Photographer Paul Souders swimming with the sharks in Hawaii
© Doug Perrine

Digital Railroad member Paul Souders shared this story of what it takes to catch the big one:

"The image was shot back in March (2008). I went down to Hawaii's Big
Island to photograph humpback whales, but spent a day out on a local
photographer's boat, snorkeling and free diving with Spinner Dolphins in
the morning, then cruising out to the deep blue in the afternoon looking
for sharks.

I'd never actually been in the water with Oceanic Whitetips
before, or any other shark before. But we found some circling, and the
skipper said to hop in. So I did. It wasn't until I was in the water
that I noticed they we bigger than me. And faster.
And with better teeth. When they got to close I gave them a small nudge
with my camera, but after a while we got comfortable with each other.
Given my awkward swimming and splashing around, I think they were biding
their time, waiting for me to expire."