Asian Diver and Scuba Diver Issue 01-2018 (111) | Page 8

CELEBRATING SHARKS
FROM THE EDITOR
There is no better time to assert the importance of sharks than now.
At a time where at least 11 species are listed by the International Union
for Conservation of Nature as “Critically Endangered”, 15 species are
“Endangered”, 48 species are “Vulnerable”, and 67 species are “Near
Threatened”, we have no time to waste.
While activists and conservation groups work tirelessly to protect sharks, we
have chosen to celebrate these incredible animals in this Collector’s Edition – to
celebrate their beauty and power, and the sovereignty they demand. It is our
hope that through this celebration, sharks will be one step closer to breaking
free from the shackles of unfounded stereotyping and merciless persecution.
In these pages, you will meet some of the smallest, fiercest, friendliest,
and rarest sharks. From the awe-inspiring great white to the adorable dogfish
sharks, Scuba Diver Ocean Planet presents a collection of images from some
of the most talented underwater photographers across the globe. These
individuals have united with the same vision – to see our sharks saved.
As the saying goes, a picture speaks a thousand words. Let these images
attest to the true nature of sharks – gentle, inquisitive, and unaggressive.
They need our help, but we need theirs as well. The ocean’s ecosystems
become imbalanced without the existence of sharks: Food webs will be
disrupted, reef populations will decline, and habitats will be destroyed.
But with our collective will, we can still reverse the damage done. So join
us in this celebration; admire the wonders of the shark, learn the techniques
to improve your own shark photography, and share your thoughts with those
around you. If the world can see what we see, then perhaps our sharks stand a
fighting chance of survival.
SUNTEC CONVENTION
APRIL 6–8, 2018
ADEX
SINGAPORE
OCEAN WEEK
OCEAN18
FESTIVAL
by
On the cover
A portrait of a bull shark
swimming close to a
sandy bottom in
Quintana Roo, Mexico
Image © Christian Vizl
Photo: Amanda Cotton