Sharing the Water with Sharks with Luke Saddler

Many of us enter the water hoping to encounter sharks and rays, and maybe even get some prize images of our own – but how can we do it with as little impact on the animal as possible? In this episode, we discuss how to share the water with sharks safely, ethically and responsibly with wildlife photographer and filmmaker Luke Saddler, who has spent countless hours observing sharks in their environment and capturing their natural behaviours. We talk about how to: read body language, choose a responsible tourism operator, start out in wildlife film-making and become a ‘fly-on-the-wall’ – all while hearing some of Luke’s own incredible adventures in the field.

Find out more about Luke: @lukesaddler, www.lukesaddler.com

Shownotes: www.saveourseas.com/worldofsharks/podcast

Find us on social media: @saveourseasfoundation across all platforms!

Key timestamps

07:11 — A very special dive in a "galaxy of hammerheads"

13:09 — Luke’s journey from marine biology to wildlife filmmaking

16:23 — How understanding animal behaviour improves your footage

18:01 — Luke’s first shark encounters in Australia

22:42 — How to interact with sharks responsibly

24:10 — Cage diving, baiting, and choosing responsible operators

28:43 — What to look for in a shark tour operator

30:50 — How to behave around sharks underwater

31:17 — Reading shark body language (and when to back off)

35:19 — How drones are changing shark research and filming

40:44 — Planning a wildlife shoot

44:58 — Telling shark stories without fearmongering

47:30 — Getting started in underwater photography and filmmaking

54:18 — What to keep in mind before a first shark encounter