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A mako shark comes in for a close look at photographer Jacopo Brunetti’s housing
 

Off the rugged coast of Cabo San Lucas in Baja California, where the sea floor seems as far away as the stars in the sky, you’ll find Photographer of the Week Jacopo Brunetti immersed in his element—the big blue. Surrounding him you’ll either see a few strapping smooth hammerheads, or perhaps the cheetahs of the sea—makos. Whatever species it is, it doesn’t matter—they are all magical beasts to Brunetti.

Jacopo’s obsession and love of sharks is more than evident from the first time you meet him. His contagious zest for photographing and freediving with these streamlined, prehistoric creatures puts any angst you may have into the farthest corners of your mind. And as you float on the surface of the sapphire-blue, fluid body you can’t help but be in awe of his utter ease and understanding of these so-called “predators.”

Jacopo has been working as a marine biologist, underwater photographer, PADI instructor, and shark guide for the past 12 years. He is the owner and operator of Cabo Shark Dive—the first and only shark diving company in Cabo San Lucas. Plus he has a masters degree in Ecosustainability Tourism and Environmental Pollution from a university in his hometown of Milan, Italy.

Through the years, Jacopo has had countless experiences photographing sharks—from South Africa, Egypt, and the Azores, to Hawaii, Australia and the Philippines. With his images, he tries to highlight the issues surrounding shark fishing—collaborating with the likes of the Shark Research Lab at the Hawaiian Institute of Marine Biology. Jacopo’s powerful portraits of these threatened beauties help bring a greater awareness to their plight.
 

A mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) on the hunt
 

A whale shark (Rhincodon typus) feeding at the surface
 

The silky sharks (Carcharhinus falciformis) eye resembles a cat eye
 

Giant oceanic manta ray (Manta birostris) and freediver
 

A fun portrait of a mako captured at the surface
 

The most revered of sharks—the white shark (Carcharodon carcharias)
 

Three silky sharks intersect
 

Close-up of a mako shark
 

A curious juvenile California sea lion
 

Smooth hammerhead
 

A striped marlin catches dinner
 

Jacopo Brunetti
 

See more of Jacopo's jaw-dropping work at www.cabosharkdive.com.