In the imagination of many people there is only one type of shark: a large species with hundreds of kilos, dark in color. strong>and with a dark mouth with very sharp teeth capable of destroying a person with a single bite. Not to forget its characteristic star... Its large dorsal fin that tears the surface of the sea.
This may be an eerily truthful image in some cases, but it cannot be applied to the majority of existing species.
Many species, many behaviors
Their visa modes can be as different as their appearance! There are those that live close to the surface and their shape is that of a powerful and perfect navigation machine, with a perfectly designed color; bluish on the back and whitish on the belly, which allows them to go completely unnoticed by an observer located both above and below it.
Others, on the contrary, spend their entire lives in contact with the bottom and adopt a flattened shape, adorned with complex drawings, sometimes with a true carpet-like appearance, to blend in. perfectly with its surroundings.
Some live in tropical waters, others in temperate zones and even some in polar zones. There are species that have become accustomed to the open sea, many to coastal areas and some that have acclimatized to the fresh waters of rivers and rivers. strong>lakes, like the shark of the Lake Nicaragua.
Some exceed twelve meters in length and are totally harmless and calm, and others, in their adult state, do not reach fifty centimeters. But despite so much difference between them, their number of species is relatively small, only three hundred, if we compare it with the twenty thousand existing fish.
Where to find them
The active tourism allows you to see sharks in freedom. Although you must keep in mind that it is not easy at all, especially if it is not provoking the meeting.
If we want to dive with sharks, we must choose the area well to have a minimum of security of finding them. There are many places where one of the main attractions of diving is the ease of being able to contemplate sharks up close. This is the case of Bahamas or Polynesia, where a real show is put on feeding these animals, which come in large numbers attracted by the bait.
Another more authentic alternative is to reach remote places where the abundance of sharks is still great and they have not been displaced by mass tourism. This is the case of places like Galapagos, Cocos Island, Malpelo or Revillagigedo. In its exuberant waters the silhouettes of these fantastic hunters will always be omnipresent, which is why they have become mythical places for diving.
And we are left with the most interesting alternative, but without a doubt the most expensive and complicated: being able to reach places totally far from the Conventional diving routes. In almost all the seas and oceans of the world there are wonderful and wild areas where marine life is still intact. Diving into these places is where the underwater adventure really begins!
Tips for diving with sharks
Even if they are species called "harmless to humans," we should never try to touch them, bother them, or get in the way. strong>on his way. A calm nurse shark has jaws and enough strength to cause us serious problems.
Some species that are calm during the day become nervous and aggressive animals at night. It is better to not dive at night if we know that sharks are abundant in the area.
When we observe sharks, we will always try to have our back protected by the orography of the bottom. If this occurs in open waters, our partner must have the task of protecting our backs, placing both divers back to back. It is essential not to lose sight of the shark and make it feel watched.
It is preferable to not dive in very murky waters where there is an abundance of sharks. Diving among sharks when there are remains of bait in the water is dangerous, since their behavior becomes unpredictable. In these waters it is advisable to know the potentially dangerous species that we may encounter. Any animal that exceeds two meters in length should be considered potentially dangerous. (This goes for many other marine species).
There are species that, instead of fleeing when they see us, as normally happens, are curious and can come closer than desired. We will try to stay calm, not make violent movements and swim slowly without losing sight of them to the boat or the coast. We will observe the physiognomy of the sharks that approach us. Their aggressive behavior is linked to nervous ways of swimming and convulsive movements of their body.
In waters full of sharks, stay on the surface for as little time as possible, try to descend and ascend quickly.
The king of the seas: the great white
Another experience that is worth living at some point, if we are passionate about the world of sharks, is to be in front of one of the most powerful animals that exist in the sea, the white shark. There are two places where expeditions are carried out to see these sharks, southern Australia and South Africa.
In the first area, although the climate and waters are better for diving, it is increasingly difficult to see these animals due to the pressure to which they have been subjected for years and even currently; Today they are a protected species.
In South Africa there is a large population of white sharks, but the weather conditions are very adverse for most of the year. Cloudy, cold waters and more Spartan environments than those used by the Australians, so descending into one of the observation cages is not an easy or comfortable task even for an expert. Despite these drawbacks, the abundance of sharks makes it possible to whale watching near the coast, which greatly reduces the cost of the trip, since large resources are not needed to mount an expedition.
And now that you know all the details... Do you dare to live an adventure like this on the seabed?
