Ocean Ramsey is a big name in the marine world. You’ve probably seen her posts on your social media feed, swimming freely amongst sharks she considers friends. With millions of likes and followers, her audience ranges from casual fans who enjoy pretty pictures to adventure seekers to marine biologists. Of course, she also has many detractors, who raise questions about the dangers and ethics of what she does; can humans truly bond with wild animals without inflicting harm?
Shark Whisperer tells Ramsey’s story in her own words, from growing up in Hawaii to launching her brand, highlighting her lifelong love of the ocean and its most misunderstood inhabitants. You can see her passion for diving and sharks, and also her self-awareness of the way she uses her platform. She knows full well her following is built on posting aesthetically pleasing videos and pictures; she is also aware of her privilege as a conventionally attractive white woman, and uses it to push for better conservation efforts. And she repeatedly states that diving with sharks is a risk she takes every time. Ramsey walks the line between #content and environmentalism, and it’s nigh on impossible to separate the two from who she is.
The documentary also talks to marine biologists, indigenous knowledge holders, and fellow conservationists to paint a fuller portrait of Ramsey’s journey. By doing so, it opens up the conversation where ethics and nature collide. It doesn’t seek to sway you in one way or another; it’s left up to you to decide what criticism stems from jealousy or sexism and what criticism stems from care for animal welfare and respect for indigenous practices. Hawaii has long suffered from the devastating effects of colonialism and environmental damage, which are tied to one another. And it doesn’t shy away from portraying that, even while centering Ramsey.
Does it work? Well, it gets you thinking beyond its central story, and maybe that’s the point. This isn’t a standard nature documentary; if anything, it’s more about the human stories of connection to the environment. The clips of sharks in their natural habitat, and Ramsey’s fearless interactions with them, are woven throughout and are certainly visually stunning, working to show these underwater giants as more than just frightening predators. But it’s the surrounding narrative that seeks to undo years of bad press against sharks—while considering whether we could still stand to do better by them.
Rating: C+
Level of Enthusiasm: 62%
