Skyler Thomas, founder and videographer for the nonprofit White Shark Video in San Francisco, will talk about frequently misunderstood white sharks on Thursday, Oct. 30, when he speaks at the Pacific Grove meeting of the Monterey Bay Chapter of the American Cetacean Society. The program begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Boat Works building at Hopkins Marine Station, 120 Ocean View Blvd. It is free and open to the public.

Thomas, whose motto is “turning research into film,” started the video group five years ago to help call attention to the plight of white sharks. He swims underwater with them without a shark cage, recording their movements, behaviors and feedings.

“I do think sharks are really cool,” Thomas told a recent interviewer. “The main reason I focus on them is that I think they are in really big trouble and need people to tell their story… If everybody sees what I saw, maybe they would have a harder time killing them or holding them captive.”

Recently, Thomas has been snorkeling with humpback whales. His most recent posting last month on Animal Bytes TV is an 11-minute video called “Swimming with Whales: Price of Existence.” It includes incredible underwater footage of humpback whales interacting with snorkelers, and mom and baby whales nuzzling and snuggling like they were weightless in their motion and tenderness.