Adopt a shark -Support Research & Conservation

   At One Ocean, we prioritize non-invasive research methods to study individual sharks. We use photo-identification techniques to record unique features, such as scars and markings, on the top, left, and right side of the shark.  For some species such as the tiger shark we record the unique countershading pattern. This enables us to recognize and track individual sharks over time without harmful tagging. Our photo identification program has documented over 300 sharks of different species, allowing us to compare their behaviors and movements. 

We love introducing our guests to the personalities of our semi-residential and residential pelagic community and offer the opportunity to adopt one of the sharks surveyed by our program. Guests can also name a shark they encounter on their dive or worldwide by submitting photos of its distinguishing features. If the shark is not yet identified in our catalog, the participant will be honored to name it. Guests can stay connected with their adopted shark through social media and updates on our website. 

To support our research and conservation efforts, guests can obtain an adoption certificate with a photo of the named shark. This helps us record the shark in our research database records and daily field data set whenever we spot it. We invite you to join us in our commitment to the safety and conservation of these magnificent creatures through many ways including noninvasive research methods.

Ways you can help and get involved: 

There are two ways you can contribute to our shark identification database. The first way is by emailing us photos of sharks sighted off Hawaiian waters at oneoceandiving@gmail.com with the subject line "Shark ID". Please provide us with as much information as possible, such as the time and place of sighting, size, location, markings, and gender. Your contributions will help us expand our database and further our research. Please provide photos of all sides of the shark and any video you may have obtained. 

The second way to support our shark research is by adopting a shark through the button at the top of this page. One of our professional photographers will accompany a shark biologist to document and record the sharks until they can verify they have identified a "new one" or rather, one that is not yet in our program. We will send you the images, and you will have the honor of naming the shark. Once you have chosen a name, we will post it on our official record and on @OneoceanSharks and send you an adoption certificate, supporter certificate, and conservation gifts.

Thank you for supporting our noninvasive shark research. We appreciate your contributions to our mission to conserve and protect these amazing creatures. Aloha from the One Ocean Research and Conservation team.