around the bottom interacting with tigers, lemons, and reef sharks while holding her breath…the most natural connection I have ever seen between woman and shark. I sat with my mouth open as I watched it for the 4th, 5th and 6th time. This film touched something deep inside me…my strength as a woman…I had to share…

Two massive tiger sharks surround Hannah Fraser

I called my 15 year old daughter to watch and hoped that she would see and feel what I did. Would she feel the power? Would she feel the same drive to succeed that I felt? Would it make her feel like she could DO ANYTHING? She watched…she turned to me with tears in her eyes and I knew it had. We made a pact after watching it together several more times that together we would pursue our freediving training. In one instant, this video created such a powerful connection between mother and daughter.

The message of the film is conservation for sharks. It is a strong and beautiful way to engage everyone into the message and gives viewers the desire to understand and love these magnificent animals. But even though I understood the driving message of the film, it stirred something bigger within me. It drove me to live my dreams…to be a beautiful, sleek, freediver enjoying the power of the sea at lengths simply not possible to me without training.

I spoke to Shawn and discussed the dedication and time that went into making such an amazing film and how the whole crew was driven by the message of empowerment. According to Shawn, Hannah herself, a strong-minded, strong willed woman, was deeply connected to the project. Her amazing energy combined with the sheer presence of the sharks along with the filmmakers editing has turned this piece into a work of art that will touch every viewer in a special way.

Hannah Fraser dances at dusk with reef sharks

Shawn Heinrichs, Hannah Fraser, Jim Abernethy and Taro Smith on Tigress Shark Shoot

Hannah Fraser watches a shark tornado in the distance

Shawn Heinrichs and Hannah Fraser ready for a big day of shooting

Hannah Fraser at peace in a swarm of reef sharks

For me, it pushed me to pursue my dream…my passion, freediving. I signed up for Level I SSI training. Right by my side was my partner in dive, Stephanie. Throughout the years, we have been on many adventures. Each and every time I said to her, “I want to try this”, her answer has always been, “let’s do it’. Her unwavering support has allowed me to go beyond my limits in so many ways. Freediving was no exception.

Even though I did not accomplish all the goals I set out to, I pushed myself further in other areas than I ever thought possible. Inspired by Shawn’s film, I found myself wanting it more and pushing myself harder. More important to me is that my daughter now has the dream to continue her path, to experience the silent world and connect to her inner free diver.

Through my journey since watching the film, I have come to realize the strength and perseverance of the women around me. After seeing all the behind the scenes of Shawn’s film, I now understand the months of dedication, training, and discipline it took for Hannah to push beyond the limits of most in the freediving industry…man or woman…to dance with the sharks. She makes it look easy in the end but how many women do you know that make things look easy in the end?

Hannah Fraser prepares for underwater shoot

Hannah Fraser reaches for a magnificent tiger shark

Margo Sanchez
 – Co-founder of Scuba Diver Girls, professional diver, photographer, videographer, shark lover, ocean conservationist.

Born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, just steps from Lake Michigan, Margo has spent her life in and around water. Margo left the Midwest to attend graduate school in Southern California where she immediately fell in love with the City of San Diego and the Pacific Ocean. With a love for all water sports and the ocean, Margo found her passion in the sport of scuba diving. Margo’s desire to share these underwater experiences and to inspire others to get out and explore the amazing ocean was her driving force behind the inception and growth of Scuba Diver Girls. Whether traveling the world to the most exotic dive locations or back home in San Diego, Margo continually dives with Stephanie taking pictures and updating their social network to keep inspiring an ever increasing Scuba Diver Girls fan base.

Roberta Mancino face-to-face with sailfish

During months of January through March, winter storms in the northern Gulf of Mexico drive nutrient-rich waters south over the shallow continental shelf that stretches off the coast of the northern Yucatan. Massive shoals of sardines follow the currents, and in turn, schools of sailfish follow the sardines, creating the perfect conditions for an epic baitball.

Sailfish baitball with dozens of sailfish

In February of 2013, I traveled down to Isla Mujeres with Italian model, world champion sky diver and top wing suit jumper Roberta Mancino. Our mission, to capture images of amazing interactions with sailfish and giant manta rays. Each day we battled raging seas, high winds, and elusive wildlife as we charged across open seas in search of the action.

Roberta Mancino dives in the sailfish baitball

Sailfish, with their razor sharp bills, are some of the fastest fish in the ocean. Working in unison, they drive the sardines up from below toward the surface. While a regiment of sailfish guards the perimeter to maintain the tightly packed sardine ball, other sailfish swim below to prevent the sardines from diving to the safety of the large shoal below. Taking turns, the sailfish throw up their sails, flashing brilliant colors down the length of their bodies, then race through the ball of sardines, striking the terrified sardines with their razor sharp bills. Scales fly, and one by one the sardines are snatched up.

Roberta Mancino right in the action of a sailfish baitball

Roberta fearlessly threw herself into the midst of all this action, ducking and dodging as sailfish raced all around her in pursuit of fleeing sardines. Many times I cringed as a sailfish would strike a sardine just inches from her body. Fortunately, the combination of Roberta’s exceptional athleticism and the sailfish’s incredible hunting skills, prevented any accidents…for a miss here could prove fatal!

Roberta Mancino swims with a sailfish

Over the course of 10 days of hard work, our efforts were rewarded with stunning images of Roberta diving through swarms of hunting sailfish and swimming with five meter manta rays as they glided through schools of sardines.

Roberta Mancino drifts below a huge whale shark

Roberta Mancino dances with manta rays

Roberta Mancino with massive whale shark

We returned again in February of 2014 to take another shot at this exciting adventure! This time we were here to film a video for Epic Tv with the support of Liquid Art. Given the extreme adventure nature of the project and the fact we were shooting with GoPros, we immediately agreed this would be perfect fit for our great friend Jeb Corliss, a top GoPro Wingsuit athlete. Jeb was eager to join to help the filming and share in this unique experience. However this season it was even harder to find the baitball action, but undeterred, we pressed on and struck gold with some epic interactions with whale sharks and manta rays. With the addition of these incredible encounters, we succeeded in completing another exciting project together!

GoPro Athlete Roberta Mancino

GoPro Athlete Jeb Corliss

Enjoy the video!

Note: The interactions between Hannah and the sharks depicted in the video and imagery in this story are 100% REAL.

In our quest to inspire mainstream audiences across the globe to protect our ocean’s vulnerable marine creatures, Hannah Fraser and I have tackled some of the most complex and challenging shoots ever attempted. From the ‘Whale Shark Fashion Shoot‘ to humpback whales in ‘Betrayal‘, and our crowning achievement ‘Mantas Last Dance‘, we have braved the elements and shattered creative boundaries to redefine how the world views threatened marine species, and to inspire the global community to act before we lose it all.

Hannah Fraser connects with a magnificent tiger shark

 PLEASE sign our petition to permanently end Australia’s shark cull:
SIGN HERE

Up until now, the marine megafauna we have worked with in these shoots, including whale sharks, mantas, humpback whales, pilot whales, and dolphins are generally understood to be “safe” species to interact with. Yet, across the globe one family of marine creatures, sharks, are being devastated to the tune of over 100 million animals a year. Both Hannah and I are heavily engaged in shark conservation, and the knowledge that our creative projects have largely excluded “predatory” sharks has weighed heavily upon us. With the recent actions of the Australian government, we decided it was time we addressed this.

Two massive tiger sharks surround Hannah Fraser

In a knee-jerk response to several shark attacks off the west coast of Australia, the West Australian (WA) government implemented a shark cull to make beaches “safe” again for bathers. Despite intense domestic and international opposition, and overwhelming scientific evidence disproving the effectiveness and justification for the cull, the WA government remained resolute in carrying out the cull. Among the species most effected are Tiger Sharks, and despite the critical ecological role this species plays, and the fact that their numbers have already been severely depleted throughout their range, and having just concluded the initial cull period, the government appears committed to reinstating the cull when they deem “appropriate. Premier Colin Barnett claimed the policy has been a success, stating ‘They were tiger sharks. They are proven around the world to be a dangerous shark.’

Hannah Fraser dances at dusk with reef sharks

I have been interacting with Tiger Sharks in the Bahamas and Pacific islands for over a decade now, and the picture the Australian government has painted of tiger sharks as ruthless and undiscriminating predators, couldn’t be further from the truth. Even more disappointing, despite massive outreach by the shark conservation community to educate the general public about the TRUE nature of sharks, it seems the “large predatory sharks” such as Great Whites, Tigers and Bulls still seem to carry the stigma of mindless man-eaters. And as such, even highly educated and supposed conservation oriented nations such as Australia, continue to slaughter these creatures without apparent consequence.

Hannah Fraser face-to-face with a 15 foot tiger shark

Diving head first into the battle to make a profound statement in opposition to her government’ shark cull philosophy and more broadly in response to the global slaughter of sharks, we conceived the vision of “Tigress Shark”. To pull this shoot off, Australian Hannah Fraser and I teamed up with Jim Abernethy, the world’s leading authority on interactions with large “predatory” sharks, and together we embarked on a dangerous mission, the likes of which has never before been attempted. Our objective – to present these magnificent creatures in a true and positive light by capturing iconic imagery of Hannah face-to-face with a massive 15 foot tiger shark, her hand resting gently on it’s massive head.

Hannah Fraser face-to-face with a large tiger shark

What made this shoot entirely unique was that Hannah was devoid of any scuba or free-dive gear, dressed only in a tiny costume and airbrush body paint to create the perfect artistic vision. Without mask, fins or any sort of protective gear, she had to rely solely on her skills, training and experience, along with the diligent support of her expert team, to ensure the shoot went off without a hitch. Above all, safety was our top priority! We knew that tiger sharks are not senseless man-eaters (mermaid eaters in this case) but also recognizing that they are formidable predators with very powerful jaws and razor sharp teeth.There was no room for error, as one mistake could have resulted in severe injury or worse. For the sake of Hannah and for the shark conservation cause, we were compelled to reduce that risk to a minimum. Every facet of the shoot, including pre-dive preparation and training, underwater communications, dive safety team, choice of costume, visibility, and much more, centered on creating the safest and most creative shoot possible. And to our credit, we exceeded our safety expectations throughout the shoot.

Hannah Fraser engulfed in sharks

Hannah Fraser watches a shark tornado in the distance

Despite the risks, the team was resolute in their mission to create the most groundbreaking imagery to oppose not only the Australia shark cull, but also the global slaughter of sharks. And our message, “End the War on Sharks” resonates throughout this piece.

Hannah Fraser at peace in a swarm of reef sharks

Hannah Fraser bows to a massive tiger shark

We are incredibly appreciative of the invaluable support our partners and team members provided to make this shoot possible:

Andy Fraser – Executive producer of our feature film “Tears of a Mermaid”, without his support, we could not have done this project.
Jim Abernethy – far and above the world’s leading authority on interactions with large predatory sharks, as well as acclaimed photographer and cinematographer, was lynchpin to pulling this shoot off.
Eric Alan Donaldson – who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to capture the backstory of this challenging shoot.
Light & Motion – L&M’s outfitted the entire camera team with crazy bright Sola 4000’s and 2500’s creating a veritable stadium of underwater lighting.
Backscatter – whose incredible service and technical expertise has proven invaluable in each and everyone of our creative shoots.
Nauticam – our entire team was shooting with Nauticam systems, including Canon 1DC, Canon 1DX, and Canon 5D3.
Ocean Technology Systems – OTS Warrior masks with dive buddy communication systems proved to be one of the most valuable safety elements in our shoot.
Adelmo Rocchi – Adelmo’s incredible underwater contact lenses made it feasible to Hannah to even attempt this shoot.
Phutureprimitive and Jillian Ann – whose song “Enemy” provided the perfect inspirational score for Tigress Shark.
Julia Chavez – Body artist master, Julia’s exceptional talent enabled us to fully realize our vision of Hannah as a ‘tigress shark’.
Taro Smith and Hunter Nolan – provided invaluable topside and behind the scenes underwater camera work.
The JASA Crew of George Hughes, Sean Gillespie and Jason Harvey – whose incredible knowledge and experience working with tiger sharks made it possible to safely execute this shoot.

Jim Abernethy filming Hannah in action

Shawn Heinrichs with Light & Motion Sola 4000’s and 2500’s a blazing

Lastly, we were delighted to host ABC News with Matt Gutman for the final two days of our shoot. Matt got to experience first hand the challenge and excitement of this groundbreaking project.

Matt Gutman of ABC News connects with a tiger shark

Imagery of this nature has never been seen before, and the team believes it will surely bring significant international attention to the global plight of sharks. This is just one exciting chapter in Hannah and my journey to bring these stories of inspiration to the planet, with the goal of putting a stop to destruction of our oceans. Our journey together will be told in a new feature film “Tears of a Mermaid” to be released next year. To discover how our team pulled off this incredible shoot go to:

www.tearsofamermaid.com

L to R: Shawn Heinrichs, Taro Smith, Hannah Fraser and Jim Abernethy celebrate after a incredible day of shooting

Mirror Motion with Hannah Fraser

In the past year, we have captured exciting imagery of Hannah with endangered Whale Sharks, Humpback Whales, Pilot Whales and Dolphins. Highlighting the importance of this work, just two weeks prior to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), we released ‘Manta’s Last Dance‘ a groundbreaking short film that contributed to the success story of Manta Rays securing protected status.

Words cannot describe the feeling one experiences when interacting with a giant manta ray. Our goal with the manta ballet images was to capture the beauty and grace of these majestic creatures, inspiring global audiences  to fall in love with them and take immediate action to protect them.

Concept behind the Shoot
The intelligence, curiosity and gentle nature of manta rays is captivating. Only divers and snorkelers are fortunate enough to experience an intimate encounter with a manta ray. The goal of this project was highlight the beauty and grace of manta rays, using art and dance to feature their charismatic and gentle nature in a way the world can relate with. Manta rays are under severe threat because of unsustainable fisheries for their gills, meat and skin. The future of manta rays rests in our hands.

Enter the Manta Train with Hannah Fraser

About Hannah Fraser
Hannah Fraser is one of the worlds preeminent underwater dancers and mermaids. Building on Hannah’s incredible talent, together are creating a serious of images that connect world to the beauty and vulnerability of threatened marine species. People protect what they love, and through our imagery, we intend to inspire a new level of curiosity and passion for the oceans.

Hannah has this to say about here experience: “One of the first animal encounters I ever had underwater was with a manta ray. I was swimming upside down underneath its huge wingspan, blowing bubbles up onto its belly, which it seemed to love! I aspire to be as graceful and beautiful as these gentle, intelligent animals who are harmless and so interactive. They are the ballerinas of the ocean…and their moves are beyond compare!”

Manta Matador with Hannah Fraser

Manta Connection with Hannah Fraser

Manta Duo with Hannah Fraser

Behind the Scenes on the Shoot
We spent a week in Mexico out on the open ocean with are good friends Taro Smith and Amy Ippoliti, working tirelessly to capture images. This required that Hannah and I tread water for 6 hours or more each day, patiently waiting for the right moments to swim down and shoot with the mantas. These are wild animals, and mantas in particular are very sensitive to abrupt or seemingly aggressive moments. To capture these unique images, we had to approach them on their terms. That meant slow, patient and non-threatening interactions, allowing he mantas to approach us and hopefully begin their dance. For every dozen attempts, perhaps one would result in a possible image. In total, we spent over 30 hours in open seas to capture this set of images.

Manta Shoot in Action

Manta Rays Featured in this Shoot
Manta rays are the largest rays in the world, growing to widths of over 20 feet (and perhaps 25 feet), and weighing over 1 ton. They are highly intelligent and social animals, often seeking out interactions with divers and snorkelers. They have no stinger and no teeth, if fact they are completely harmless plankton eaters. Manta rays produce only one baby ever 2-3 years, with life spans exceeding 50 years. Sadly a new trade in manta gills for use in China as a pseudo-medicenal health tonic, has ravaged global manta populations. Some regions have seen declines of over 80% in just a few years. Mantas were just listed for international protection by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Appendix 2 in March of this year.

Majestic Manta with Hannah Fraser

Mexico Manta Population
Mexico is one of the premier destinations for manta rays. Along the Yucatan Peninsula, manta rays can be seen gathering and feeding in large groups. Isla Mujeres has become a famous destination for interacting with whale sharks. What most people don’t know is that it is also an incredible location to swim with manta rays. Witnessing the two ocean giants together is a sight to behold!

My Experience Capturing these Images
Hannah is one of the top underwater dancers in the world and manta rays are without a doubt, the most beautiful dancers in the ocean. Capturing this intimate ballet with Hannah and these graceful giants was a sight to behold. Often the mantas would twirl and loop below, up and over Hannah’s head, their wingtips gently brushing within inches of her face. And then for a moment their eyes would lock, reassuring each other of their mutual acceptance.

Magical Manta Moment with Hannah Fraser

The Visitor with Hannah Fraser

Technical Aspects of the Shoot
Folks often find it hard to believe these images are real. I can assure you they are, with every interaction represented as it actually occurred. Hannah was really there in her dress, dancing with these mantas as represented in the images. In post production, nothing is added to the images, with only basic adjustments including levels, color balance, and noise and spec removal. Typically shooting in open seas presents the expected challenges of waves, visibility and variable lighting. Now add large wild animals to the mix and the complexity increases significantly. When you add a human subject to the scene, requiring the environmental elements, the wild animals and the human subject to be at their best for that prefect moment, the difficulty increases by a factor. Without Hannah’s incredible talent, and our joint experience working on these kinds of project, capturing this type of imagery would simply not be possible.

Fairytale Moment with Hannah Fraser

As to my equipment, I had my trusted Canon 1Dx for topside shooting and a Canon 1DC shooting FULL 4K video in Nauticam Housing, along with my GoPro 3 with Flip3 Filter, all supplied by my trusted partner Backscatter in Monterey. With this configuration, I had everything I needed to capture full frame images at blazing fast speeds and also capture full HD video!

Reason Behind the Shoot
We were in Mexico to capture these images of the Manta Ballet. These images are being used to raise global interest in manta rays and awareness about the urgent need to conserve them. We are working with BlueSphere Foundation, WildAid, Manta Trust, Shark Savers and Conservation International to end the destruction of manta rays before it is too late.

Raja Ampat is considered by many to be the crown jewel of the Coral Triangle, the very epicenter of global marine biodiversity. It’s also home to one of the most charismatic and graceful of marine creatures: the manta ray.

Baby Reef Manta In Wayag Bay

Ever since my first encounter with a manta ray a decade ago, I have been captivated by the gentle, curious and intelligent nature of these ocean giants. Upon discovering they were under severe threat from exploitation for their gills, I made it my life’s mission to secure global protection for these vulnerable creatures. Given that Indonesia is one of the top manta tourism destinations on Earth, this expedition took on particular significance for me.

Although both species of manta are classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, manta rays are still abundant in the waters of Raja Ampat, largely due to progressive conservation measures enacted by the local government. In November 2010, Bupati Drs Marcus Wanma, the regent of Raja Ampat, made a historic declaration, designating the entire 46,000 square kilometers (17,760 square miles) of Raja Ampat a sanctuary for sharks, manta rays, mobula rays, dugongs and turtles.

This sanctuary, formally ratified into law in February 2013, was the first of its kind in Indonesia. As such, manta rays now swim safely in these waters, free from exploitation by the gill raker trade that has severely depleted manta populations throughout much of the region. The trade in ray gill rakers — mainly for use in traditional Chinese medicine and nutritional supplements — has expanded as high-value fins have grown scarce due to plummeting of global shark populations.

Manta Expedition Team: Rear L-R: Calvin Beale, Mark Erdmann, Sarah Lewis. Front L-R: Carla Kerstan, Edy Setyawan, Ronald Mambrasar

Our team included members from an exciting collection of conservation focused organizations:

– Conservation International: Mark Erdmann, Edy Setyawan, Ronald Mambrasar, Carla Kerstan, and various members of the Gam, Wayag and Dayan field stations
– Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries: Pak Dharmadi
– Indonesia Manta Project & Manta Trust: Sarah Lewis
– Misool Manta Project: Calvin Beale
– Blue Sphere Media, BlueSphere Foundation, WildAid, Manta Trust:  Shawn Heinrichs

Children of Sawinggrai Village

Our team’s primary objective was to conduct important manta research, including: tagging mantas with acoustic and satellite tags, deploying acoustic receivers, identifying individual mantas, training local monitoring teams employed by CI, identifying new manta tourism sites, searching for manta nursery areas and assessing the current tourism pressure on popular manta dive sites. Acoustic receivers are fixed at various known manta sites and record data anytime a manta with an acoustic tag passes within a mile of the receiver.

There is still so much we don’t know about mantas — their daily and seasonal movements, population sizes and dynamics, where they reproduce and how tourism impacts their behavior. Ultimately, all this work will translate into a much better understanding of this manta population, providing critical information to facilitate better-managed manta tourism in Raja Ampat, and present greater opportunities for local communities to participate and benefit from this tourism.

CI Inbekwan Research Vessel

CI Gam Field Station

Manta Monitoring Training of CI Gam Field Staff

Our team met up in Sorong in West Papua and boarded the Inbekwan, the CI research vessel that would be our home for the next 10 days. We departed late in the evening, crossing the Dampier Strait and arriving at the Gam field station early the next morning. We spent the first part of the morning training the local team about the process of monitoring and documenting manta tourism and how to capture manta IDs. The monitoring process requires staff to be stationed at popular manta dive sites, collecting data on number of divers, operator details, duration of dives and number of mantas observed during divers. Manta IDs are gathered by capturing a photograph of the animals’ belly; every manta ray has a unique spot pattern.

CI Gam Team Installing Manta ID Cam

Manta Mayhem with Feeding Mantas

The next two days were spent diving and monitoring the nearby waters. We were blessed to swim with dozens of feeding mantas working along the surface currents. Our team collected lots of ID shots while also enjoying phenomenal interactions with these mantas as they twirled and danced all around us.

Wayag Bay in Raja Ampat

Later that night, after an exhaustive session assembling acoustic monitoring equipment, the Ibekwan motored north to the famous and profoundly scenic Wayag Bay.

Words cannot come close to describing the spectacular beauty of this island chain. Islets jut directly from the sea like ancient fortresses or “beehives,” every square inch clothed with a canopy of lush vegetation, palms and tropical hardwoods.

Beneath the cliffs, these sheltered waters act as a perfect nursery for all kinds of pelagic marine life. Sadly, in the past this fact was not lost upon outside exploitative fishers, with the bay beset by gill nets targeting sharks and rays. Fortunately in 2007, CI secured a commitment from the local communities with control over these waters to designate the entire area as a no-take zone, establishing a team of rangers and abating the threat to the bay.

CI’s Mark Erdmann Preparing to Tag Mantas

Blacktip Reef Shark in Wayag Reef

Since that time, the area has demonstrated remarkable resilience. Sharks once again patrol the reefs, and mantas glide gently through the bay’s calm waters. Our team was treated to heartwarming encounters with baby manta rays in the bay and an evening swim with young blacktip reef sharks hunting in the shallows. For me, interacting with a baby manta, watching it struggle to swim more efficiently and learn to feed, created memories that I will cherish forever. It was near this site that we also successfully deployed our first acoustic tag and installed our first acoustic receiver.

CI’s Mark Erdmann & Edy Setyawan Install Acoustic Receiver

Misool Manta Project’s Calvin Beale Tagging a Manta Ray

CI’s Carla Kerstan Snorkeling the Reefs of Jef Nabi

Our journey continued on to Uranie and the Button Islands, where we installed two more acoustic monitoring stations. We then moved on to Eagle Rocks, where we found groups of mantas feeding in plankton-rich waters. After deploying several more acoustic tags, and sustaining some very uncomfortable jellyfish stings that left most of us with red-spotted hands, faces and necks, we decided to head to Jef Nabi to investigate rumors of mantas feeding at the surface. Though not in the numbers we had hoped for, we did find mantas and were able to deploy more tags.

CI’s Dayan Field Station

Sarah Lewis and Carla Kerstan at Manta Sandy

We reunited with our local monitoring team at the Gam field station, shared data and spent the rest of the day deploying more tags and installing a monitoring station. We made a late day visit to the Dayan field station, spending the night before heading back to Gam for our final day of work. After a successful morning of tagging, we called it a wrap and the Inbekwan began the journey back to Sorong.

Raja Ampat Communities Embracing Manta Tourism

Manta Expedition Team Celebrating with Local Community Children

For me, this expedition served as an inspirational reminder of how much we can accomplish through our collective conservation efforts. Indeed, the work of CI and partners in Raja Ampat — which has helped show dramatically how much more mantas are worth to local economies alive than dead — has been a primary driver in spurring the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries to develop a national level regulation to provide blanket protection to all manta populations across Indonesia.

We are optimistic this regulation will be signed by the minister before the end of this year — thus providing a monumental Christmas present to mantas, local coastal communities and manta enthusiasts all over the world.

Shawn Heinrichs is an Emmy Award-winning cinematographer, photographer and marine conservationist. An independent filmmaker, he is the founder of Blue Sphere Media, a production company specializing in underwater, adventure and conservation media. In addition to CI, he is a frequent partner with WildAid, Manta Trust, Shark Savers and Pew Environment Group.

Manta Expedition Team!

Hannah Fraser swims with a mother and calf Humpback Whale

The woman rediscovers hope and love, dancing with joy as she experiences a profound connection, and comes face to face with this incredible being. The shock twist at the end is a sad indictment of the human race, and a strong wake up call to humanity to recognize the beauty, vulnerability and worth of this giant sentient being.

This film is the latest in a series, following on the great success of Mantas Last Dance, that uses art to advance important conservation objectives. These films, images and related media, which include projects with powerful ocean allies such as  RICHARD BRANSON, are creating vital creative content to advance the mission of BLUESPHERE FOUNDATION.

As to my equipment, I had my trusted Canon 1Dx for topside shooting and a Canon 1DC shooting FULL 4K video in Nauticam Housing, along with my GoPro 3 with Flip3 Filter, all supplied by my trusted partner Backscatter in Monterey. With this configuration, I had everything I needed to capture full frame images at blazing fast speeds and also capture full HD video!

Well over 2 MILLION whales were killed by commercial whalers in the 20th Century, driving most great whale species to the brink of extinction. Finally in 1986, the International Whaling Commission (IWC) banned commercial whaling, giving whales a reprieve from the mass slaughter, and offering these species a last chance at survival. Since then however, Japan, Norway and Iceland have continued whaling, killing over 30,000 more great whales. Japan has continued to hunt whales under guise of “research” in the Southern Ocean, while Norway has increased its hunt of Fin whales in the North Atlantic. Iceland recently restarted their hunt for Minke whales and The Faroe Islands has continued their barbaric slaughter of many hundreds of Pilot whales, in a bloody event call the ‘Grind‘. Some of these nations are now aggressively campaigning to overthrow the ban on commercial whaling.

Skeleton of a Blue Whale

Just recently, the Western Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Council (WESPAC), in conduction with the Hawaii Fishermen’s Alliance for Conservation and Tradition, put forward a petition to remove Northern Pacific Humpback whales from the endangered species list, further eroding existing protections.

Considering that our planet’s great whale populations were pushed to the brink of extinction in the 20th Century, we should not be considering any move to further reduce protections; instead we must must uphold and strengthen the global moratorium on whaling. For example some estimates indicate that Humpback whales populations may recover to 10% of there pre-industrial whaling numbers in 50 years, only if they are fully protected and not subjected to other current threats such as pollution, entanglement in fishing gear, sonar blasts, and climates change. Many great whale species produce only 1 baby every 3 years. and every time we kill one whale we are threatening the survival of these species.

Hannah the Mermaid swims with a family of Humpback Whales

Hannah Fraser plays tenderly with a Humpback Whale calf

Hannah Fraser drifts in as a Humpback whale calf rises from its mother

Humpbacks have become the ambassadors for whales, with a multi-billion dollar whale watching business worldwide. Humpbacks can grow to over 50 feet in length and are loved for their visible and charismatic personalities, highly sociable and intelligent behavior, for their spectacular breaching displays, and for the way mother whales will allow their calves to interact with people.

Humpback Whale calf rises in front of Hannah Fraser

Hannah and I traveled to a remote location in the South Pacific to shoot this film, and after 3 days of travel and 6 days of filming in the water under some very challenging conditions, they were rewarded with an incredible interaction between Hannah and a baby whale. Despite their species great suffering in the hands of humankind, this whale did the unexpected and invited the Hannah into its world, allowing her to experience a profound connection with this soulful being.

Hannah Fraser contemplates her fate

Hannah Fraser prepares to take the plunge into her cave of dispair

Hannah Fraser dances alone in her cave

Hannah Fraser dances with a Humpback Whale calf

Hannah was really touched by the encounter and related, ‘The fact that these whales can choose to interact with us so freely, when they can swim away in an instant, and considering our species drove their species to the brink of extinction, to spend time in their company is both humbling and a life changing experience.’

Shawn Heinrichs with his Canon 1DC/Nauticam rig

Shawn Heinrichs films a Humpback Whale calf

We would like to offer a special thank you to Colin Heaney for supplying epic fashion attire for our shoot. And Terra Naomi, who sings with such haunting beauty that  you can feel her soul resonating through her raw talent. A special thank you to Andy Fraser for adding his powerful bass to bring even more soul to this track. Our sincerest thank you to Greenpeace for providing the heartbreaking but incredibly powerful whaling footage critical to driving our message home.  And to Louie Psihoyos and the entire team at Oceanic Preservation Society for all your support and unyielding dedication to the conservation of these vulnerable creatures.

Shawn Heinrichs with Chip D’Angelo and family and friends

And last, but certainly not least, a huge thank you to Chip D’Angelo and his wonderful family and close friends for helping make this important shoot possible.

Also a world first, we completed an underwater conservation fashion shoot with pods of Pilot whales, considered by many as illusive wanderers of the sea. In conduction with the the Humpback whale project, the goal of this shoot was to highlight the beauty and vulnerability of these ancient looking whales, and to inspire global audiences to care more about these vulnerable creatures. Click to see MORE IMAGES.

Hannah Fraser comes face-to-face with a pod of Pilot Whales

Hannah Fraser comes face-to-face with a pod of Pilot Whales

Adult Pilot Whales grow up to 25 ft long, display intelligence similar to bottle nose dolphins, and are highly social in their pods. Studies suggest that both males and females remain in their mothers’ pods, an unusual trait among mammals, and mothers have been know to nurse their calves up to 10 years!

Hannah Fraser swims bravely with a pod of Pilot Whales

Hannah Fraser dances with a pod of Pilot Whales

Hannah Fraser meets a pod of Pilot Whales

We captured these images over a period of 5 days that required LOTS patience and swimming. We were delighted however with the results of our efforts.

Hannah Fraser on her way out to sea

Prints are now available from this shoot! We are offering exclusive, limited edition prints for each of these images. Final print price will depend on print size, material and mount options. When you know which images you are interested in, we can provide you a quote. Please contact us at:

Whale Fashion Print Request

Orcas break off attack on Sperm Whales

Armed with my trusted Canon 1Dx in Nauticam Housing, and GoPro 3 with Flip3 Filter, all supplied by my trusted partner Backscatter in Monterey, I had everything I needed to capture full frame images at blazing fast speeds and also capture full HD video!

Wired Magazine Feature: Photographer Captures Dramatic Battle Between Orcas and Sperm Whales

All eyes were fixed on the horizon as we converged on the melee of violent splashing on the oceans surface just ahead. After 8 days with little success searching along the coast of Sri Lanka for the elusive Blue Whales, it was a relief to finally find something. At first we couldn’t figure out what this commotion was all about, but as we drew closer it quickly came into focus.

Family of Sperm Whales bunched in defensive posture

Orca closes in on Sperm Whale group

A huge dorsal fin cut the surface and charged into a log jam of rolling long dark shapes. Almost in unison we shouted ‘Orcas attacking Sperm Whales’! In all my years on the ocean, I had never heard of such a thing and certainly never imagined I would see it with own eyes. We grabbed cameras and fired away as a pod of perhaps 5 Orcas tore into a family of a half a dozen Sperm Whales, right next to our boat! The attack was violent and disturbing as the panicked Sperm Whales were clearly no match for speed and maneuverability of the orcas.

Orca crashes into panicked Sperm Whale group

Orcas attacking Sperm Whales

I realized this was a once in a life time opportunity and summoned up the courage to jump in the water and join the frenzy. All eyes fixed on me wondering if I would become easy prey for the most formidable predators in the ocean. Wasting no time, I grabbed my camera and slid off the back of the boat. There was a frothing, dark pile of shapes ahead of me. Drifting away from the boat toward the action, I took note as the largest Orca in the pod broke off and made a bee-line for me, pinging me with its sonar. Time slowed down as my mind battled with my intuition. I had heard warnings before about the extreme dangers of swimming with ‘wild’ Orcas, especially when these apex predators are engaged in a hunt. But in my heart I knew they were highly intelligent and evolved creatures who ‘should’ have no interest in hurting me. As it approached, I thought to myself, ‘well I am about to find out the answer’.

Orca approaches me underwater

The Orca came right to me then veered off at the last moment, drifting down into the deep blue below me. I spun around just in case another oOrca might be sneaking up behind me but there was nothing. I watched the Orcas return to the hunt and the battle continued. But it we difficult to keep up and I returned to boat as the Sperm Whales attempted to retreat from the Orcas. On the surface, we gasped as the assault suddenly turned into a frenzy. The Orcas appeared to separate one of the juveniles from the rest of the group and they set upon in a fury. Dorsal fins sliced the surface on all sides, bodies rolled, and huge tails violently crashed down, as the sea turned to a frothing, churning mess.

Sperm Whales struggle to survive Orca onslaught

Sperm Whales in chaos from Orca attack

Sperm Whale exhausted from Orca assault

It is unclear as to wether the Orcas succeeded in their attack. We observed the family of Sperm Whales regroup and charge eastward as the Orcas briefly gave chase then peeled off. And then it was all over. For me, this was without a doubt the most incredible encounter I had ever experienced in the oceans and something I will never forget!

Orca charges through Sperm Whales

I worked closely with the fabulous underwater dancer/mermaid model – Hannah Fraser for months leading up to the Hawaii project to co-produce the unique concept for the world’s first ever Manta Ray Fashion/conservation shoot. We had an extremely precise vision, however we were both apprehensive as to the chances of actually capturing this never before seen imagery. Nevertheless,  we were resolute in our commitment to make it happen one way or another!

Hannah Fraser with Huge Manta Ray

Above all else, Hawaii has been a world leader in Manta Ray conservation, having established laws to protect manta rays from any exploitation. Kona Hawaii is home to the world famous Manta Night Dive, one of the most spectacular diving experiences in the world!
Mantas are beautiful, gentle creatures, capable of high levels of intelligent behaviour, who are being slaughtered for their gills. These amazing animals are long lived (up to 50 years or more), slow to reach maturity, and produce very few offspring (1 pup every 2-3 years).

The shoot is a key element in a conservation media campaign by WildAid and Shark Savers, working together on the Manta Ray of Hope project aimed to raise serious awareness for manta rays leading up to an extremely important meeting in early March. The United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) meets every 3 years, and 177 member nations vote on whether to grant international protection to certain highly threatened and endangered species. After 3 years or incredible effort, manta rays are finally on the voting ballot. Now is the time put in place urgently needed protection.

Manta Ray Killed for Gill Raker Trade

Unsustainable fisheries are now wiping out their small and isolated populations. One of the primary drivers of this increase in fisheries is the gill trade, and market that uses Manta gills in a psuedo-medicinal tonic in China and elsewhere in Asia. On the other hand, Manta Ray Eco-Tourism is worth over USD 140 million world wide, and this tourism is now under severe threat from fisheries and the gill trade. Our objective with this shoot was to present the beauty of the manta rays, their willingness to interact with humans in the hope of inspiring people to conserve this magnificent animal.

So many things have to be in alignment to make a shoot this challenging come together successfully. Weather, swell, water visibility, animal interaction, the model’s underwater ability, safety divers, lighting, temperature, and of course cameraman skill! The crew had so many challenges along the way, but these ocean professionals knew that when working with the ocean that you have to just flow with it! As a natural follow up to our Whale Shark Fashion Shoot, I was joined by my good friend and talented wildlife/fashion photographer Kristian Schmidt to shoot this project.

This Shoot Was Powered by Gear from Backscatter and Light & Motion!

As even a single technical failure could prove disastrous for the shoot, we partnered with Backscatter to ensure we had the right underwater camera gear and rigging equipment. Our team was outfitted with and array of Canon 1Dx and Canon 5D Mark 3 Nauticam underwater systems, plus a complex array of rigging and technical accessories. Without this gear, none of what we accomplished would have been possible!

Lighting was key to the success of the shoot, and working closely with Light & Motion, we assembled and deployed a lighting array of 16 Sola 4000s that generated almost 70,000 lumens of light underwater! No other lighting solution could have delivered the massive amount of light we needed, with several hours of burn time and in such a compact format!

On the ground in Hawaii, The Manta Pacific Research Foundation, Jack’s Diving Locker, and Torpedo Tours provided the critical guides and dive operations to ensure our shoots were perfectly timed and orchestrated.

Lastly, we were honor to have Oscar winning director of the Cove, Louie Psihoyos, join us for part of our shoot and offer generous support for the project from OPS!

Hannah Fraser Lit Up in a Full Underwater Set

We hand-picked the team of professionals who were not just top of their fields, but also incredibly passionate about the ocean and conservation.
– Hannah has been working as a professional mermaid for over a decade, using her underwater modeling skills to highlight the ocean environment.
– Shawn is an award winning underwater and conservation photographer/cinematographer, with extensive experience working with big ocean animals and human subjects.
– Kristian is a world-class fashion/wildlife photographer who’s newly acquired passion for underwater photography has resulted in immediate and impressive results.
– Tre Packard and Akira of Pangeaseed worked tirelessly as safety divers and lighting assistants to ensure every shoot went off without a hitch.
– Maria Teresa Chavez handled all make up and support, including cooking some great meals that kept Hannah and the crew focused on issues essential to our delivery.
– And finally, the talented Eric Donaldson of Nineteen87 donated his time to document the entire behind the scenes story of the shoot!

With our combined experience in the ocean we were able to communicate wordlessly underwater and adjust to the nuances of the changing environment at all times in synch. Hannah danced effortlessly on the ocean floor with these massive, yet incredibly graceful and gentle Manta Rays swirling around her!  She was tied down 30 ft deep to the ocean floor with 50 pounds of weights on one ankle, a huge swell pushing her back and forth above the sharp encrusted boulders on the ocean floor, with viper eels occasionally wrapping around her legs, holding her breath for minutes at a time, unable to see clearly without goggles, in freezing cold water at midnight with huge wild mantas of up to 15 ft wide brushing up past her. The skill, training and courage required to achieve this extremely challenging look was of the awe inspiring!

We worked 5 days straight, up to 20 hours a day! When we started watching the footage and seeing the photos appear we were utterly elated, as it was exactly what we had hoped for, and even exceeded our expectations! Tears were shed in the name of creative satisfaction by all involved!

Hannah Fraser Reaches Out To a Manta Ray

Hannah Fraser In Awe Of a Huge Manta Ray

Beyond Hannah’s fearless and graceful work, the Manta Rays were the stars of the show. These creatures are very intelligent and curious animals, and they are often seen to be interacting with divers and snorkelers for extended periods of time.

Plankton is attracted to the lights in the water, and the manta rays enjoy a feast of their concentrated natural food source. For almost 20 years, Manta Rays have been showing up each night and divers/snorkelers from across the world have come to interact, appreciate and learn more about these magnificent and vulnerable creatures. This has created a mainstay for the Hawaii manta tourism industry, generating millions of dollars each year in direct tourism revenue. It’s a win/win situation!

The reaction of people when they see the footage and imagery alternates between utter disbelief and accusations of CGI and photoshop, to even envy. But mostly we are receiving genuine respect and support for the real conservation outcome we are trying to achieve and inspire.

A Massive Manta Ray Brushes Past Hannah Fraser

Sir Richard Branson was one of the projects supporters, and is a passionate voice for the environment. He is genuinely in love with the ocean and its creatures. Sir Richard is the International Manta Ray Ambassador for WildAid. This marks the world release of Sir Richard’s Manta Ray PSA. I work closely with Sir Richard on marine conservation projects and the two have spent hours together filming charismatic marine life in the ocean, including whale sharks, manta rays, sailfish baitballs and even tiger sharks!

Richard Branson with Shawn Heinrichs and Sharks

Our Passionate message is – Yes! You can make a difference! We must act now to put a stop to the Manta gill trade and we can make this happen at the CITES meeting in early March. Concerned CITIZENS can sign this petition, asking this governments to vote in favor of manta ray conservation:

In addition, countries must move quickly to put regulations in place to stop the slaughter of manta rays and protect these precious and highly valuable creatures.