Are Diving With Sharks Dangerous?
Unless you are an expert on the subject, shark diving is not a very common choice among people. However, while diving it is possible to come face to face with this feared marine mammal and you need to know what to do. In this article, we will see if shark diving is dangerous.
Diving in the ocean involves entering the habitat of some predators, so you need to know their behavior. It goes without saying that these tips are helpful but not foolproof, so it’s best to know what to do when there is a risk of crossing one of these fish. Let’s see if shark diving is dangerous.
Shark diving precautions
Take the excursion with the appropriate guide
When traveling to unfamiliar beaches, diving is often offered to tourists. Agencies offering this service need to know all the safe dive sites and the type of wildlife in the area.
Remember that the fauna changes according to the different seasons of the year. This issue should be addressed with an expert guide when planning routes.
Plan diving with sharks
With or without a guide, each of you must take responsibility for studying the species that circulate in the waters to be explored. There are more or less aggressive varieties of sharks and it is important to learn to distinguish them in case of crossing one.
Another issue concerns the planning of diving with sharks in relation to the conditions of visibility of the water, the current, the depth and the equipment available.
The first reaction is important
Although sharks tend to drift away in the presence of humans, one of the key prerequisites for diving with sharks is to stay calm and not make sudden movements.
These precautions also apply when entering the water. A thunderous dive will attract the attention of these animals. The best advice is to behave like a respectful host in the presence of sharks.
Maintain eye contact
It is worth knowing that sharks sense the arrival of visitors even before they have seen them. This means that if a shark comes close, it will be to meet the newcomers.
If the sharks decide to get close, keep eye contact and let them know that their presence has been discovered. If they are used to attacking suddenly, this behavior will confuse them. We must not stop observing them even when they are moving away.
When diving with sharks it is essential to know how to control yourself
One of the hardest things when diving with sharks is coping with the impact of their presence. However, many times a diver’s life depends on efficient self-control. In addition to eye contact, the extreme stillness of the body will keep the shark away and calm. The legs and arms must remain attached to the body.
Never try to touch or pin the shark
The strength and agility of sharks is impossible to master hand-to-hand, with ropes or any other object. Also, trying to stop it from moving will only increase the animal’s stress and aggression. Importantly, once the shark starts defending itself, it won’t stop until the threat is ended.
Don’t cross his path
It is possible that, in the amazement of encountering one of these marine predators, you swim aimlessly with the sole intention of escaping. However, a golden rule when diving with sharks is that crossing the path of a shark can be very dangerous: it will see the swimmer as a threat.
Never feed sharks
In the waters where sharks pass, it is often forbidden to use fish bait or raw meat for fishing, because, as we know, food increases the excitement of sharks. This ban is doubled if there are divers in the area.
What to do if the shark attacks?
It’s time to mention that shark diving is dangerous and puts you at risk of death. In the event that the animal gets too close, it is necessary to act with serenity and precision.
First, pay attention to your legs and try to move the oxygen tube away. Then, slowly board the boat.
If there is no time to escape and a fight is inevitable, one way to fight back is to put your hands in the gills. Another weak point of the shark is the eyes, so pressing them hard can make the fish move away.
Other tips when diving with sharks
Rather than being afraid, respect will be more effective: fear makes you an easy prey. Slow movements will give the shark confidence, which will forget about its hunting instinct for a while. If the meeting manages to take place in a peaceful way, the moment will undoubtedly be magical and unforgettable.
