Underwater photographer and free diver Henry Cooper @lensofcoop) joins CREATOR: The Podcast to share his unique approach to documenting California's marine life. Host Ross Borden explores Henry's journey from drone photography and big wave surfing at San Francisco's Ocean Beach to becoming a viral creator who now plays with baby seals in California's kelp forests. They dive into the stark differences between free diving and scuba diving for wildlife encounters, the devastating impact of warming waters on kelp ecosystems, and why Henry would actually love to encounter a great white shark underwater. Henry offers behind-the-scenes insights about diving the Channel Islands—NASA's "Galapagos of North America"—plus his recent experiments with underwater scooters that have sea lions following him for hours. Whether you're a water enthusiast, aspiring creator, or simply fascinated by marine life, this conversation delivers valuable perspective on building an authentic connection with ocean wildlife while creating content that matters.
To learn more about CREATOR: The Podcast, visit creatorthepodcast.com
00:00 - Introduction to Henry Cooper
00:37 - Podcast and guest welcome
01:12 - Seals: interactions and recognition
03:19 - Seal parenting and juvenile behavior
05:14 - Leopard seals and predatory species
06:26 - From photographer to freediver: origin story
08:46 - Spearfishing vs filming
10:53 - Ocean warming, fish migration, and kelp decline
13:53 - Diving through kelp forests (description)
15:04 - Sharks: encounters, risks, and myths
18:26 - Shark population decline and threats
22:17 - Channel Islands: biodiversity and diving
24:44 - Notable dive locations worldwide
26:03 - Freediving skills and why he prefers it
27:57 - Creator journey and monetization
29:05 - Underwater scooters and gear
31:31 - Dream dive destinations and closing
32:11 - Where to find Henry online / outro
