Floating out in the middle of the Atlantic, the 9 volcanic islands of the Azores are anything but lonely. The waters around these islands are teeming with life - including the graceful blue shark. Watching the blue sharks swim in the open ocean is akin to watching ballerinas on stage at the Met. These graceful and curious sharks swam around me, occassionally bumping my camera with their noses. The most curious and friendly shark I encountered here was Scarface - easily recognizable because of the big rusted fishing hook stuck in his mouth. Now more than ever, sharks like the blue sharks of the Azores need our love, our understanding, and our protection.