The Brazilian Who Dives with Sharks and Captures Everything Up Close: “If It Wants to Eat Me, There’s Nothing I Can Do”

Daniel Botelho is one of the most respected names in the world of underwater photography. With over two decades of experience documenting marine life, he has become a global reference when it comes to diving — without any protection — alongside sharks.

Daniel’s passion for the ocean began early. An old VHS tape from 1988 shows a seven-year-old boy thrilled during a family visit to an aquarium. In the footage, filmed by his mother, he appears excited: “I have very important news! I photographed a shark!” His fascination with the sea and its creatures already hinted that his future would be underwater.

Growing up in Rio de Janeiro, with the ocean practically in his backyard, Daniel spent hours swimming, snorkeling, and observing fish. Interestingly, when he watched the classic film Jaws (1975), while many were terrified by the idea of a great white shark lurking near swimmers, he felt even more connected to the creature. His admiration ran so deep that he never saw sharks as a threat, but as part of the world he loved so much.

With a simple analog camera in hand, Daniel began capturing the underwater universe at a young age. Today, he has an impressive collection of images and has been face-to-face with great white sharks on numerous occasions — many of them less than a meter away, and without the use of protective cages.

“When you dive with a shark without a cage, you’re trusting the animal’s nature. If it wants to eat me, there’s nothing I can do,” he says. What many see as madness, Daniel sees as a powerful way to show the world the beauty and importance of these ocean predators.

Over the course of his career, he has logged more than 170 hours of freediving with sharks — all meticulously recorded in his logbook, the diver’s journal of expeditions. His work, in addition to its artistic value, plays a vital role in conservation, helping to shift public perception of sharks and advocate for their protection.

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