As a Hawaiian, Mike Coots feels a natural connection to the ocean. Despite losing his right leg to a shark attack at 18, the surfer and diver returned to the water within a month, and in the 20 years since has dedicated his life to changing people’s perceptions of sharks. With his incredible underwater photography, Mike showcases the beauty of the sea to his 165K+ Instagram followers while educating people about sharks and advocating for their—and their ocean habitat’s— protection. As he says in the caption to one of his close-up shark shots, “My wish is to use my photography to reveal sharks in a new way, one that isn't based on fear but intrigue.”