Syd4320 Highlights:
Down under with Sharks-
I should begin by stating how psyched I was at the possibility of swimming with sharks long before I was chosen, but also that I had never been scuba diving because I am/was afraid of blowing out my ears. So even as the predictable JAWS theme underscored the instructional scuba DVD (my only real lesson*), I was thrilled to be at Oceanworld.
*Actually the DVD wasn’t my entire lesson, but it’s hard to take any test that is graded by a thumbs up seriously.
In the water, the experience began easy with a collection of fish and stingrays, though one stingray was as large as a car. We adjusted to aqua-life here amongst these more docile creatures before we moved on. I was told the aquarium was divided into two sections, but it seemed all the aquatic life was able to follow us around into the shark area.
Admittedly, when I think of swimming with sharks, I imagine a steel cage bobbing amongst bloody chum, not a reinforced glass habitat, but the experience was still exciting. The sharks were big, bigger than they looked from the outside, and maybe not aggressive but definitely interested. Each one swam by several times, gradually getting closer, until I guess they were satisfied they could take us if stuff went down. I was never afraid, but the guide did pull me from my perch when one of the older sharks was headed right at me.
We were in the water for maybe thirty minutes with the sharks, and in that time I vividly remember two images. The first is the scrapped up face of the shark swimming straight at me, mouth split-full of scraggly teeth, eyes blue-grey. The second is of the slow mosey of a shark with scoliosis. To me, those best exemplify the dichotomy of the experience, and why I would recommend everyone take a dip with sharks. There is a fear element to facing a creature much bigger than myself and knowing, if it choose to, it could make my life much more difficult. To me though, the stronger impression is of being closer to creature that can usually only be seen from behind thick glass and getting to watch them watch me for once.
Syd4320 Highlights:
Down under with Sharks-
I should begin by stating how psyched I was at the possibility of swimming with sharks long before I was chosen, but also that I had never been scuba diving because I am/was afraid of blowing out my ears. So even as the predictable JAWS theme underscored the instructional scuba DVD (my only real lesson*), I was thrilled to be at Oceanworld.
*Actually the DVD wasn’t my entire lesson, but it’s hard to take any test that is graded by a thumbs up seriously.
In the water, the experience began easy with a collection of fish and stingrays, though one stingray was as large as a car. We adjusted to aqua-life here amongst these more docile creatures before we moved on. I was told the aquarium was divided into two sections, but it seemed all the aquatic life was able to follow us around into the shark area.
Admittedly, when I think of swimming with sharks, I imagine a steel cage bobbing amongst bloody chum, not a reinforced glass habitat, but the experience was still exciting. The sharks were big, bigger than they looked from the outside, and maybe not aggressive but definitely interested. Each one swam by several times, gradually getting closer, until I guess they were satisfied they could take us if stuff went down. I was never afraid, but the guide did pull me from my perch when one of the older sharks was headed right at me.
We were in the water for maybe thirty minutes with the sharks, and in that time I vividly remember two images. The first is the scrapped up face of the shark swimming straight at me, mouth split-full of scraggly teeth, eyes blue-grey. The second is of the slow mosey of a shark with scoliosis. To me, those best exemplify the dichotomy of the experience, and why I would recommend everyone take a dip with sharks. There is a fear element to facing a creature much bigger than myself and knowing, if it choose to, it could make my life much more difficult. To me though, the stronger impression is of being closer to creature that can usually only be seen from behind thick glass and getting to watch them watch me for once.
