Country of residence: USA
Diving since: Kayleigh 2012; Cameron 2015
Level/agency of certification: Kayleigh PADI Divemaster; Cameron PADI AOW
Kayleigh Grant is a freediver, shark conservationist, USCG-licensed captain, and PADI Divemaster who has spent more than a decade working with sharks on the North Shore of Oahu. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Ecotourism and completed the Marine Option Program at the University of Hawaii, as well as a shark specialty certification through Cornell University and Queensland University.
Together with her husband Cam, a US Marine Corps veteran and underwater photographer, she co-founded Kaimana Ocean Safari in 2020, a Kona-based operation offering ocean wildlife expeditions and guided shark encounters. The pair also lead international dive expeditions and have built a significant social media following by sharing their encounters with sharks, whales, and other pelagic species.
In their own words, here is a little more about Kayleigh and Cam and what drives them in and out of the water.
How did you get into diving?
Kayleigh: I grew up just outside of Philadelphia, but I was always obsessed with the ocean. I watched Free Willy and The Little Mermaid on repeat, and my dad took me whale watching in Massachusetts, which sparked something in me at a really young age. When I moved to Hawaiʻi in 2012, I finally had the opportunity to learn to scuba dive, and I completely fell in love with the underwater world.
Not long after, I started working with sharks on Oʻahu, and that changed the course of my life. What I found underwater wasn’t fear—it was peace. Today I get to combine my love of diving, wildlife, education, and conservation every single day through my business Kaimana Ocean Safari & online.
Cameron: I moved to Oahu in 2014 and began diving shortly after. I started by going on shark dives with Kayleigh.
What is your most memorable underwater experience?
Kayleigh: That’s a hard one because every encounter is different, but one that will always stay with me was freediving with a great white shark while it fed on a dead whale off of Oahu Hawaii in 2019. It was a magical & peaceful experience!
Cameron: Swimming with a great white shark feeding on a dead whale off the coast of Oahu 2019.
What is your proudest professional moment?
Kayleigh: Starting Kaimana Ocean Safari is probably what I’m most proud of. Building a company centered around education, conservation, and creating meaningful wildlife encounters has been incredibly rewarding.
Cameron: Starting Kaimana Ocean Safari.
What do you wish more people understood about the ocean?
Kayleigh: I wish people understood that the ocean isn’t separate from us—it’s what keeps all of us alive. It produces roughly half of the oxygen we breathe, regulates our climate, and supports countless communities and species. I also wish people realized that sharks aren’t monsters; they’re essential for healthy marine ecosystems.
The more time I’ve spent underwater, the more I’ve realized that people protect what they love. If more people had the chance to truly experience the ocean, I think they’d want to fight for it too.
What advice would you give to a new diver?
Kayleigh: Don’t focus on getting deeper or seeing the biggest animals right away. Focus on becoming a comfortable, confident diver first. Learn to observe instead of rushing from one thing to the next. The better your foundational skills become, the more incredible experiences will naturally come your way. And never stop learning—every dive teaches you something new.
What is your favorite piece of Cressi gear and why?
Kayleigh: My favorite piece of Cressi gear are my Gara Modular Carbon fins. They’re something I rely on every single dive, whether I’m guiding guests in Hawai'i, swimming alongside sharks, or traveling around the world filming marine life. Good fins make diving feel effortless, and having equipment I know I can trust lets me focus completely on the experience instead of my gear.
Cameron: My Cressi Nano mask. It is amazing for freediving with its low profile.
What does being a Cressi ambassador mean to you?
Kayleigh: Being a Cressi ambassador is an opportunity to represent a brand that’s been part of the diving community for generations while sharing my passion for the ocean with a wider audience. I hope to inspire more people to explore the underwater world safely, responsibly, and with a greater appreciation for marine life. If even one person discovers a love for the ocean through something I share, that’s incredibly meaningful to me.
Cameron: Cressi was with us from the start and having the support of a well established company meant the world to us early on.
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