Shark diving can be an exhilarating and unforgettable experience, but you should be mindful that these creatures are powerful and often curious. It’s therefore crucial to take safety precautions to minimize the risk of harm to both yourself and the sharks.
Whether you’re a seasoned diver or a first-timer, following a few simple safety tips can help ensure a safe and enjoyable diving experience with these magnificent creatures. In this article, we’ll explore some of the key safety tips to keep in mind while diving with sharks.
Diving with sharks can be safe and enjoyable when proper guidelines are followed. Keep a safe distance from other divers, do not provoke sharks, always know where they are, and do not make direct eye contact. Enter and exit the water quickly and quietly. Always enter the water with emergency plans.
These are a few of the basic guidelines that you should follow when diving with sharks, but there are many more. For many divers, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but if not done correctly, there is some serious risk and danger involved. Let’s take a look at all the tips and tricks you should follow to dive safely with sharks.
Enter and Exit the Water Quietly When Shark Diving
Like many other marine species, sharks are curious and can easily be scared. To enjoy an amazing dive with sharks, curiosity and fear are two aspects of shark behavior that you do not want to stimulate.
If you stimulate curiosity, sharks might get extremely close to you to check you out and some bull sharks may even try to bite you. On the other hand, if you stimulate fear, sharks might either escape or might become defensive.
One of the aspects you will need to pay particular attention to in order to avoid stimulating fear or curiosity in sharks is your entry and exit from the water.
When it comes to water entry, you should avoid noisy, dramatic and attention-drawing movements. For example, if you are scuba diving from a boat, you should prioritize a back roll entry over a giant stride. If you cannot enter the water via a back roll entry then consider making a controlled seated entry or using the boat’s ladder.
Once you have entered the water, avoid floating at the surface for long. While floating at the surface, sharks will only notice small parts of your body such as your hands or legs and will not see the full extent of your body.
This might trigger some curiosity and sharks could easily come closer to check you out. On the other hand if you immerse yourself right after entering the water, sharks will see your full body and are less likely to get overly close.
While proper entry is important when shark diving, it is also incredibly important to exit the water properly to maintain safety and respect for these creatures.
Always be sure to have an exit point decided before entering the water for a dive of any duration. This is especially important when diving with sharks because the creatures are not entirely predictable and can become dangerous when provoked. If you need to come up for air, be sure to do so with slow and steady movements but do not let the shark leave your sight.
To the extent possible, you should avoid remaining at the surface. This is true for several reasons:
- You will lose sight of the shark
- This might trigger the shark to come and check you out form below
- Above-water swimming or floating has a much higher noise level than diving, triggering sharks’ curiosity
Upon reaching the pre-designated exit point of a dive, be sure to exit the water quietly, but efficiently. Do not waste time. Leave the water quickly and quietly. This will help you to remain safe and cause the least disturbance to any sharks or other wildlife creatures in the area.
Make Yourself A Non-Threatening Part of the Environment
The golden rule to have a peaceful shark encounter is to remain still. You should also make slow movements and “make yourself” a peaceful part of the environment.
Staying near the ocean floor, if depth allows, is a good and safe way to keep yourself out of the sharks’ immediate attention.
While doing this, be aware that sharks tend to feel threatened by creatures that are tall rather than long. For this reason, keeping yourself horizontal in the water is going to help you be much less intimidating.
Observe A Shark’s Body Language
During any shark dive, you should get acquainted with basic shark body language to understand if you are possibly facing a threatening situation.
The most common element to look at, are sharks’ pectoral fins and their position. Pectoral fins are normally in a horizontal position and are located on either side of a shark, near the gills. They help a shark steer and control direction and depth.
In case you see those fins angled down, you should maintin a greater distance from the shark as they signal some sense of discomfort, anger, or fear. This is true for most common species of sharks such as oceanic whitetip sharks, tiger sharks, bull sharks and blacktip reef sharks.
Do Not Feed Sharks or Use Bait of Any Kind
Do not bring or use bait or food with you on an underwater dive under any circumstances.
If you are underwater, there should be no shark bait anywhere. This might induce sharks to attack or associate you with their next meal or a source of food and could result in some serious injuries.
It is also probable that more sharks will be drawn to the area, but not in the peaceful state that divers should hope for, these sharks will be on the hunt for the bait that you have, anything that gets in their way, and anything that smells like it.
Having said that, I do not mean that you should avoid amazing shark feeding dives, provided that they are organized by professionals.
There are many places around the world where you can do shark feeding dives safely. One of my favourite shops organizing such dives is Stuart Cove (Bahamas).
On the other hand, if you find yourself on a liveaboard and one of the dive guides randomly offers you to organize a shark feeding dive (as it happened to me in the Maldives, this usually comes with the request for additional money), you should politely reject. It can be extremely dangerous.
Only View Sharks with Indirect Eye Contact
Much like humans, sharks prefer not to be stared at directly. This will likely put them on alert and could potentially lead to them viewing you as a threat or predator of some kind.
However, it is important to know where the sharks are to keep a safe distance away from them and not interrupt their swimming. For this reason, it is best to watch the sharks through indirect eye contact.
Sharks are surprisingly aware of the diver’s eyes, so look at them through your peripheral vision while it is in your direct vicinity in the water.
Keep a Safe Distance From Sharks and Other Divers
To sharks, a large group of individual divers, or even a smaller group of only a few, can be interpreted as a large and intimidating creature.
They will likely see the group’s outline as a single creature, which is much more threatening to them than smaller and more spread-out individuals.
This is why it is important to keep a safe distance from other divers in your group whenever possible.
You should pay particular attention to this point while doing your safety stop or deco stop. This is often the situation in which sharks like to check divers out.
Be Aware of Sharks, Other Sea Creatures, and Environmental Factors in the Area
While finally seeing a shark up close can be an overwhelmingly incredible experience, divers must remain aware of their surroundings and cannot let their guard down.
Be sure to know where sharks and other living creatures are and how closely they are situated to your position. Be careful not to disturb them.
Before any dive, look up the water, light, and weather conditions in the area and the time of your desired dive location. It can be easy to get caught up in underwater currents when diving and quickly lose your sense of direction or the location of your exit destination.
The visibility of a diver when in the water with sharks is crucial to their safety. Low visibility and night dives are both examples of situations in which it will be much more difficult to execute and return from a dive with sharks. Even in ideal environmental situations, other factors such as a large number of sharks or additional equipment that is being carried can also contribute to the safety of a shark dive.
Diving With Sharks FAQs
Is Cage Diving Safe?
Shark diving in a cage is generally safe when conducted by reputable and experienced operators with strict safety protocols. However, it does come with inherent risks and should only be attempted by individuals who are physically and mentally prepared and follow all instructions given by the operator.
How Can I Prepare for My First Shark Dive?
Preparing for your first shark dive involves a combination of physical and mental preparation. You should research and choose a reputable and experienced operator, familiarize yourself with the diving equipment, and ensure that you are physically fit for the activity. Mental preparation includes managing any fears or anxieties you may have, learning about shark behavior and safety protocols, and following all instructions given by the operator. It’s also important to approach the experience with an open mind and a respectful attitude towards these amazing creatures.
Are Shark Attacks Common With Divers?
Shark attacks on divers are rare, with statistics showing that the likelihood of a shark attack while diving is extremely low. Divers are typically not seen as prey by sharks and most encounters are peaceful and non-threatening. However, it is important to note that diving with sharks does carry inherent risks, and certain species of sharks can be unpredictable and potentially dangerous. Following proper safety protocols and working with experienced operators can greatly minimize the risks of shark encounters while diving.
What Are The Most Aggressive Sharks?
While all sharks are capable of aggression, some species have a reputation for being more aggressive than others. The most aggressive shark species include the great white shark, tiger shark, bull shark, and oceanic whitetip shark. These sharks are known for their size, strength, and potentially dangerous behavior towards humans. However, it’s important to note that most shark encounters with humans are non-threatening and that sharks typically only attack when they feel threatened or are confused by a diver’s behavior.
Should I Wear Gloves When Diving With Sharks?
It is generally recommended that divers do not wear gloves when diving with sharks as gloves can reduce dexterity and increase the likelihood of accidental contact with the sharks. It’s important to respect the sharks’ space and avoid touching them, and gloves may give a false sense of security that can lead to inappropriate behavior.
Are Sharks Sensitive to Colors?
Yes, sharks are sensitive to colors and can see a range of colors including blue, green, and yellow. They have special cells in their eyes called cones that allow them to distinguish between different colors and shades. However, their color vision is not as well-developed as that of humans, and other factors such as movement and scent are more important for detecting prey.
How Should I Position With My Dive Buddy When Shark Diving?
When shark diving, it is recommended to position yourself and your dive buddy back-to-back or side-by-side, facing outward. This allows you to keep a 360-degree view of your surroundings and to be aware of any approaching sharks. It’s important to maintain a safe distance from the sharks and to avoid any sudden movements or aggressive behavior.