| As a dive professional for some years now, it still | | | | reefs where it is warmer preferring the colder |
| gives me some amusement to notice that some | | | | deeper open sea conditions. Reefs are too warm for |
| perceptions don't change so quickly; entry-level | | | | comfort for these creatures. |
| student divers especially. Their worries or anxieties | | | | Coral reefs are mainly in tropical zones and reef |
| remain the same. Besides the usual queries about the | | | | sharks thrive in this warm water conditions. Oceanic |
| diving course, anxieties regarding sharks and the | | | | sharks are the type that fall into the more |
| perceived threat to their well-being when they go | | | | aggressive and unpredictable variety. Makos, Great |
| diving are still very much existent. | | | | White, Hammerheads etc. whereas reef-dwelling |
| To the general public, the mere mention of the word | | | | sharks are generally of the shy and docile type. Since |
| "shark" conjures up imagery of a fierce marine animal | | | | a very significant part of dive activity is done in coral |
| with sharp jagged teeth able to tear into flesh and | | | | reefs, scuba diver's encounters are usually with the |
| bone easily, constantly on the prowl in the sea, ever | | | | reef sharks. To allay the anxieties of newly certified |
| ready to pounce on the swimmer, snorkeler or scuba | | | | divers or for those who are in the process of diver |
| diver who has the misfortune of being in the wrong | | | | certification training, when they go diving in a ocean |
| place at the wrong time! Thus, as a dive educator, | | | | environment, just be reminded of this fact. |
| besides instructing the total newbie diver on the skills | | | | Reef sharks are generally harmless. Encounters during |
| and safety aspects of scuba diving, there is an added | | | | diving are usually very brief before the shark swims |
| element of trying to reform misconceptions of the | | | | off into the blue; they avoid encounters with people, |
| marine environment and sway traditional perceptions | | | | mainly the annoyingly noisy scuba divers creating so |
| of dangerous marine animals, mainly sharks! | | | | much ruckus with their bubbles, in an otherwise |
| To simplify things, just put sharks into two | | | | tranquil setting. If they linger around slightly longer, its |
| categories, oceanic sharks and reef sharks. Oceanic | | | | probably more out of curiosity towards the divers |
| sharks very seldom venture into shallow water coral | | | | than aggression. |