There is often an overlap in hobbies and a call for action for outdoor fanatics—a common link between recreation and conservation. Many athletes and adventure enthusiasts find a calling in protecting the very things that allow them to do whatever it is they love to do. From large-scale movements such as addressing climate change to acute community projects like raising awareness about an endangered critter in a local trail’s ecosystem. Stewardship is an extension of passion. In Born To, a select edit included in the KEEN International OCEAN FILM TOUR Volume 3, Ocean Ramsey blends a love for competitive freediving and ocean exploration with work as a marine biologist and shark conservationist.

You’re a certified scuba instructor and self-proclaimed “water woman.” Which came first, your love for sharks and marine life, or your interest in scuba diving and free diving? Did one lead to the other?
I grew up in and around the ocean here on the North Shore of Oahu so for me it all started at a very young age and all sort of developed naturally. I got my start diving and exploring the local reefs as a kid with my family and friends. It was around that time I saw my first shark in the water and very quickly realized they are way more afraid of us than we are of them. I watched this shark cruise the reef’s edge so beautifully and gracefully and knew that the false perceptions that the media fed us were terribly inaccurate. From that point on I knew I wanted to be a voice for these fascinating animals and speak up for them since they cannot for themselves. From there I continued to advance my scuba and free diving as well and begin my marine biology studies. So, I suppose you could say one thing led to another but it was very natural and organic. It just always felt right to live and work for a cause of something that I truly love.

Can you list all of your certifications/qualifications? (Don’t be modest).
Thank you so much for asking! I am the lead conservationist, marine biologist, ethologist, Head Field Researcher, safety diver, and founder of One Ocean Diving. I have worked with over 32 different species of sharks all over the world for over a decade. I am a professional scuba and free dive instructor as well as extensively trained in all things safety! Safety is ALWAYS my number one priority and I like to teach others how to be as safe as possible and how to handle emergency situations. I am an emergency oxygen instructor, AED instructor, 1st aid instructor, CPR instructor, Wilderness EMT, lifeguard, and certified for on-site neurological assessment, and a DAN diving emergency management provider. I am also a USCG certified captain. I also spearhead a lot of our own unique research on shark behaviors among other studies at One Ocean Diving.

When did you know you wanted to study marine biology? What did you do in your life to ensure that could happen?
Marine biology was always a passion of mine, but when I realized the misconceptions of sharks versus how they truly were, that was when I knew I had to do something about it. Sharks are not only feared, but they are also being killed at a rapid and obscene rate of 2-3 sharks per second, which adds up to 70-100 million sharks per year. These numbers are ONLY what is recorded so what is happening under wraps is even more outrageous! Why are sharks being killed at this rate? For their fins. That’s similar to elephants being killed solely for their tusks. The desire for their fins mainly comes from what is known as shark fin soup which is a toxic, tasteless, and very unsustainable status symbol in China. It is a very outdated tradition which makes false health claims of having inaccurate cancer curing abilities. Sharks have a very slow reproduction rate so they can’t catch up to reproduce to balance out the rate they are being fished and killed. So we are losing sharks at an extremely rapid rate and have already killed 90% of the worlds shark population. With my passion for the ocean, and seeing how humans were affecting marine life, I didn't let anything stop me from trying my hardest to make a difference. I continue to do so on a daily basis and want to spread the message that if you love something and work hard to protect it, amazing things can happen.

Can you tell us about your love for competitive freediving? We’re a bunch of snow-loving skiers, what exactly is a freediving competition?
Freediving competitions are in various disciplines. “No limits” where you are attached to a weighted sled and drop as deep as you can and have a buoyancy device to help you back to the surface. “Dynamic” is when you’re swimming underwater for a competition for the greatest distance. “Static” is a competition of longest breath held in water. “Constant weight” is when the competitor uses just masks and Fins, swimming up and down on your own power, which is my favorite. There are variations within each of these like “free immersion”, which is pulling yourself down on a line for depth with or without fins in dynamic, etc.

I used to compete more, and I do love exploring the potential of the human body limits, but my true passion for free diving comes from being able to better connect to marine life. I love being under the surface with and without bubbles from scuba gear, you're less intimidating for the animals and they feel more comfortable coming closer to you and seeing you as one of them versus an alien. While I am a professional PADI open water scuba instructor for over ten years I feel there is nothing more natural and tranquil then just grabbing my mask and maybe my fins and jumping in and spending time with marine life without all the extra gear. 

Do you train specifically for freediving competitions? Or does that just come along with your work as an underwater scientist?
There are a lot of breathing techniques, dietary requirements, meditations and more skills I practice on a daily basis to enhance and maintain my free diving abilities and control my heart rate. Its kinda like anything else, practice makes perfect. Luckily, I am in the water constantly so my mammalian dive reflex is always getting stretched and worked. This is a reflex in all mammals that allows us to spend longer periods of time underwater and is like any other physiological reaction it can be stretched and built up.  

One word to describe growing up in Hawaii?
Natural. The natural world has always been of extreme importance to me and luckily Hawaii is known for enchanting natural beauty. 

Any water sports or activities you haven’t tried or haven’t done much of that you’d like to?
Me and my diving sisters always joke about underwater yoga. Being underwater makes it so much easier to get a good stretch in and release tension. I put together an underwater yoga course that I want to promote more. I also have never been kite boarding and would love to try.

In “Born To” you say sharks function as the immune system of the ocean. Can you elaborate on that?
Sharks naturally eat the dead, dying, weak, or injured animals leaving only the strongest to survive and reproduce. This keeps our oceans healthy and well balanced similar to the way white blood cells keep our bodies healthy, aka our immune system.  Sharks have evolved for over 400 million years and in my humble observation are prehistoric perfection!

What can an average, landlocked person do to help in the conservation of marine life?
Reduce, reuse, recycle! Everyone’s responsible for the amount of debris they produce and even garbage and single use plastics make it into waterways and end up affecting wild life. I would love to put together a short video showing the journey of carelessly discarded plastic waste as it travels across the lard affecting wild life and eventually ending up in the ocean affecting marine life and possibly even the livelihood of other countries as I have seen plastic from certain countries in the dead carcasses of marine species in another country. 

Now that you know about the issues sharks and our oceans face, you can take a stand for sharks! Tell your friends about sharks, tell them to tell their friends, post information you may learn on social media, use hashtags, and spread awareness! We recommend watching documentaries like Shark Water and Racing Extinction versus fear based movies that only profit off of peoples fear and misinformation. Organize group events on ocean awareness, shark awareness, and any issues you may feel passionate about. Go into schools and do presentations. At One Ocean and Water Inspired we have a keiki (youth) outreach program that we take very seriously. The next generation is going to have an impact on the environment after us, so we try to get them while they are young. If you are interested in following our social media accounts and reposting any of our informative posts, our IG handles are: @oneoceandiving @waterinspired @oceanicramsey @juansharks @oneoceanresearch @keiko_conservation.

What are some projects you are currently working on?
@OneoceanResearch we are getting ready to begin conducting new studies on the social impact of conservation and citizen science programs and how social attitudes can affect marine life and coastal management.  I am currently beginning filming SavingJaws a documentary about my efforts and journey around the world to show sharks in a different light and shed information about the current plight of our oceans and marine life. I am looking for more companies to help support this project and collaborate for the cause.  I have also designed a not for profit line of “awareness” apparel on our OneOceanDiving.com website to raise money for shark conservation. That has been helpful in running our events like beach clean ups, keiki out reach, talks and presentations. The awareness apparel is marine life themed clothing and accessories.

Advice to anyone hoping to make his or her passion for the outdoors into a career or profession?
Believe anything can happen. Believe one person can change the world. Believe in your cause. Find what you love and work hard to protect it. The rest will follow suit. 

Don't miss Ocean in the KEEN Interntational Ocean Film Tour Volume 3 touring this spring with Warren Miller Entertainment. Learn more HERE.