Beneath The Waves

Beneath The Waves Beneath The Waves is a global NGO working to conserve sharks and the habitats they occupy through cutting-edge scientific research.

Beneath The Waves is a registered 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization working to protect our oceans. Beneath The Waves' mission is to advance the conservation of sharks and their habitats through cutting-edge scientific research. As top predators, sharks are crucial to maintaining healthy and balanced ecosystems but, as slow-growing species with low reproductive rates, they are highly sensitive to

overexploitation and population declines. Beneath The Waves uses innovative technologies and research approaches for advancing our understanding of the biology of sharks in order to create information needed to support their conservation.

Our annual impact report is out! Strategic growth, ocean giants, new countries, and plenty of publications and discoveri...
08/24/2026

Our annual impact report is out! Strategic growth, ocean giants, new countries, and plenty of publications and discoveries. Copy the link below or look in our bio to dive in to the details of what we accomplished in 2025.

https://beneaththewaves.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/BTW-2025-Annual-Impact-Report-compressed.pdf

Two years ago, what started as an ordinary shark safari turned into one of the most extraordinary wildlife encounters we...
08/06/2026

Two years ago, what started as an ordinary shark safari turned into one of the most extraordinary wildlife encounters we’ve ever witnessed.

We were in the water with around 50 silky sharks when an unexpected visitor arrived—an orca. We ended the shark swim and followed the pod, watching them hunt a mobula ray from our drone. Once they seemed relaxed and socializing, we entered the water.

One adult was carrying what looked like a sunfish. Then, without warning, another orca shot up beneath us upside down at incredible speed, slamming into the fish—it literally exploded!

If you’ve joined us on a Latitude Encounters trip over the past two years, you’ve probably heard this story and seen the video.

Katy Ayres , together with our friend Erick Higuera and other collaborators, have now described this behaviour as “ram of fragment.”

This is one of several observations from our tours that has contributed to scientific research, reminding us how much there is still to learn about life in the ocean.

We’re incredibly proud of Katy and all her hard work.

📖 Read the paper here: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/ethology/articles/10.3389/fetho.2026.1835536/full

📸 Mathias Van Asch & Fernanda Nieto

Publication Highlight // Fragmentation of sharp-tail sunfish (Masturus lanceolatus) caused by high-impact ramming behavi...
08/04/2026

Publication Highlight // Fragmentation of sharp-tail sunfish (Masturus lanceolatus) caused by high-impact ramming behavior in orcas (Orcinus orca)

Orcas are among the ocean's most intelligent predators, continually revealing new and complex hunting behaviors.

In a recent study in the Gulf of California, our team members and collaborators documented adult orcas using a powerful "ram-to-fragment" hunting strategy to target sharp-tail sunfish (M. lanceolatus). By striking the fish with enough force to break it apart, the adults may make prey easier to consume, create feeding opportunities for younger orcas, or even reinforce social learning through cooperative hunting.

Observations like these offer a glimpse into the remarkable adaptability of apex predators and remind us that there's still much to discover about how marine species interact, learn, and thrive in life beneath the waves.

Read the full paper here: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/ethology/articles/10.3389/fetho.2026.1835536/full

We've got a few familiar faces on the big screen this week. Some of our team will be featured on this Tuesday at 8pm E...
07/28/2026

We've got a few familiar faces on the big screen this week. Some of our team will be featured on this Tuesday at 8pm EST! Make sure you tune in for a mysterious and interesting glimpse into the world of sharks.

Publication Highlight // Addressing distributional and taxonomic uncertainty in the deep-sea giant isopod genus Bathynom...
07/24/2026

Publication Highlight // Addressing distributional and taxonomic uncertainty in the deep-sea giant isopod genus Bathynomus with an integrated observational and molecular framework

“We built the largest database of giant isopod sightings to date, sequenced their first mitochondrial genome, and led fieldwork in The Bahamas and Japan to bolster future deep-sea genetic studies. I am thrilled to have worked with such knowledgeable and diverse researchers!“ - Dr.

You can read the paper via the link on our bio!

Special thank you to The Fralin Life Sciences Institute at Virginia Tech for sequencing support.

“PADI Women’s Dive Day – a tribute to the hard work and dedication that women around the world have put in. Women now ma...
07/18/2026

“PADI Women’s Dive Day – a tribute to the hard work and dedication that women around the world have put in. Women now make up approximately 40% of recreational SCUBA divers in the world and more than 20% of PADI Professionals. Having been a PADI Pro for a decade now myself, seeing the unrelenting efforts and significant growth towards gender equality is inspiring.

This year’s theme focusing on Shark and Ray Conservation is even more special to the team here at Beneath The Waves, as Ocean Giants are at the core of our scientific research. Women leaders are known for their collaboration, emotional intelligence, and ability to inspire a team to work towards the mission, all leadership skills that are essential to ocean conservation efforts worldwide.

Whether you are participating in a beach or dive clean up, joining a citizen science dive and logging your shark and ray sightings, or donating to one of the many non-profits conducting critical scientific research, thank you. It is our intentional choices that we make everyday that compound to lasting impact. ”

- Shannon Aldridge, Director of Programs and Operations at Beneath The Waves

Behind every sample there are scientists. Those that we are proud to call team members who truly care about the animals ...
07/15/2026

Behind every sample there are scientists. Those that we are proud to call team members who truly care about the animals and choose to devote their lives to the greater wellbeing of the ocean.

📸:

Today is Shark & Ray Awareness Day 🦈 There are more than 1,200 species of sharks, rays, and skates found in oceans aroun...
07/14/2026

Today is Shark & Ray Awareness Day 🦈

There are more than 1,200 species of sharks, rays, and skates found in oceans around the world. Together, they fill an incredible diversity of ecological roles — from reef inhabitants and deep-sea scavengers to highly migratory ocean giants.

Yet, according to global conservation assessments, more than one-third of shark and ray species are threatened with extinction, largely due to overfishing, habitat loss, and unsustainable trade.
They are not animals to be feared — they are species to be respected.
Through research, collaboration, and conservation, we can better understand these remarkable animals and help ensure they continue to thrive in our oceans for generations to come.

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Although being out in the field is where the initial discovery happens, the leg work takes many hard years of diligent a...
07/02/2026

Although being out in the field is where the initial discovery happens, the leg work takes many hard years of diligent analysis in the lab and writing to officially describe a new species.

Fortunately, our recent contribution in this area, Bathynomus apothecarius, was recently accepted as a new species by the greater scientific community.

04/20/2026

Looking well be on the surface into the deep Waters of Japan. Our team has made its second stop to record some deep sea creatures in Suruga Bay.

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