With Hollywood’s portrayal of sharks as evil and vicious predators, many people believe that swimming with sharks is unavoidably dangerous. However, if practiced in the right conditions and with the help of professionals, even people who are inexperienced may find swimming with sharks to be an exciting way to connect with nature. Mr. Simmons our founder and his team swim with the Great Whites every September just off the coast of San Fransisco. It gives the team another chance to be up close and understand an Apex Predator in its natural environment.
Although there are over 350 species of sharks, only some of them have attacked humans unprovoked. According to Ocean Ramsey, who cofounded One Ocean Diving, sharks choose not to attack when they are not starving or competing with each other. During an interview, Ramsey said that humans kill 70 million to 100 million sharks each year for their fins, while fewer than 10 human fatalities are caused by sharks globally in the same period.
When swimming with sharks and not protected by a cage, it is essential to stay calm, because sudden movements may provoke them. Before entering the water, research sharks and how to act around them for your and the shark’s safety. It is also necessary to choose a responsible dive operator that ensures safe processes for you and the shark. Moreover, you should never go without a buddy.
There are several places one can scuba dive, snorkel, or cage dive with sharks. For example, on Oahu, Hawaii, there are snorkeling tours where it is possible to cage dive with some of the most dangerous sharks in the region; the metal cage is safe, and it floats at the surface of the water. Tiger sharks, Galapagos sharks, sandbar sharks, and scalloped hammerhead sharks can all be found on Oahu, and they may circle the cage, sometimes just inches from the bars. There are also cage-free tours on Oahu, where divers can swim with some of these sharks.
Another way to encounter dangerous shark species, such as the great white, is by visiting Port Lincoln in Australia. There, some shark tourism companies allow certified divers to spend nearly an hour on the ocean’s bottom inside a steel cage. This enables divers to look at the great whites in their natural territory.
If you prefer to swim without a cage, consider Isla Mujeres in Mexico, where you can snorkel with the largest fish in the world, the whale shark. These sharks are entirely safe to be around, and they stay near the water’s surface, so there is no need for deep diving. Whale sharks visit Isla Mujeres from June to August.
Belize is a travel-worthy spot for those who want to safely swim with sharks. Home to nurse sharks, the crystal-clear waters also contain lively coral reefs that provide an intense snorkeling experience. Another tourist location with shark swimming opportunities is the remote Tuamotu Atolls, a location in French Polynesia with clear waters and hundreds of gray reef sharks. Scuba divers can hire dive boat operators to guide them to the east side of Tetamanu Pass, where they can sit on the ocean’s bottom watching marine wildlife.
Nassau, in the Bahamas, is one of the world’s most famous places to swim with sharks. The sea is home to several shark species, such as tiger sharks, Caribbean reef sharks, lemon sharks, and oceanic whitetip sharks. In Nassau, there are professional shark feeders who offer cage-free tours for certified scuba divers. The shark feeding guide wears chainmail to set up a bait box, which attracts Caribbean reef sharks to the area. This species is very large but tends to be indifferent to people.
Matthew Simmons 