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Hannah FraserAustralian diver and marine conservationist
Country:
 USA |
Content:
- Biography of Hannah Fraser
- A Journey into the Depths
- Protecting the Whales
- Creating Positive Impact
- A Protest Against Dolphin Hunting
- An Unforgettable Encounter with Sharks
- A Film about Hannah Fraser's Life
Biography of Hannah Fraser
Australian Diver and Marine ConservationistHannah Fraser, a 36-year-old Australian residing in Los Angeles (LA), is not just a model and actress, but also an experienced underwater swimmer and diver. Fascinated by mermaids since the age of three, Hannah swims with whales, dolphins, stingrays, and even sharks using only her unique tail. She crafted her first professional mermaid tail out of plastic at the age of nine after watching the movie "Splash" starring Daryl Hannah and Tom Hanks.
A Journey into the Depths
Through training, Fraser has increased her breath-holding time to about 2 minutes, allowing her to dive to depths of 14-15 meters without any scuba gear. She moves underwater like a real mermaid.
Protecting the Whales
Fraser, along with professional surfer Dave Rastovich, was deeply disappointed by the International Whaling Commission's decision to continue whale hunting under the guise of "scientific research." Determined to raise awareness about these magnificent creatures, they flew to Tonga with photographer Ted Grambeau to capture stunning photographs of humpback whales swimming alongside Fraser in the Vava'u Island group in northern Tonga. Filmmaker Bali Strickland captured the underwater scenes on video.
Creating Positive Impact
While many photographers focus on capturing the cruelty of whale hunting, Grambeau, who participated in creating the children's book "The Surfer and the Mermaid," chose to highlight the positive emotions that would allow young readers to truly love whales. He describes the frames with Fraser as poetic, surreal, and beautiful.
A Protest Against Dolphin Hunting
In 2007, Fraser organized a protest action in the whale hunting town of Taiji, Japan, alongside 30 celebrities and musicians who surfed on boards. The team attempted to stop the merciless killing of thousands of dolphins by local fishermen. Fraser recalls that half of the dolphins were captured, while the other half were herded towards the fishermen. The frightened dolphins tried to approach the surfers as if they knew they were trying to help. However, the fishermen threatened the conservationists and directed their boat propellers towards them. Fraser laments, "We couldn't get any closer, and we couldn't save the dolphins." The experience left her feeling helpless and questioning humanity's treatment of its fellow creatures.
An Unforgettable Encounter with Sharks
In 2009, Fraser encountered 4-meter sharks near Guadalupe Island in Mexico. She decided to forgo diving in cages and relied solely on her mermaid tail. During one of her dives, a shark approached her at a dangerous distance, prompting Fraser to make a scary face and scream at it. This frightened the toothy predator, and Fraser felt invincible for months afterwards.
A Film about Hannah Fraser's Life
Currently, filmmaker Rob Benavides is working on a documentary about Hannah Fraser's life.
