Meet the woman who swims with sharks, stingrays and fifty-foot whales in a bid to save the ocean. Mesmerizing images show Kayleigh Grant...
Meet the woman who swims with sharks, stingrays and fifty-foot whales in a bid to save the ocean.
Mesmerizing images show Kayleigh Grant, 32, from Hawaii, bonding with all kinds of underwater creatures, even getting up close and personal with a pregnant shark in a bid to prove just how misunderstood they are.
In the breathtaking image Kayleigh places a hand on the top of the twenty-two-foot great white shark while filming the encounter to document the female shark's pregnancy.
Under the sea: Amazing images capture a talented diver getting up close and personal with underwater creatures, including a huge humpback whale
Mermaid: Kayleigh Grant, 32, from Hawaii, has been obsessed with the ocean for as long as she can remember - and she now works as an underwater safari guide
Bravery: The diver, pictured with a twenty-two-foot pregnant shark, wants to encourage people to form a more personal connection with the ocean, while also showing that many creatures - including sharks - are misunderstood
Another snap sees the confident diver holding onto the fin of an impressively large stingray measuring 16-foot in length and six-foot in width.
Although Kayleigh's underwater adventures have only recently started being documented, her obsession with the ocean began when she was just a few years old, with the diver revealing that she grew up being fascinated by the sea. So when Kayleigh was 22, she began diving although she'd always go snorkeling as a child.
That hobby has now developed into running an ocean safari company, Kaimana Ocean Safari, along with her photographer husband, Cam Grant, off the coast of Kailua Kona.
As a trained ocean guide, Kayleigh understands the behavior of these animals allowing the couple to spend all day, every day, documenting the ocean life around them. Kayleigh's regular companions include sharks, a 30,000 kilogram humpback whale, and a group of six-foot wide pink whipray stingrays.
'I was able to swim with a twenty-two-foot great white shark which was most likely pregnant and it was a beautiful experience,' Kayleigh said.
'She did not feel threatening at all. I love to swim with sharks because they are very misunderstood animals. They are actually more graceful and gentle than people may think.
New perspective: 'Most animals are able to sense energy and are smarter than most people would give them credit for,' Kayleigh, pictured with stingrays in French Polynesia, said
Swim fan: Kayleigh began snorkeling when she was a young girl, but only learned to dive in 22
Moving on up: Despite originally starting diving as a hobby, Kayleigh loved it so much she decided to turn it into a career by starting an ocean safari company with her husband, Cam
'Most animals are able to sense energy and are smarter than most people would give them credit for. The stingrays I encountered in Moorea in the French Polynesia are fed by local guides so they're unafraid of interacting with people.
Going green: Kayleigh also hopes to encourage more people to protect the ocean
'Typically, touching wildlife should be avoided but these stingrays swam right up to me and even ate out of my hand.
'Their senses are very strong so they will investigate you but unless you have food in your hand, it's very rare that they'd want to bite or nibble.
'To always be safe, do not feed wild animals unless you are a trained ocean guide or professional. Being able to understand and watch their behavior is very important for safety.'
Ocean pollution is becoming a huge problem.
According to Conservation International, over 8,000,000 tons of litter is dumped in the ocean every year and experts suggest that by 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.
This litter congregates in patches and the largest of the patches, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, covers an area twice the size of Texas.
Kayleigh and Cam aim to showcase the ocean's beauty. They hope that by doing so, they encourage more people to take an active role in protecting it.
'With every photograph, we aim to create a human connection to water and the beauty of the ocean. If people feel connected to something, they will want to protect it,' Kayleigh said.
'It's necessary to protect the ocean because it provides life on this blue planet.
'You can help protect the ocean by eating less fish, choosing sustainable seafood, using less single-use plastic, and by speaking up for the ocean. Finally, you should always pick up trash when you're on the beach.'
Deep blue sea: The images of Kayleigh are taken by her photographer husband
A worthy cause: 'With every photograph, we aim to create a human connection to water and the beauty of the ocean. If people feel connected to something, they will want to protect it,' she said
Safety first: Although Kayleigh wants to encourage people to get up close and personal with the ocean, she warns the you need to be careful when approaching fish and other animals
Precautions: 'To always be safe, do not feed wild animals unless you are a trained ocean guide or professional. Being able to understand and watch their behavior is very important for safety,' Kayleigh, pictured with Cam, said
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