You’ve made your home on the big island in Hawaii. What’s the draw to island life for you? What are your favorite things about living there?

I moved to Hawaii almost 8 years ago with the idea that I would be able to spend more time diving and shooting film out here. As soon as I moved, it felt like people started to catch on to what I was doing and began hiring me. I’m constantly traveling and working in other locations around the world, but on the few days I do get to stay at home, I spend most of it down in the valleys of the big island surfing or diving. My favorite thing about Hawaii is the people. “Ohana” means family and that doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from originally.

You make a point of free-diving with your camera gear, holding your breath while you get your footage. Why is that important to you? Are there risks?

There are risks with any types of diving. Free-diving is only more dangerous if it is done incorrectly. Simple things like diving with a partner – someone you’d trust with your life – will remove most of the risks with blacking out or drowning. I only choose free-diving for most of my filming because of the way animals interact with you.

What’s the most incrediblE thing you’ve witnessed or experienced underwater?

Orcas, hands down. Every time I get into the water with wild Orcas my heart beats out of my chest. Narwhals are pretty cool, too.

Any favorite Chaco sandals? How do they help in your line of work?

The Playa Pro flips are my favorite right now. I’m a flip flop guy – or “slippah” if you’re in Hawaii. These are built tough, which matters because I tend to hike in my slippahs.

What’s next for Perrin James? Any cool projects coming down the pipe?

I have a handful of new films and projects I’m working on. Lots of coldwater ice-diving in the future, and hopefully spending some more time with the narwhals this year. This summer I’ll be heading back to Indonesia to make a follow-up film on an exploratory expedition to find new dive locations for “Project Hiu.” That’s [shark researcher] Madison Stewart’s project focused on creating new sources of income for commercial shark fisherman through ecotourism.