Swimming with Sharks | The Ultimate Guide

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The Ultimate Guide to Shark Diving

• Why Cageless Shark Diving?
• What Do You Need To Go Shark Diving?
• How Dangerous is Shark Diving?
• What is a Shark Anyway?
• So, Why are Sharks Important in the Animal Kingdom?
• What Kind of Sharks Will I See?
• Who Can Go Shark Diving?
• Where to go Shark Diving?
• How to Shark Dive
• Can I go Shark Diving?
• How Do I Choose a Shark Diving Guide?
• Is Shark Diving Ethical?
• Appendix

 

What the heck do silicone rings, watch bands and sharks have in common? Not a lot... unless you spend a weekend with the Groove Life Adventure Team!

One of the ultimate values at Groove Life is to inspire people to adventure by sharing our own stories of life on the wild side! If we don’t have stories to tell we can’t inspire you. If we aren’t inspiring you, we don’t even want to think about how we’d feel when we’re done selling rings and watch bands.

So, in order to inspire adventure the Groove Way, we went diving with sharks!

We went to show you that if we can do it…YOU CAN TOO!

To help you on your own Shark Diving adventure, we wrote the Ultimate Guide to Shark Diving.

So, when you decide to take the plunge and swim with sharks, don’t worry! We did all the work for you! We researched our options, compared prices, picked out the prime locations, found the best coaches in the world (well, that was mostly so we wouldn’t die) and learned a whole bunch about sharks and cageless shark diving.

Then, we swam with sharks. 

And here it is… the “Ultimate Guide to Shark Diving.” so get ready to “dive in” and plan your own trip! Get off the couch, get to the location of your choice (as long as it’s in this ultimate guide) and live the fantastic adventure of Cageless Shark Diving. 

 

Why Cageless Shark Diving?

Sure, you can go hop in a cage and enjoy the comfort of knowing there are impenetrable steel bars protecting you from losing a limb and becoming shark bait, but that’s no fun! We want you to feel the thrill of a shark slapping you in the chest with his tail fin (like we did) as he circles you to let you know he’s the King of the Sea!

If you’re hesitating, we understand! If you are like most sane people, your logical first question is “Why would someone ever want to go shark diving? And without a CAGE?!?”

Swimming around with sharks without a cage sounds like a death wish, right? 

Could it be the enticing draw of the hundreds of razor-sharp teeth in the shark’s mouth? Or maybe it is the thrill of shadowy shapes rising from the deep to snatch piec
es of dead fish from the waters around you?

Yes. Yes, it is all of these things and more. 

What most people don’t know  - and what we learned on our shark diving adventure is -  despite our preconceived notions about these magnificent fish, sharks are not “out to get you.” As you can expect, it’s easy for your heart rate to rise as you hop in a boat, headed out into the ocean with a plan to meet a shark... or five. 

As our Groove adventure team hit the water, it only took us a few seconds beneath the blue waves to realize that this beautiful world was something we could only begin to appreciate. Fish and other sea creatures swam peacefully in the ocean waters, and the great sharks swam up to bump gently against our legs, allowing us to get close enough to touch their leathery skin. These sharks were created by God with a specific, essential purpose, and we were honored to be able to take a few moments and appreciate them for the fantastic creatures they are. 

So, why we, or anyone for that matter, want to go shark diving? 

An experience like this opens your eyes. You will no longer see the ocean waves without imagining the beautiful creatures that live in the depths. You will not be able to hear the word “shark” without remembering the ones you were able to meet face-to-face. You will not be able to “fear” them as you did before. Instead, you will feel respect for the role they play in nature.

Yes, shark diving is intimidating, but so is mountain climbing, running a marathon, traveling the world, and even loving other people. The experiences you remember most are often those that required the most courage. Plus, most cageless shark diving costs less than $300 so it's a fantastic adventure for a very low cost!

If you ever have the opportunity to slip beneath the waves and live out this thrilling adventure for yourself, we encourage you to take it! As cliche as it sounds, the old saying is true. You only live once - and, the way we see it, shark diving in the wild ocean is the eye-opening kind of moment that makes life worth living.

 

What Do You Need to go Shark Diving?

You now have a healthy respect for these incredible creatures called sharks, and you have a long list of locations to choose from when you plan your shark diving experience!

Now, it’s time to prepare yourself for the life-changing experience that lies ahead.

You may be thinking, “What do I need to shark dive?” As you may expect, there are a few shark diving essentials you will need to obtain before you leap into the underwater home of the sharks.

Are you ready to dive in? Let’s get packing!

1. You need an ocean. 

This may sound elementary, but you actually need to choose a very specific area of water… you can’t just shark dive in any old cove! You’ve read our list of locations that are ideal for diving and the types of sharks you could see there, but there are a few things you’ll want to look for when you choose a shark diving destination: clear, moving water is a prime habitat for sharks. We chose Jupiter, Florida because it has beautiful, clear water, especially for the area, and is a popular place for sharks because the Gulf Stream Current flows just a couple of miles off the coast! This makes Jupiter a prime location to see sharks and lots of other marine life in what the Shark Addicts say is ‘one of the most highly diversified marine ecosystems in the world.’

2. You need a crazy-awesome guide.

Shark diving is a fantastic experience, but diving into a shark habitat is like climbing a live volcano. You need to have a healthy respect for the situation and make sure you’re traveling with an expert. 

Make sure you choose a guide that knows what he or she is doing! Our experience with Apex Encounters in Jupiter was a fantastic experience and lots of the credit goes to our fantastic guide. He was very experienced and professional He made sure we knew as much as possible about the sharks we might encounter and had a healthy respect for these gigantic predators, and he was always ready to hear any concern we might have. 

Make sure you choose a guide with a fantastic personality! Shark diving can be an intimidating experience and you want someone who knows what they are doing, but also can put you at ease with a great sense of humor! This is going to be an unforgettable memory and you want to experience it with someone who will make every moment fun and exciting!

3. You need a boat.

While some of you might be in a condition to swim several miles out to sea - looking at you Chuck Norris - the rest of us need a bit of transportation. When selecting a boat, you’ll want to make sure it is nice and large with plenty of space to walk around. If you’re thinking about taking your lake weekends pontoon out to sea, think again! You need to take a boat that is specifically designed for the ocean… and it doesn’t hurt if it looks pretty cool as well!

4. You need money.

We know… all the best things in life are going to cost you. Thankfully, shark diving is one of the less-expensive adventures you’ll find! Our shark adventure in Jupiter cost only $200 per person for a half-day experience! We were blown away by the affordability of such a professional and high-quality experience! Other shark diving adventures could be a little higher, depending on if you need to purchase a flight as well, or how much time you will be spending on the water. We found many incredible shark diving options in the range of $150-$300 for a half-day of shark diving.

5. You need Chum.

Some of you may remember the fast food restaurant “Chum Bucket” from Spongebob? Well, if you’re hoping to meet some sharks, you may need a chum bucket of your own. Chum is basically a piece of a fish that you take with you into the water to lure the sharks in close. Yep… you lure them in with the smell of blood. Can you feel the adrenaline kicking in yet? This is only the beginning of the adventure.

6. You definitely need a healthy dose of courage.

You are getting ready to dive into ocean infested waters, hoping to meet the legendary Bruce from Jaws, or any number of sharks, in the depths! Yep, you’d better make sure you bring a whole lot of courage along because you’re going to need it! 

For real though… it is important to have the courage to stay calm and remain peaceful when you meet the sharks. You are entering their home, so, as our guide cheerfully commanded us, “channel your karate kid” and interact peacefully but with the strength of confidence as you encounter these beautiful predators… even if your insides are screaming “freak out and swim away!” You’ll soon find that the peace of the sharks will calm your spirit so you can interact with them comfortably.

“Wait… that’s it? What about gear?”

Yep, that’s absolutely all you need. No need to buy gear, books, licenses, or permits because nothing else is necessary! Your shark diving guides will have everything you need to make your trip a success!

 

How Dangerous is Shark Diving?

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  Galeophobia! Man, even the word sounds scary, doesn’t it? 

  The first question you will probably ask if you consider going on a shark diving adventure will have something to do with shark bites. It keeps many wanna-be’s away from shark diving. Sadly, hundreds of people will miss out on this epic adventure because of galeophobia.

  Of course, we don’t want you to miss out on the fantastic moment we experienced, so here’s the truth about the possibility of a shark bite while diving with sharks.

  A shark attack was a ridiculous notion until the hit movie “Jaws.”

  It was 1975 and movie-goers were flocking to the theater to see the brand new proclaimed epic film about a shark terrorizing a small village. Prior to that movie, “JAWS” was not a household term. In those days, sharks were not viewed as great predators slowly skimming the shallow waters searching for their next unsuspecting summer vacationer.  

• Now, let’s get this straight. It’s wise to be cautious when you are blindly swimming the murky waters. Most sharks do have many rows of razor blades in their mouth used to rip apart their prey with jaws that have the ability to exert 3,700 pounds of pressure per square inch. I know that number doesn’t mean much to you or to me, but, in contrast, a human exerts 150-200 pounds when eating a medium-rare ribeye. Lions - the kings of the jungle and the top of the food chain - chomp down with about 1,000 pounds PSI. A 3,700 pound PSI bite is worth a little caution.

• We are just not on their hit list…

  With that said, it was helpful for us to know, and probably for you as well, that if a shark were to be scanning a menu in their favorite shark restaurant, humans would not even make the list. Sharks are simply not interested in indiscriminately chomping down on the closest set of human legs it can find in the shallows. Most species would much rather munch on scallops, mollusks, fish, and… wait for it… YES, sharks would even rather have other sharks for dinner than humans. 

  Although our emotions scream to the contrary, a human being is more likely to be the victim of a rabid wild hyena with zombie deer disease than being attacked by a shark! (Well, that may be a bit of an exaggeration.) However, it is documented that operating motorcycles, cars, and airplanes, along with many other dangerous everyday activities, is more dangerous than shark diving.

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  Some Sharks are More Dangerous than Others

  Although shark diving is of miniscule risk, we learned on our adventure that there are some species of sharks more aggressive toward humans than others. There is a huge range of opinions on which shark species is most aggressive. Here is a list of the 10 most dangerous sharks in no specific order.

  
  

• Dangerous Sharks

  1. The White Shark (AKA Great White, AKA “Jaws”)
  2. The Bull Shark
  3. The Tiger Shark
  4. The Shortfin Mako
  5. The Oceanic White Tip
  6. The Bronze Whaler Shark
  7. The Blue Shark
  8. The Sand Tiger Shark
  9. The Blacktip Shark
  10. The Hammerhead Shark
  
  

  Alternatively, there are some shark species that are very friendly and interactive with human beings hanging out in their neck of the woods...er… cove. We found that the lemon shark almost enjoyed our presence. One friendly lemon actually bumped a team member’s leg with his nose and rubbed his entire body along my leg like you’d expect from a pet cat.  If you are a beginner on a shark diving adventure, these are the ones you are glad to see according to leisurepro.com, an online SCUBA magazine.

• Friendly Sharks

  1. The Nurse Shark
  2. The Leopard Shark
  3. The Angel Shark
  4. The Whale Shark
  5. The Lemon Shark
  
  

  Our conclusion is that shark diving has minimal risk in return for a huge reward, as is true with most great adventure experiences. As a matter of fact, one of the most important factors a shark’s interacts interaction with a human is the underwater diver’s behavior in the presence of these gorgeous sea creatures. 

  We’ll talk more about that later!

• What is a Shark Anyway?

  So, what is a shark exactly, and what is its purpose in creation?

  There are so many misconceptions about sharks and their role in nature that we decided to play “mythbusters” today and tell you the raw truth about sharks and their purpose here on earth. 

  First, did you know that sharks are fish, while whales and dolphins are actually mammals? Sharks are, according to Sharks-World, “cartilaginous fish” and are known for a skeleton made of cartilage and connective tissue instead of bone. Other cartilaginous fish species include rays, skates, and sawfish… so sharks are in good company!

  Here are a few fun facts you may not know about sharks:

  Fun fact #1: Shark scales are actually…. teeth (as if they didn’t have enough already!)

  During our shark dive, we noticed that the sharks appear sleek and smooth, even up close! Surprisingly though, their body “armor” is, according to NOAA Fisheries, made up of many tiny “placoid scales” or “dermal denticles” which means they are basically “tiny teeth.” These scales are smooth when brushed in the direction of nose to tail, but can feel like sandpaper if stroked the wrong direction! The dermal denticles actually help the shark swim silently, by lowering the amount of friction in the water as they move through it.

  Fun fact #2: Not all sharks are the same. 

  It may surprise you that there are actually over 440 different species of sharks in the world today! These sharks have different characteristics, from tail structure and body shape to number of teeth and level of aggression, but they all were created for the same purpose… more on that later!

  Fun Fact #3: Shark teeth are unlimited. Like a buffet… but more intense.

  When you think of sharks, you probably picture an open mouth full of teeth! The truth is, teeth are one of the most essential parts of a shark body, and without them, it would probably die pretty quickly. The shark was created with the unique ability to be able to grow unlimited amounts of teeth. When a front tooth falls out, another tooth moves up from a back row to replace it, so in a lifetime, sharks will have an average of 30,000 teeth, total! The shark tooth fairy must have a busy job.

  Fun Fact #4: Sharks rarely close their eyes. (no wonder they look so stressed!)

  The only time sharks close their eyes is when they are feeding or having an encounter with another shark! Some types of sharks are unable to stop moving because the movement provides them with oxygen. According to the Florida Museum, other sharks do have an external respiratory opening known as a spiracle that keeps a continuous flow of water moving over the gills so the shark is able to rest and breathe at the same time. We think sharks always look stressed out because they don’t get enough sleep… but that could just be our imagination.

  Fun Fact #5: Sharks and tonic immobility.

  Sharks sometimes seem to be invincible, but tonic immobility is their kryptonite! When a shark is gently turned upside down in the water, it goes into a trance-like state that does not allow it to move. It is uncertain whether the trance is a defense mechanism or not. When the shark has turned right-side-up again, it is able to swim and function as if nothing had happened. Tonic immobility is a great tool for researchers because they can use it to care for or study a live shark without causing any harm, but other sea creatures can use this trance against a shark that is caught off guard!

  Fun Fact #6: Sharks can sense the electrical field of other animals.

  According to a study by Nature International Journal of Science, Sharks, along with rays, skates, and a few other fish species, can actually sense tiny changes in environmental electrical fields and use these to find small animals that they cannot see. This skill comes in handy when sharks are hunting for animals that are hidden in the sand! It’s a good thing we didn’t grow up playing with sharks… they would win flashlight tag any day.

  Fun Fact #7: Sharks never sleep.

  Imagine a life without sleep... It sounds like a pretty horrifying thought! For sharks, though, this is simply normal life. Sharks are one of the few animals that never sleep! They are able to enter a trance-like state of rest during which parts of their brain shut off while their body keeps moving. This restful state gives sharks the energy they need to keep going. This sounds exhausting to us but they must still feel rested, because they live an average of 20-30 years… that is a long time for an animal!

  Now we’re going to move on to the purpose of sharks in creation.

  Sometimes it is easy to see these gigantic predators only as a threat and something to fear, based on the movie Jaws and the occasional “shark attack” story one might hear. The truth is, sharks play a highly valuable role in the circle of life, and our world would be a very different place without them.

• So, why are sharks important in the animal kingdom?

  Sharks are an apex predator, which means they have few natural predators in the marine ecosystem. If marine life was a game of chess, sharks would be the Queen piece, because she is the one that holds the most power and when you lose the queen, the game starts to go downhill fast.

  If sharks did not exist, other species of fish and marine life would start to multiply beyond control, and these species would extinguish the life below them or start to eat all of the base food sources, causing a huge imbalance in the ocean. According to Save the Sharks, sharks easily switch between food sources depending on availability, which leads to a natural balance in the underwater world. In reefs where there are no sharks, entire species are absent because sharks were not present to preserve balance. In fact, according to Shark Savers, if sharks were to grow scarce on a larger scale, entire species could go extinct and natural environments would vanish as other species grew in abundance! The absence of sharks would drastically change the way we live!

  Can you believe that ONE type of animal is so important on the earth? It’s pretty crazy to think about.

  When we take a step back and look at the world as we know it, we soon feel completely in awe of the power of the Creator of the earth. Everything was designed in a perfect balance and every living thing created with a beautiful purpose. Sharks are beautiful yet terrible, sometimes frightening because of their predatorial role in nature, but we respect them because they are irreplaceable. 

  As we move into a closer look at different types of sharks and what makes them unique, we hope you are able to appreciate these fascinating fish and keep in mind that they fill a vital role in nature.

  When we went free diving with sharks, we were blown away by the majesty and authority in the water. We want you to experience the same feeling of awe when you go shark diving after reading this guide.

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  What Kind of Sharks Will I See?

  Now that we’ve educated you on the  uniqueness of sharks, you might be wondering exactly what kind of sharks you could see beneath the big blue waves on your shark dive. Well, depending on what part of the world you choose to visit for your adventure, there could be hundreds of different species you might encounter. However, we want to tell you more about a few of the most common types of sharks you’ll see off the coastlines of North America.

  The Lemon Shark

  We’re starting with the Groove Life crowd favorite from our shark dive off the coast of Juniper, Florida - the Lemon Shark! Not only were these sharks incredibly interactive, but they were beautiful to watch as they cut through the waters around us with grace. Lemon Sharks are very distinctive in their coloring and actually get their name from the pale, yellow-brown coloring of their skin. 

  You might be able to see Lemon Sharks from your balcony while you’re visiting Florida for vacation. This is because they generally stay in shallow, warm water, and don’t usually swim deeper than about 300 feet. This makes them easier to spot from high up in your condo on a clear day. 

  The shallow waters of bays, coral waters, and river mouths are prime real estate for Lemon Sharks. This is where they can find a smorgasbord of marine life to feed on, including catfish, crabs, and crawfish. 

  If, like us, you find yourself up close and personal with a Lemon Shark during your shark dive, you’ll be able to identify it by looking at the dorsal fins (those tell-tale fins that stick out of the water, which almost immediately cause the theme song of Jaws to trigger in your head). Both the front and back dorsal fins on a Lemon Shark are almost the exact same size. 

  Lemon Sharks are considered to be gentle and non-aggressive towards humans, which is why they are so often seen during shark dives. In fact, there has never been a report of a fatality caused by a Lemon Shark. You could even say they avoid conflict.

  The Nurse Shark

  Nurse Sharks are another amazing shark to spot under the sea during an open water shark dive. They travel in groups and can often be found “snuggling” together in underwater caves. Believe it or not, their sluggish and docile behavior has earned them the nickname “couch potatoes of the ocean.”

  Nurse Sharks spend most of their time on the bottom of the ocean just hanging out and living their best lives in tropical waters near coastal shelves and reefs. When they do get up and start moving, they usually like to hang out in shallow waters to find food. 

  Because they are so casual and carefree, Nurse Sharks are some of the best to interact with during a shark dive. You can get up close and personal with them and still be safe. In fact, there has never been a report of a fatal attack from a Nurse Shark. 

  The Sandbar Shark

  Another amazing shark to interact with during your shark dive is the Sandbar Shark. They can most often be found on the sandy bottoms of shallow warm waters, and you may even see them in your nearby harbor. 
  
  You can spot a Sandbar Shark by their very high dorsal fin and very long pectoral fins. Their bodies are a little on the hefty side and their snouts are shorter than most of their brother sharks.
  
  These sharks are considered to be safe around people and give divers a thrilling experience every time!

  The Hammerhead Shark

  The hammerhead was our favorite shark we spotted on our cageless shark diving adventure.
  
  This beauty is one of the most easily identifiable sharks in the ocean because of the obvious shape of its head. Conveniently, the eyes of the Hammerhead are located on the outside edges of the “hammer,” which gives them the unique ability to have a vertical 360-degree view! While they can see everything above and below them, they can’t actually see much in front of them. 

  Hammerhead Sharks can be found all over the world and stay in warm shallow waters. And while they're cruising around in those shallow waters, they often pick up a little something extra - a sunkissed glow. That’s right! Your friendly Hammerhead is one of the very few animals who can get a tan from the sun! Bet you didn’t know that.

  Hammerhead Sharks are night hunters and often feed off of bottom-dwelling marine life such as shrimp, squid, and small fish because of their smaller mouths. These sharks are also known for their cannibalism. That’s right - they’re not big on the buddy system, and they aren’t above making lunch out of a smaller Hammerhead that gets in the way. 

  Hammerhead Sharks are generally safe around humans, especially those on shark dives in open waters. Conveniently, they give warnings if they’re headed toward an attack. When you’re on your shark dive with trained professional divers, they’ll know how to keep you safe if you encounter a Hammerhead Shark.

  The Reef Shark

  There are several variations of these stunning creatures. They are one of the smaller sharks you might see on a shark dive. And though they may be small, they are mighty and are considered to be one of the most important species on planet Earth! 
  
  They are apex predators that mostly dwell in warm waters near coral reefs. Because they sit at the top of the food chain on the reefs, Reef Sharks shift the spatial habitat of their prey, which in turn alters the feeding strategy of other marine life. So, in truth, these sharks indirectly maintain and control the health of the habitats of coral reefs. Wow!

  
  

  Reef Sharks are uniquely colored and sport a white to light yellow color on one side, and a grey-brown to dark-grey color on the other side. Their snout is short and rounded, and they have bigger eyes than most sharks - all the better to see you with, my friend! 

  Since Reef Sharks live near coral reefs, you’ll mostly find them in the Caribbean or other waters like the Indian and Pacific Oceans, or in Japanese Waters and the Mediterranean Sea. 

  Reef Sharks can be a threat to divers near coral reefs, and most experts consider them to be moderately dangerous to humans. For the most part, reported Reef Shark attacks have been non-fatal and typically happen when the shark has felt threatened. 

  The Bull Shark

  The Bull Shark is one of the more aggressive sharks swimming in the deep blue sea. But that’s not necessarily why they’re so well known. North Americans know about these sharks because they are one of the few types of sharks that can live in both saltwater and freshwater! That means you could see them during your shark dive in the ocean, or even swimming up the Mississippi River. After all, they like to show up in places you’d least expect them! 

  Believe it or not, in 1938 two fisherman caught a bull shark on the Mississippi river all the way up in Illinois. The bull had wandered 1,750 miles up the great Mississippi! The famous bull shark of Alton, Illinois was over 5 feet long and weighed in at 84 pounds.

  You’ll be able to identify a Bull Shark by their wide, stocky bodies and broad, flat snouts, resembling that of a bull, which is where they get their name. This shark has two dorsal fins, of which the second is noticeably smaller. The skin of a Bull Shark is grey and their bellies are white - not that you’ll be rolling one over for a full examination any time soon. 

  They tend to stay in warm, moderately deep water and migrate around the ocean looking for food. While they are one of three shark species that are known to attack humans unprovoked, attacks by Bull Sharks are very rare. We just don’t necessarily recommend spending too much time hanging out with them to test this stat. 

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  Who Can Go Shark Diving?

  Before our shark diving adventure trip, this is the fact that most surprised us. Anyone who is physically able and has a little bit of money (just a little bit) can go shark diving! ANYONE! 

  There is no training, no certifications, no regulations, and no limitations on who can dive! You don’t have to be able to SCUBA or deep water dive. You don’t need to plan out five days of instruction prior to your dive. And you really don’t need much money at all (we’ll talk more about that later.) 

  Seriously, a plane ticket or drive to a shark diving destination and a couple hundred dollars will get you in the water with some of the best dive guides in the world! No heavy workouts six months leading up to the dive. No special equipment or expensive gear required (that will be provided by your shark diving guide.)  It’s the easiest adventure we’ve ever taken and it will be for you too!

  Physical Fitness 

• There are no official guidelines for physical fitness to go on shark dives, however, the activity is a little bit more strenuous than a snorkeling dive. The dive guide you choose may have their own restrictions. You will be informed of those when you book your trip. 

  Heart Problems

  When you go in for the first time and see your first shark(s), you heart rate rises and your breathing is restricted. Therefore, people with heart conditions are obviously not good candidates for this adventure. 

  Motion Sickness

  The trip out to the dive sites can be bumpy boat rides on the ocean, so if you have problems with motion sickness make sure to start a day before the dive with motion sickness pills. These can be purchased over-the-counter at any drug store. Dramamine or Bonine are two of the most popular brands, however, consult your doctor for the best brand for you. Both are great brands for motion sickness pills. These come in regular and non-drowsy versions. Be aware that the regular version may cause significant drowsiness. If you have extreme issues with motion sickness, you might want to consider a different adventure.

  Comfort in the Ocean

  The ability to swim and feel comfortable in saltwater with regular oceanic activity is helpful. Swimming in the ocean is much different from swimming in a pool or lake. The constant current requires a bit more physical exertion to keep things stable. Snorkeling for the first time can complicate the experience. Some experience snorkeling or practicing with snorkel gear is a good idea. Grab some cheap snorkel gear and take an afternoon in a deep pool to get a feel for breathing underwater.

  Ability to Follow Instructions from the Professional

  The number one most important requirement for a successful shark diving adventure is an ability to precisely follow every instruction given to you by your trusted shark diving guide! Although shark diving is relatively safe, SHARKS STILL BITE! Your dive guide knows how to keep you safe when you are unable to think clearly underwater. He will instruct you when he sees you acting like SHARK BAIT. It is extremely important for you to follow his instructions all the way, right away and with a happy heart (as we tell our kids.) Trust us, the best way for you to get back to shore is to trust the person who took you off-shore.

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• Can You Go Shark Diving? Quick Checklist:

Is Shark Diving right for you? Let's find out!

• I have no current health problems or personal history of heart problems.
• I do not have any problems with extreme motion sickness.
• I am comfortable swimming in deep waters.
• I have some experience swimming in the ocean.
• I have some experience or am willing to practice with snorkeling gear.
• I am willing to precisely follow directions from my dive guide while on the water.

Our Shark Diving Adventure: