The Life Aquatic of Perrin James
The Life
Aquatic of
Perrin James
Last Breath Film · Pompano Beach, FL · Arctic · Amazon · Arctic Circle · NatGeo
Underwater cinematographer. Freediver. Arctic ice survivor. The man who filmed the first ever freediver interaction with Narwhals — and somehow came back to tell us about it.
Tell us a bit about yourself and your career highlights.
I'm originally from Pompano Beach, Florida — a little city on the east coast. I lifeguarded and taught swimming lessons before buying my first underwater camera housing.
Career highlights for me are all about the wildlife I get to see and film. Filming the first ever freediver interaction with Narwhals has to be at the top of my list, alongside numerous Orca encounters. I've been published everywhere from one of my favourite Patagonia covers to Men's Health and Playboy. For film work I've shot underwater for feature films and successful documentaries, while also working for NatGeo Explorer and NatGeo Wild. It's been one crazy ride of underwater experiences.
first ever ✦
encounter
crocs 🐊
ice under
Hiu 🦈
Your greatest inspirations and influences?
My Dad has to be one of my greatest inspirations. He really pushed me to do what makes me happy regardless of what people think. I never thought I'd be able to make a career out of underwater films. I just loved showing people what I see underwater.
Kimi Werner has been one of my biggest mentors and friends. She has taught me so much about the world of sustainability and the importance of working with people and companies that have responsible ethics and values — while also teaching me many other life lessons about friendship and family.
"I never thought I'd be able to make a career out of underwater films. I just loved showing people what I see underwater."
"Anything cold water is difficult — and I mean freezing temperatures. Just keeping the camera running is a huge obstacle. When filming wildlife under the ice in the Arctic Circle, I slept with all my batteries so that they wouldn't freeze overnight."
Goodnight, little batteries. Sleep warm. 🔋 he spooned his batteries
We love Project Hiu — tell us about an experience that really moved you working on this film.
Project Hiu was an idea that Madison and I had spoken about for a long time before actually attempting to pull it off. I put every dollar and ounce of energy I had into producing and creating the films for this project — and since then the project has grown into the sustainable ecotourism model we were hoping for.
By hiring shark fishing boats to engage in tourism activities, the project offers an alternative income that simultaneously and effectively protects sharks. Perrin and Madison built it frame by frame, dollar by dollar. It worked.
"Our environment is very grim and sadly much of the change needs to happen on a government and corporate level. Being a conscious consumer is the number one thing you can do. Using your money to support — or not support — corporations is stronger than any vote in my opinion."
"Spreading awareness without policy change is the same as pissing into the wind. The more people that care about our environment, the more people that will be willing to protect and preserve it."
"My work is my passion. I'd hope to inspire anyone that wants to become a diver, a photographer, or anything they want to do in the ocean. The ocean doesn't care about your résumé."
Antakly Projects — originally Ninu Nina — has been archiving conversations with the most inspiring voices in conservation, film, photography, fashion and culture since 2003. Perrin James and Last Breath Film are exactly the kind of work this platform exists to share.
If Perrin's work moved you — watch Project Hiu and consider supporting the ecotourism model that's keeping sharks in the water.
The more people that care about our environment, the more people that will protect it. ✦And for the personal rants, opinions you didn't ask for, and the occasional existential spiral: follow me on Substack.
