It’s here! It’s finally here! One of my favorite weeks of the year is upon us!
SHARK WEEK!
Every year for one week, the Discovery Channel dedicates a week of programming to sharks–shark facts, shark stories, shark attack survivors–I can’t get enough of it. If you’ve read Pictures and Plane Tickets for a while then it’s no surprise that these creatures fascinate me. A combination of strength, power, and terrifying danger, I can’t help but feel captivated by the ocean’s most dangerous predator, and for this one week you won’t find my TV on any other channel.
In honor of Shark Week, I wanted to reblog a post I wrote back in 2012 when I snorkeled with Sharks off of Nassau, Bahamas. Enjoy!
As promised, I am writing about our thrilling yet dangerous adventure that we went on last week while visiting the Bahamas. While researching excursions for our visit to Nassau, I came across a company called Stuart Cove’s. They advertise “The World’s most exciting underwater adventure!” and of course I was intrigued. Stuart Cove’s is a full service dive resort and they also offer snorkeling tours to those not yet scuba certified. When I saw that I had an opportunity to swim with sharks in the open ocean I was very excited to say the least. How often are you in the Bahamas, and how often do you get to swim with sharks?
Our captains, CleeJay and Obie drove the boat, called the Zambizi, to two different snorkel sites where we were allowed to snorkel with many beautiful tropical fish. There were so many at the second spot that I was literally swimming in a school of fish. Simply amazing.
The last stop was at the Atlantic Tunnel Wall off of the southwestern side of New Providence Island. They anchored the boat and told us that the bow of the boat was at a depth of 45 feet and just off the stern the ocean floor drops down to 6,000 feet. My first thought was, ‘Don’t the bigger sharks usually swim at a deeper depth? And now these big guys are being enticed to come up and check out the lunch buffet?’ Cleejay then reminded us about the dangers of swimming with these wild animals and provided information on what not to do once we were in the water. When the time came to put on our fins and snorkel gear I was nervous. My heart was pounding, my stomach was in a knot, and it was a little hard to breathe, yet I could barely contain my excitement to get in and see the sharks below.
After easing into the water, I looked down and saw three sharks close to the bait box. During the ten minutes (which felt more like an hour) that we were allowed in the water, more sharks appeared from the depths below. A few of the majestic yet frightening creatures were interested in the snorkelers above and came up to explore what we were doing in the water. It was a terrifying experience to have these sharks and all of their razor-sharp teeth so close, but it was also very exciting as well.
The sharks looked big when I was swimming next to them in the water, however, once we were safely standing above them on the boat I could really see their massive size and their graceful nature in the water. Now that the experience is over I have to say that it was even better than I imagined, however with that being said, I have thought to myself a few times since the snorkel, “what the hell was I thinking?” 🙂 It was dangerous, very risky, and slightly suicidal, but what an experience it was! Up next, I want to swim with the big sharks off the northern tip of Oahu (this time shark cages are provided).
Do you share the same fascination about sharks as I do?
Pictures and Plane Tickets 
Great post and equally great title! You’re BRAVE! Very admirable :-).
Hey! thank you! 🙂 It was SO MUCH FUN. I need to plan a trip back there. Have a great day!
Very cool. I don’t think I’d have the courage to do that – here in Italy, the riskiest thing I do these days is drink milk after 11am!
Hi There!
Well, it’s definitely not for everyone. I tend to be an adrenaline junkie and am obsessed with sharks, so it’s right up my alley! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
awe some !
Hi Krystle, You’re such a brave lady. I had never heard before! Superb
Thanks! It was a lot of fun! 🙂 I would love to do it again, this time actually scuba diving instead of snorkeling.
OMG you are so brave! Love the pictures, it looks so peaceful in the ocean, despite the 3 sharks circling around 🙂
Hey Kristina!
The ocean is super peaceful. I love that it’s just you and your thoughts and the marine life (and every once in a while sharks) 😉 Have a great day!
I’m absolutely terrified of sharks. Ever since I saw Jaws, it completely ruined the ocean for me. I can’t even snorkel because fish that are 5 inches long scare that crap out of me. My best friend went cage diving in Hawaii with tiger sharks! I could never do it! I want to do it to face my fear, but I would totally chicken out.
Oh no! Stupid Jaws! 😉 😉 I’ll admit, when I’m out there snorkeling or scuba diving sharks are always at the back of my mind. They come out of nowhere and are so incredibly powerful. But they are amazing. My encounters so far have always been peaceful. 🙂 I want to do the same dive that your friend did. It’s on my “list”, hopefully we’ll get the chance soon. Thanks for commenting, and I say “Go conquer that fear, girl!”
I hope you get the chance too! I hope one day I can cage dive, it seems like so much fun but terrifying at the same time. Maybe we’ll book the excursion; I know my husband will go and I’ll just decide to either get it or watch up top!
There was a good article I read a few years back, I believe in Smithsonian, where Peter Benchley basically apologized for writing Jaws and asked people not to hurt sharks out of fear as they have become endangered in many places. There are many more dangerous things we do on a daily basis such as driving in traffic, so getting eaten by a shark (highly unlikely) should be way down on your list of worries. I have watched hammer heads circle above divers on deco stops and not only did they not attack, the diver was never even aware they were there, until we told him! 🙂
Yeah I know they’re mostly friendly. I didn’t know he apologized for making the movie. It’s a good movie, I’m just still terrified haha. I go in the ocean but I have a hard time snorkeling. It’s not only sharks but fish too. One day I need to go shark diving and it’ll probably get rid of my fear…or I’ll pass out in the water haha.
Wow, no way!! And 45 foot to 6000, watch that last step…
Haha!! Exactly! 🙂