‘Aren’t you afraid of sharks when you go dive?’ a question usually heard from non-divers when they find out that you like to spend a reasonable part of your life between creatures with gills.

Unless you’re on a suicidal underwater mission in South Africa, Australia or Florida, you should be afraid that your life may be endangered by a shark choosing you for dinner.

Diving with sharks

Having said that, sharks are actually quite shy animals. A clownfish is more curious and definitely more aggressive than the average shark. I hear you coming though… you’ll most likely survive a clown fish attacking your mask….  No seriously. Of the 350 different species of sharks only a handful thrives in the zones we play around as divers or swimmers. The other are far away in the open ocean or dwelling on the bottom of some deep dark abyss

Any underwater photographer can testify that sharks are quite an annoying species, as they usually swim away just when they got to the right distance to take that shot. That’s why most amateur underwater photographs only show the shark’s tail.

So where does this shark tale come from? Steven Spielbergs’ JAWS surely didn’t help. After the films came out, mass history started and thousands of ‘maneaters’ got slaughtered during fishing tournaments and in nets. The actual fear of sharks most likely comes from the way the shark attacks?

2007 had worldwide only 71 shark attacks (ISAF, reported) whereas there’s hundreds of times more attack by other sea critters as poisonous fish, octopi and jellyfish. I shall not bore you with the numbers of traffic accidents. Anyways. If you are traveling to a tropical area where sharks are around, you are 10 times more likely to get killed by a falling coconut then being killed by a shark.

Most sharks don’t- or can’t attack humans. We’re not in their diet, sorry, but they just don’t like us.  Not even if you have your period. Period. If they attack it is by mistake or as a warning… they can get a bit territorial. Sharks to look out for are; bull sharks, Great whites, Macko’s, and Tiger sharks. None of those have been sighted on any of the world’s most popular diving spots, maybe at a large distance or when throwing food in the water.. On top of that, Sharks are scared of the ultrasonic noise the underwater breathing apparatus makes. The airflow through the metal parts at sonic velocity, creating a high sound that the sharks don’t like.

So, what can we see while diving? Quite common are the leopard sharks. They usually sleep on sandy patches and will slowly swim away if too many divers are patting him. Their teeth are turned into a field of very small teeth that merely serve to grind up stuff small fish and invertebrates rather than to rip something apart. Blacktip or whitetip reef sharks can be seen almost around the globe, mainly in the deeper areas of the reef. They will stay well out of your way and they rarely grow larger than humans. The biggest of all, the whaleshark has turned some area’s into a sightseeing spot, since these gentle creatures just hang there, close to the surface, scooping up tons of microscopic plankton with their 5-14m long body, blue dotted color. No teeth again…

So why is it that man wants to kill sharks so eagerly? Is it jealousy? After all, a shark has quite a body;

Ultrasonic navigation & tracking system, extremely fast and hydrodynamic body, two penises (claspers)

Smell and hearing that can detect pray miles away. Sharks don’t have to brush their teeth, they fall out on a regular basis and a brand new crisp white row is pushed forward. And as last… they’re able to survive nuclear attacks and underwater bomb blasts… hmmm

Unfortunately their system showed unsuited to deal with fishing nets, trawlers, and the non-stopping habit of eating shark fin soup. The biggest enemies of sharks are humans

Shark meat is not the tastiest fish you want on your plate. It has quiet a high amount of ammonia and also stores happily an unhealthy amount of heavy metals dumped in sea by humans. Therefore, most shark meat is worked into fish food, cosmetics, cat food etc. Often the sharks are thrown back into the sea after their fins were cut off.

Too bad actually, since sharks have quit a role to play in the eco system. They’re good in cleaning up cadavers and plastic Tesco bags that get stuck in their stomach. As with most predators in nature, they help keeping fish stock healthy by taking out the sick, weak or old fish.

So, if you go dive and see a shark… praise yourself lucky, stay at a distance, and respect the sharks’ privacy and territory. No patting…

Submitted by Ben Reymenants, Blue Label diving