An explorer's life is all about firsts. In a career with records and accolades following another like pearls on a string, Sylvia Earle may have reached another: first marine scientist to make an important shark discovery in the middle of an environmental disaster.

On a research mission to the Gulf of Mexico last week, in waters 70 miles of the coast of Louisiana but still clear of the oil and gas spewing from BP's runaway well, Earle and scientist Eric Hoffmayer were surrounded by dozens of supersized whale sharks.

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