Florida State Coastal Marine Lab:

By day two of the expedition, I was sunburnt, seasick, in desperate need of a shower, and having the time of my life. Watching the “FSU girls + Dean” wrangle in full-grown sharks was feral. Being that close to something with so much power was terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. When the words “fish on the line” were said, I could feel the excitement boiling up as I rushed to stick the water housing over the boat in preparation for a photo. This underwater photo series captures the FSU shark research team off Florida’s Space Coast.

People tagging sharks from a boat, with a hammerhead visible beneath the water's surface.
Woman in a blue shirt and green bandana on her face holding onto a boat railing with ocean in background.
A hammerhead shark underwater near a fishing line, seen from a partially submerged perspective with bubbles and water movement.
Two researchers on a boat working with a large, hammerhead shark.
Scientists working on a research boat in the ocean, handling equipment related to shark research.
A hammerhead shark with part of its body submerged and part above the surface.
A person is holding a fishing hook attached to a large shark's mouth in the water, with the shark's head partially submerged.
Two women on a boat with one handling a large shark in the water. One woman is sitting while the other leans over the boat railing, wearing sunglasses.
A man wearing sunglasses, a cap, and a white jacket holding a shark on a boat at sea.
Group of young women on a boat, with one woman writing on a clipboard and others engaging in research, on a sunny day at sea.
A researcher wearing gloves handling a shark on a boat, with the shark's mouth open and teeth visible, in the ocean.
Person wearing blue and gray gloves holding a small fish on a fishing hook over water.
Scientists on a boat working on a large hammerhead shark, using tools and equipment to examine the creature.
Two people on a boat, one leaning over the side, holding a rope, with water below and a clear sky.
A woman with wet hair and sunglasses on her head standing on a boat, smiling with water and sky in the background.
Close-up of a person's knees, with one knee showing a small scrape with a bit of bleeding and scraped skin, under bright sunlight.
Two women sitting on a boat, smiling and enjoying the day on the water. One woman has blonde hair, wears a white hat, sunglasses, and a white long-sleeve shirt. The other woman has dark hair, wears sunglasses, and a blue shirt.
Researchers on a boat tagging a shark in the ocean on a sunny day
A photo of a large hammerhead shark attached to a fishing line with a hook, partially submerged in ocean water.