If you love sharks, perhaps have a fascination with these fantastic predators, then one of the most remarkable things you can do is to actually interact with them in the wild. If you are a SCUBA diver there are lots of places in the world where it is possible to get up close and personal with sharks in their natural habitat – the ocean.
Here, in no particular order, are 5 places where this is possible and some of the highlights you can expect.
You are all set to go undersea diving and experience the wonders of the deep blue ocean among sea turtles, whale sharks, manta rays, coral reefs and different types of fish. But before you finally decide to take that plunge, it is important to make sure that you have all the necessary equipment for scuba diving. When you hear the word ’scuba’, the most apparent things that may come to your mind are diving masks, snorkels and flippers, but there are more important things included in the list. In this article, we will learn more about the basics of scuba diving gear. Read on to make sure you have the proper scuba gear that you will need before you go on your undersea diving adventure.
Before you purchase any scuba diving gear and equipment, it is important that you make sure everything fits properly and comfortable. A wetsuit is that is too small or too big, or a diving mask that does not fit snugly can definitely make your dive less than pleasant. So when choosing your diving mask, you have to make sure it stays properly in place and you can see effectively behind the mask. Your snorkel should appropriately fit with the diving mask on, and it should be on your left side.
As a dive professional for some years now, it still gives me some amusement to notice that some perceptions don’t change so quickly; entry-level student divers especially. Their worries or anxieties remain the same. Besides the usual queries about the diving course, anxieties regarding sharks and the perceived threat to their well-being when they go diving are still very much existent.
To the general public, the mere mention of the word “shark” conjures up imagery of a fierce marine animal with sharp jagged teeth able to tear into flesh and bone easily, constantly on the prowl in the sea, ever ready to pounce on the swimmer, snorkeler or scuba diver who has the misfortune of being in the wrong place at the wrong time! Thus, as a dive educator, besides instructing the total newbie diver on the skills and safety aspects of scuba diving, there is an added element of trying to reform misconceptions of the marine environment and sway traditional perceptions of dangerous marine animals, mainly sharks!