Ever since I was young, my dad and I would watch “Shark Week” together. My dad loves to watch out of morbid curiosity and fear of sharks, but I have always felt a pull towards the ocean and the conservation of its many species, so I watch out of fascination and love for them.Â
The first time I saw a shark was at the New England Aquarium in Boston. Although not very big, it was cool to see smaller shark species in person. I have since seen sharks in captivity at the Florida Aquarium in Tampa, FL, and the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, GA. The Georgia Aquarium had the most sharks I’ve ever seen, including a whale shark.Â
I have an ethical problem with zoos and aquariums, no matter how conservation-focused and animal-first they claim to be, but I nonetheless enjoy them as a means to get to see animals and marine life up close. I try to do research beforehand to make sure any place I visit involving animals is reputable.
When my family and I kayaked and snorkeled one spring in northwest Florida to see manatees, I made sure we went with a reputable guide who would obey the “do not touch” law that Florida has to protect the manatees. Every time I go shelling or tide pooling, I try to be as respectful as possible, knowing that I am a visitor in their habitat.
My passion for marine biology and ocean conservation has led me to love snorkeling and swimming in the ocean. During my past trip to Florida over October break, I had hoped to get some snorkeling in at my favorite beach, but they had been experiencing an increase in shark sightings and poor swimming conditions, so I opted not to out of fear of getting caught in a rip. However, when walking the beach my mom and I spotted so many sharks! We saw three nurse sharks and one shark I couldn’t identify. The beach is near what locals refer to as “Shark Alley,” a common hunting ground and migration path for a variety of shark species running between the barrier islands and the mainland. Hammerheads, blacktips, nurse sharks, and Caribbean reef sharks are all very common—and fortunately, all very harmless. Although safety is important, it is also important to remember that the ocean is their home.
My interest in sharks has increased over the years, and peaked during my time in Bermuda during a Maymester program that I took part in. We snorkeled so many reefs and all I could hope was that we saw a small, harmless shark. Since then, I’ve really wanted to snorkel with sharks! I don’t think I could do cage diving or anything involving tiger sharks, great whites, or bull sharks, but I want to enjoy a leisurely swim where neither I, nor the sharks, are made uncomfortable or put in harm’s way.Â
I plan to keep looking for a reputable company or experienced guide, but this may be more difficult to find. My hope is that they would be a shark conservationist and not just some random guy with a boat! Until then and maybe to test the waters (pun intended), I’ll continue to paddleboard and kayak in hopes of seeing sharks before I commit to getting in the water with one!