Articles

Blue sharks are aptly named: The upper half of the body is a stunning azure color, perfectly camouflaged in the open ocean environments that this shark favors
 

We have dived with lots of sharks. From the formidable great white, to the mighty bull and tiger shark, to schooling hammerheads, lemon sharks and numerous reef shark species. More often than not, we have been merely spectators, where the environment has been controlled with either shark cages or safety divers, or where the sharks simply pass by or hang in the current. Enter the blue shark (Prionace glauca), one of the ocean’s most curious shark species. With blues, we are no longer spectators; we are part of the show.

We are in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean on Pico Island, in the central group of the Portuguese Azores. Pico is a rich, verdant volcanic isle where Portugal’s highest mountain Ponta do Pico stands sentinel, guarding fertile soils that nourish rambling vineyards cascading down toward the ocean. Here with the team at Shark Education, our mission is fourfold: to photograph the beautiful blue shark; to learn about the hazards facing this species; to collect data and contribute to the first ever registry of blue sharks in the Azores; and to not just be spectators, but to learn about and interact with these charismatic ocean explorers.
 

Seen from below, the elegant shape of the blue shark is evident

Feeling Blue

Blue sharks are the most (over)fished shark species in the world. As a cosmopolitan species with one of the widest distributions of any shark and inhabiting temperate and tropical oceans worldwide, their presence globally increases their vulnerability. These incredible sharks are caught as bycatch in longline fisheries that target tuna, swordfish, and other deep-sea species. As pelagic sharks, they spend their time at depths from 1,200 feet (350 metres) up to the surface. Because they often swim at the surface, they are easier to catch than other shark species that dwell deeper.

Despite birthing up to 135 pups at once and having a relatively high reproductive rate, blue sharks’ slower growth rate and slow maturation process contribute to their “Critically Endangered” status in the Mediterranean and “Near Threatened” status on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species globally. The continuous overfishing of blue sharks is cause for concern for the future of the species and the resulting overall impact on our rich marine ecosystems. Like all sharks, blues are also heavily targeted for their fins, which are highly valued in the shark fin trade in Asia.
 

The bottom-up view of a blue shark, showcasing those iconic long pectoral fins and pointed snout. Don’t be fooled by the seemingly small mouth—blues are predatory sharks and have teeth to suit

Getting to Know the Blue Shark

Each day we navigate 22 nautical miles from Pico to arrive at a wild underwater seamount known as Condor Bank. A heady cocktail of oily chum is poured into the water; it takes just a few minutes for the first sharks to arrive. These sharks must have been close by. Many individuals travel long distances and can detect prey with their highly tuned sense of smell from two-and-a-half miles away, a distance that can take the sharks several hours to cover as they hone in on the scent.

Shark naturalist guide and educator Margaux Le Brun from Shark Education tells us that, as divers, we are largely responsible for how the interactions go with the blues. “As soon as we enter the aquatic environment, our behavior and attitudes will have an impact on the behavior of the sharks around us,” she says. “We are 70 percent responsible for our interaction with animals underwater, and we are entering an environment that is not our own, and whose codes we know little or nothing about.”
 

The islands of the Azores as viewed from above: These spectacular blue waters are among the best places in the world to swim with the iconic blue shark
 

Margaux explains that as more chum enters the water, the sharks become bolder and more inquisitive. We wait on the boat before getting in the water. Despite the attraction of the chum, the sharks remain cautious and sometimes decide not to stay if there are too many people in the water when they arrive. It is important to give the sharks some time to adapt to our presence.

Don’t be fooled by the somewhat comical and goofy appearance of the blues. Because they live in the open ocean, they do not find food easily. They are opportunistic predators and anything they encounter is a potential food source—and thus must be investigated. “The sharks will come to you and maybe bump you, or bump your camera, to try to figure out what you are. So be prepared and be ready. You may have to redirect them,” Margaux explains. Most of the time, simple eye contact keeps them at a comfortable distance. “Your best defence is your eyes,” she says. “Maintain eye contact and know where every shark is.”

Sounds easy, right? One shark, OK; two, simple enough. However, when you can no longer use one hand to count the sharks, things start to get interesting. This is not an easy dive. Sea conditions can be choppy and it is important to remain calm and relaxed. Sharks make a living by hunting animals in distress and can tell if you are stressed or upset. By wearing dark, non-contrasty colors, adopting an upright position and bearing no resemblance to their natural prey, we make it far more unlikely that the blues will confuse us for something edible. A lack of reaction can also intrigue a shark and encourage it to come closer until contact is made. It’s important to be proactive: Look around and show that you’re alive—and not something inert with no reaction.
 

This blue shark seemed to strike a pose for the camera, showing off its elongated snout and big eye
 

As photographers, making sure you can manage your camera in the current and around the sharks is paramount. Many operators will provide a line for you to use as a reference. Clipping onto this line with a lanyard or by placing the line on the inside of your arm is a good idea, as it will allow both hands to be free to operate your camera and to redirect the sharks when necessary.

Margaux teaches us to redirect the sharks, either by placing our hand on the top of the shark’s head and pushing the shark down and away, using our fins to block the shark’s nose when one approaches from below, or by gently pushing and guiding them away with our cameras. In the absence of hands, sharks investigate objects by bumping or testing with their mouths. When redirecting sharks, it is important to avoid sensitive areas like gills and eyes.

Blue sharks, like any other big shark species will often approach from behind and out of your field of vision. In the terrestrial and underwater animal kingdom, predators always observe their prey—not the other way around. “Blue sharks are unaccustomed to being observed and will seek to get out of the open field of vision to investigate in safety and learn more about you,” Margaux tells us.

The element of surprise in sharks has also been observed as a hunting technique. When diving with predatory sharks, it is important to minimize this type of approach by always maintaining eye contact. “Surprise underwater is never pleasant and provokes a physicochemical reaction in our bodies, giving signals to the shark, which can be interpreted as attack or defense. In both cases, a misinterpretation can lead to accidents,” Margaux warns.

Watch for dilated or retracted pupils, which may indicate the shark is excited or in control. The types of approaches adopted by the sharks—like their speed, their positioning in the water, whether they choose to be below or at the same level as the divers—are important in reading the scene in order to react accordingly. Watch out for pieces of chum that might drift towards you, and be sure you know where every single shark is at all times.

No two dives are the same. Sometimes, the sharks will be interested only in the drumbox positioned 15 feet away. Sometimes, they’ll stay on the surface enjoying the chum that the skipper keeps throwing, showing no interest in the divers. Sometimes, neither the drum nor the chum interests them, but their inquisitive instincts will encourage them to come close to you. “Each dive depends on the environmental conditions, the personalities of the sharks, their personal learned experiences that influence their personalities, and the state of mind you are in at the time,” Margaux explains. “There are a lot of factors to take into account.”
 

The open ocean is subject to ripping currents and strong winds, and in the middle of the Atlantic, the Azores is no exception. The current is what brings the scent of chum to the sharks, and you can see the diver downline is stretching out as the dive boat is blown across the surface by the wind, making it a challenging dive on strong wind days

Blue Ocean Science

Attracting sharks via bait is controversial. Some believe it teaches sharks to associate boats and humans with food. However, the baiting here is minimal, and in reality you would never have a chance encounter with these sharks without baiting them. Importantly, it also provides the scientific community with an unparalleled opportunity to undertake leading-edge research that would otherwise not be possible. Working with Azores native and marine ecologist Jorge Fontes at the University of the Azores, the team at Shark Education with their citizen scientists have been collecting data on the blue sharks visiting the area to contribute to the first ever registry of blue sharks here.

Using non-invasive methods like photo identification and underwater laser technology to measure the sharks, we were able to contribute to the identification of seven new blue sharks. A total of 21 individuals have now been ID’d during the inaugural 2024 program.

But it is not that easy to identify these sharks. You must have unique identifying factors such as cuts on the caudal or pectoral fins, and unique patterns or marks along the body in general and the demarcation line between the blue of the back and the lighter flanks. Light injuries, parasites or other markers like fishing hooks or line are not reliable, as they can dislodge or heal quickly. Deeper wounds or tissue removal will leave scars and are more reliable for identification. Even though we measure the sharks, they grow over the years, of course. You must take good, clean images of both sides of the shark, and to measure them properly using underwater laser technology, their incredibly flexible body must be straight.

Margaux tells us that little is known about the blue sharks in the Azores, so anything we can do to help the research community here is important. “One thing we do know is that the west Atlantic Ocean tends to be the mating area, and the eastern Atlantic is the pupping area, with neo-juvenilles and females showing up here much more frequently than males. Females tend to stay clear from the males until the time they choose to mate.” Margaux tells us that at Condor Bank, 99 percent of the blue sharks seen are male.
 

A perfect ID shot of a blue shark, escorted by pilotfish
 

The ID card for the above shark

Getting the Shot

As a photographer, you will be totally seduced, firstly by the intensely blue water, and secondly by the incredible agility and beauty of the blue sharks. Because of their curiosity, a fisheye lens is your best friend, as the sharks will get very close once they are comfortable. While we usually prefer to use the viewfinder in most photographic situations, on this dive, we opted to use the LCD instead. Maintaining eye contact with each shark is important, and getting lost in your viewfinder is not recommended. Blue sharks move reasonable slowly in the water, so shutter speeds of 1/125s are usually appropriate.

This is a shallow dive, no more than 30 feet, so while shooting in ambient light is doable, using strobes on a low power setting will give that nice kiss of light to bring out the details of these beautiful animals. As with all sharks, blues have electroreceptors all over their snouts. They provide the sharks with a sixth sense, allowing them to detect electromagnetic fields produced by your camera and strobes. Ensure you are comfortable and confident with your equipment and with having sharks close to you. Margaux will teach you how to read the sharks’ behavior and to redirect them safely.
 

The namesake blue coloration helps the blue shark blend like a ghost into the depths when seen from above

Want to Help Sharks and Learn More?

As top ocean predators, sharks are essential to retaining global marine ecosystem balance. However, now more than ever, they face severe threats from public fear, misrepresentation by the media, TV and film industry, and of course, overfishing. Conceived in 2011 by Steven Surina, Shark Education runs shark trips in all countries where there are sharks globally. Focusing on conservation and education through interaction, Steven is one of the few divers to dive out of the cage with the great white shark and to practice tonic immobility on numerous shark species.

Graduating in marine biology, professional diver and underwater camera woman Margaux Le Brun is a naturalist guide and shark seminar facilitator specializing in human–shark interactions. She leads groups of shark divers to over a dozen international locations, not only the Azores. She has made more than 1,000 dives with sharks, including several hundred hours with top predators such as the tiger and bull sharks.

“Be well-informed, have good psychological preparation, and choose your operators wisely,” Margaux says. “If you approach shark diving with respect and humility, and don’t exceed your limits, you will feel humbled and impressed. We’re lucky to be able to dive with predators that have been around for over 400 million years. It is a privilege.”
 

Likely having smelled the chum from miles away, a blue shark approaches the feeder and the baitbox
 

Sharks globally face immense pressures from fishing; blues are no exception. This individual sports a big hook in the crook of its mouth with a bit of line trailing off it. While the hooks will eventually rust out on their own, it can take years, and they do irreparable damage to the shark

Photographing Blue Sharks in the Azores

Getting There: Pico Island is serviced daily via SATA Azores Airlines 2.5-hour direct flight from the city of Lisbon on mainland Portugal. You can also travel between the islands of Pico, Faial and São Jorge by local ferry.

When to Go: Margaux Le Brun runs blue shark education trips from July to September, based out of Pico. At this time of the year, the sea conditions are favorable and water temperatures are a respectable 75°F (24°C).

What to See: The Azores offer an abundance of marine life and unique underwater landscapes. Being smack in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean attracts a vast array of pelagic species, including several species of sharks, rays, whales, and dolphins. Trips also include an optional visit to Princess Alice Bank, a large deep-water seamount showcasing a diversity of oceanic life, from devil and manta rays to whale sharks, all of which can be seen relatively frequently during the months of July and August.

More Information: To find out more, contact Margaux Le Brun at Shark Education via Instagram.com/sharkgirlmargaux or Instagram.com/shark_education_official, or visit www.sharkeducation.com.
 

A beautifully blue shark, cruising in beautifully blue water, beneath beautiful sunrays
 

About the Authors: Based in Melbourne, Australia, Anita Verde and Peter Marshall have a passion for the planet’s wild places, and through their images and narratives hope to inspire better appreciation and protection of the natural world. When not underwater, you’ll find them on a mountain somewhere. To see more of their work, please visit their website, www.summitstoseasphotography.com.