this is catalina island. 27 miles off the coast of los angeles. place known for it's beauty both above and below the ocean that surrounds it. most of the dish that call these waters home go relatively unnoticed. but one spice species is impossible to miss. leopard sharks. hundredses of them. >> if you are the director of the shark lab and you are trying to revolutionize the way sharks had studded studied it's not a bad way to set up shop. chris lowe is the director of callcal state long beach's shark lab. getting to know him and his work is getting your feet wet. obviously here a day at the office is a differ different attire and a different look at the world. >> it takes a few moments under the water to understand chris' passion for the other ocean and the sharks he study:when : >> when i caught my first shark there was something about it. it looked so different from all of the other fish i caught and it looked so streamline and sleek. it didn't match all of the fish i caught. >> what about it from the sharks threat that interested you in a scien

june the teens swam the waters off alcatraz, followed by a relay race that lasted 12 hours off catalina island. the team is just getting started. their biggest challenge is still ahead, a 21-mile relay at the english channel. with each stroke and every swim, lives are changing like 16-year-old laura. >> i remember when i first did to alcatraz, i went over to my mom, and i just cried. she was like, what's wrong? i was saying, i'm just so happy. >> words cannot describe how proud i am of her. she's healthy, she's happy. >> reporter: their strict discipline carries over to the classroom where the students at arch academy attend year around have to agree to stay off social media, and where no dating is allowed. its founder, cheryl zack, saya it gives the struggling students the structure they need to thrive. >> it's really about reaching kids who haven't been able to be reached in other places that they've been. >> reporter: back in the open ocean, the students have proven there's no limit to what they can achieve. >> we did it! >> reporter: winners in the water. and now in life. miguel almaguer,