From Grimsby to the Gulf of California, marine biologist Dr Darren Whitehead has built a career studying sharks and encouraging people to see beyond their frequent media portrayal as man-eaters.
Although the Lincolnshire coast is not known for sharks, Darren said he had always “liked an underdog story”.
“I’ve been amazed by how people have so much fear of sharks and they’ve never seen a shark in their entire life.
“Hollywood and all these movies have just kind of influenced our opinion and perception of sharks.
“I just wanted to knock on the door of that and see if there’s something true about that or if they’re just misunderstood animals.”
Darren spent his early years between Grimsby and nearby Caistor, on the north-western edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds.
“I grew up by the ocean, loving the coast, loving the smells and sounds.
“I have fond memories of Cleethorpes, going down to the waterfront, spending time with my family and just enjoying the cold, fresh breeze of the North Sea.”
At 19, he began studying marine biology in the UK before moving overseas, spending time in Spain, Mallorca, Kenya and the Philippines.
“Unfortunately we don’t have that tropical weather in Grimsby,” he added.
“I was always drawn to the more tropical regions of the world.”