Ocean Ramsey: The Controversy Continues: Undercurrent 11/2025

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Ocean Ramsey free-diving with sharks

As we reported in September, the Netflix documentary Shark Whisperer, featuring Ocean Ramsey free-diving with sharks, attracted some severe criticism, especially from some shark scientists. Some believe she is unnecessarily molesting sharks, and, because she has no scientific credentials, she is making no contribution to science. Some seasoned shark divers objected to her diving out of the cage, touching the sharks, and setting up other divers for serious accidents. Some say she is grandstanding.

So, we asked Undercurrent members what they thought, and your comments are enlightening. Most see her differently, saying she is bringing awareness of sharks to the world, she is not molesting sharks, and her documentary was informative, polished, and breathtaking. That she is not a scientist is insignificant.

But not all our members see her that way.

She is Not the Real Thing

The argument against Ocean Ramsey's shark whispering and the documentary itself is well presented by Undercurrent member Phil Carp from Scottsdale, AZ.

"I'm fully in agreement with the criticisms noted by David Shiffman (whom I know well) and other shark scientists.

"While the cinematography was indeed beautiful, that's about the only positive thing I can say about the documentary. Not only does it glorify her unethical behavior, but I believe it is dangerous, as it could easily embolden others to try to emulate her antics. It's an accident waiting to happen, with risk both to sharks and to the crazies who will try to copy or outdo her....

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