Here's a startling fact: while humans kill approximately 100 million sharks each year, sharks only killed six humans in the same period. Yet despite these numbers and countless documentaries debunking the "Jaws" stereotype, sharks remain branded as mindless killing machines. As a diver, I've lost count of how many times people have asked me "aren't you afraid of sharks?" – a question that reveals how deeply ingrained this misperception is.
The key to safe coexistence with sharks isn't fear—it's understanding. When we learn to read shark behavior and respect their space, we transform what might seem like terrifying encounters into extraordinary opportunities to connect with one of nature's most sophisticated predators.
It is no secret that the ocean desperately needs our protection. The first step is educating yourself and others. What comes to mind when you think of sharks? Are they the villains of the sea, or something more complex?
Shark behavior
Think of sharks as silent communicators - they speak entirely through body language. As visitors in their world, we need to learn to read these physical cues. It's like learning a new language, one that could help keep both us and these magnificent creatures safe.
Ragged-tooth shark (also called the gray nurse shark, sand tiger shark, or blue-nurse sand tiger)
Rare Natural Shark Encounters
A natural encounter is when you see a random shark on a normal dive, not being on a special shark dive.
Most sharks are quite skittish, and encounters are rare and sought after by divers.
Sharks generally avoid divers as they are wary of anything foreign in their domain. Their priority is to preserve their own lives, they are mostly aloof and cautious. They will not just go up to a strange-looking object, because they don’t know what it is and whether it could be dangerous to them.
Calm and Inquisitive Behavior
When a shark feels at ease, their behavior is captivating to observe. They swim in steady, predictable patterns, with horizontal pectoral fins and fluid movements. While investigating new objects or creatures, they might circle divers at a distance or make closer passes, always maintaining a relaxed pace. I have watched Oceanic black tips and Bull sharks spend up to 20 minutes investigating our dive group, each pass bringing them slightly closer as they satisfied their curiosity.
Calm sharks keep their pectoral fins horizontal, and their movements are smooth and fluid rather than erratic, unlike aggressive behavior. They may come closer to inspect but usually do so without sudden lunges or jerky motions.
A curious shark might pass by closely, sometimes even brushing against a person. However, this behavior is usually exploratory rather than aggressive.
Floating calmly and allowing the shark to satisfy its curiosity without interference can lead to a peaceful and awe-inspiring encounter.
Zambezi (bull) shark circling me
Threatened or Aggressive Behaviour
Sharks typically exhibit a range of behaviors when they feel threatened, territorial, or are in a heightened state of predation.
Key indicators of aggressive behavior include rapid and jerky movements, arching their bodies, and swimming erratically.
Sharks might also lower their pectoral fins and make sudden changes in direction.
If a shark begins to circle a person or swims directly at them, these can be signs of increasing aggression.
The Do’s and Don’ts
When in the water with a shark, it is crucial to remain calm and avoid sudden movements, which can provoke the shark. Maintaining eye contact with the shark and slowly backing away towards the shore or boat can help reduce the risk of an aggressive encounter.
It’s also important to avoid splashing or making excessive noise, as these can attract a shark’s attention. This can indicate to the shark that there’s easy prey because it’s in distress.
In the event of an attack, you can deter the shark by targeting its sensitive areas, such as the eyes, gills, or snout.
Keep your movements slow and deliberate and maintain eye contact. If a shark approaches closely, position yourself vertically to appear larger and less like prey. This is also the main reason why we never want to swim away from a shark, that is prey behavior.
Awareness of these behaviors and responses can significantly enhance safety when encountering sharks in their natural habitat.
Oceanic blacktip shark
Shark Diving
As all sorts of shark dives become more and more popular worldwide, divers need to educate themselves to avoid any unnecessary accidents. These accidents are almost exclusively attributed to uninformed divers misunderstanding the shark's behavior or not sticking to the rules stipulated by the dive operators.
Before taking a group out on a shark dive, dive operators should always give a proper briefing with clear instructions to divers. These instructions will include specific rules like the ones mentioned in the list below.
Divers should always adhere to these rules and not get too comfortable. Sharks are apex predators and should always be respected.
Education and awareness play a vital part in protecting sharks.
Here’s a List of Tips on How to Behave
- Maintain your position and let the shark approach you.
- Avoid waving your hands around. Keep them still and close to your body.
- Always look around to be aware of where the shark is.
- Always maintain eye contact with the shark.
- Do not try to touch the shark.
- Don’t swim after the shark.
- Never swim away from a shark.
- The dive group should stay together.
- Never separate yourself from the group.
- Check your buoyancy. Do not drop below the group.
Ragged-tooth shark
If you feel threatened during your shark dive:
I'll never forget this one dive where we learned this lesson the hard way. One of our group members lost track of their buoyancy and drifted deeper than the rest of us. Almost immediately, a Bull shark that had been circling below changed its behavior - suddenly very interested in this lone diver. That's why we always stress staying together: a single diver just looks a lot more approachable to a curious shark.
If the shark comes too close for comfort and you feel threatened, breathe out; the loud release of bubbles from your regulator should deter the shark.
Make yourself bigger. Join hands with your dive buddy and stay close together. In this way, the two of you seem like one big animal and should keep the shark at bay.
If a shark exhibits aggressive behavior, divers should calmly exit the water immediately. The last thing sharks need is a bad rap because of careless human behavior when they are encountered.
Shark Conservation
My journey from fear to fascination began with my first shark encounter off the coast of Cape Town. Like many, I started diving with apprehension about sharks, but each encounter – from docile hammerhead sharks in the Red Sea to curious great whites in South Africa – transformed my perception. This personal evolution from fear to understanding mirrors what we need on a global scale: replacing misunderstanding with knowledge, and anxiety with respect. What would it take to change your own perspective on sharks? Can you imagine moving from fear to fascination?
Sharks are facing tremendous pressure and increasing threats. These can only be curbed by changing the public perception, turning people from afraid to educated. Education creates conservation-minded people who are more likely to act and do what they can to help and support shark conservation.
Shark Finning
Globally an estimated 23–73 million sharks are finned each year. This is a wasteful practice and occurs uncontrolled in the majority of the world's oceans.
Over Fishing
There are more and bigger fishing vessels than ever before. This causes a massive reduction in the availability of food for sharks.
Destructive Fishing Methods
Unwanted fish or marine life can make up 40–90% of the bycatch. The industrial methods used to harvest marine life are so destructive and wasteful that they would be banned if most people were fully aware of their impact.
Fear of Sharks
The fear of sharks and ignorance about their biology lead to a lack of compassion and a reduced desire to conserve them.
Sharks are slow-growing animals and have low reproduction rates, which makes them vulnerable. Populations can collapse rapidly, but take decades to recover.
Sharks are crucial for maintaining marine biodiversity, and there is concern that some species may become extinct before their ecological role is fully understood.
Hammerhead shark
We Protect What We Love
I have been diving with these magnificent animals. From the very first shark dive I ever did, with our local broadnose sevengill sharks, my fear turned into immense respect and admiration. I aim to educate people about sharks and encourage firsthand experience of being in the water with them. This is a teaching experience like no other. We protect what we love and come to love only what we endeavor to understand.
Whether it's watching a ragged-tooth shark gracefully glide through a cave or observing a bull shark's calculated curiosity during a baited dive, each shark encounter reinforces a profound truth: these aren't mindless killing machines, but sophisticated predators that, when treated with respect, offer some of the ocean's most magnificent interactions.
I hope this will become your experience too. Let’s learn and grow to understand.
We Protect what we Love. Join the movement!
Start your journey today and experience the magic of the underwater world firsthand. Let’s make your scuba dreams come true!
by Madelein Wolfaardt
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