Ocean

ocean
freediving
sharks
marine-life
Freediving, sharks, marine life, kelp forests, and reefs.
Updated

May 15, 2026

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Freediving

After a trip to Maui and Oahu in 2014 and, in particular, a snorkeling trip to Molokini, I began freedving. After I returned home, I found Dive California and took SSI and PADI freediving courses from Michael Timm.

Here I am ascending after a constant weight bifins dive. (Photo: Paul Knepper)

Recreational freediving in southern California. (Photo: Michael Timm)

Since then, I have spend a lot of time in and under water. Freediving is probably one of the most positive things I’ve done for myself and I absolutely love being in the water, especially the Ocean. I do a lot of line diving, but my favorite thing to do is to explore marine environments and encounter marine wildlife. Not as a researcher — just to connect with the aquatic world.

Here, I share some of the places and wildlife I’ve seen and I will probably add some stories later.

Sharks

Three leopard sharks (Triakis semifasciata) over a sandy bottom in shallow water. A common sight in the calm bays and nearshore areas of Southern California — large aggregations form seasonally, particularly females in warm shallows. (Photo: Jeff A. Tracey)

Tope shark (Galeorhinus galeus) in open water. A wide-ranging coastal species once heavily targeted by directed fisheries for its liver oil. (Photo: Jeff A. Tracey)

Horn shark (Heterodontus francisci) in rocky reef habitat — a banded guitarfish (Zapteryx exasperata) tail is also visible at the edge of the frame. Both are common residents of Southern California kelp and rocky reef. (Photo: Jeff A. Tracey)

Broadnose sevengill shark (Notorynchus cepedianus) — San Diego kelp forest. (Video: Jeff A. Tracey)

Oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus) — open ocean off Kona, Hawaii, 2018. The white fin tips that give the species its name are clearly visible. Once one of the most abundant large sharks in the open ocean; now severely depleted. (Photo: Jeff A. Tracey)

More to come.