Shark Dive Reflection - October 3, 2020

Photograph taken by a dive buddy Autumn Batson

Seven years ago, I watched my first shark week. I remember trying to convince my entire family that sharks were the most beautiful animals in the world. There was something different about them that caught my attention. Since then, I've had a deep connection with one of the top apex predators in the ocean. After Shark Week concluded, I did my own research on all things sharks, and what I found blew my mind. I learned all about biologists who spend their lives protecting sharks and learning about their behavior. I spent hours watching shark diving videos, but after the first video, I had already made up my mind... I was going to go shark diving one day.

The idea of being in the ocean with wild sharks never really scared me; it became a bucket list idea more than anything. Today I crossed off my first shark dive. I usually have natural anxious tendencies. Oddly enough, from the moment I left home to the moment I hit the water, I never felt a single verve. When we hit that three-mile marker and looked down over 600 feet of water, we were welcomed by six beautiful lemon sharks. There was nothing in my body that told me to stop. Honestly, I was expecting to be a little more hesitant and surprised because of how relaxed I was. All I knew is that I wanted to be the first one off the boat (sadly, I was the last one off the boat).

On our way back to shore, I was questioning my sanity. Looking back on it from dry land, I wonder if maybe I'm just not wise enough or if I have bad judgment. Truthfully, I hope I never find the kind of wisdom that stops me from living a dream. When you're presented with an opportunity to meet an apex predator that you know is misunderstood, you have no choice but to put yourself in the position to prove everybody wrong. I have always wondered why everyone feared sharks. I felt that maybe by showing people how sharks treated me in the wild, it would show others how amazing they are. Now that I have been with the sharks, I understand that even the people who are afraid of sharks don't really know why they are fearful of them. When we enter the ocean, we immediately drop to the bottom of the food chain, and subconsciously we know this. Being at the bottom of the food chain is uncomfortable because it means there's a lack of control, and we're used to the control. We are so used to dominating the planet with our presence that when we are no longer able to control an animal, we revert to the lie that the animal is the monster. Being at the bottom of the food chain is uncomfortable for anybody, but that doesn't mean we're supposed to fear it; it means we owe the animal respect. We need to understand that we are a guest in someone else's world.

There was a moment when I could clearly see every single shark evaluating who I was and what I was. The sharks were trying to figure out if I was food for their survival, if I was a threat to their safety, or if I was an equal. For a moment, I had an honest thought cross my mind, "this shark is going bite my arm; that's just what they do"... wrong. Sharks don't bite to kill or harm but simply to inquire. I quickly had to take my thoughts captive and remove every lie that we are told about sharks. I stayed still, calm, I respected their strategy, and I watched. The body language, confidence, and respect I displayed are what determined their method of survival. The only thing sharks are ever trying to do is survive. Being respectful goes a long way with anything; it's what allowed me to experience what it was like to be welcomed into their world untouched and mutually respected. For a few moments, I was viewed as an equal. I will never forget the first moment an apex predator accepted me.

After the dive, naturally, I came back with lots of videos and pictures to share with my friends and family. I expected people to think that everything was cool, but I was shocked to find that so many people felt I was "brave." Calling it brave would insult the sharks and proves that we have all been told the wrong information. You only have to be brave if there is something to be afraid of, so it broke my heart to read that so many people still think sharks are scary. The sad reality is that sharks are the ones who should be afraid of humans. The only experience sharks have with humans in the ocean are the moments they are being hunted for their fins. Sharks are not the monsters we are. We are so quick to judge and assume before we take a moment to encounter. Sharks are intelligent, curious, and absolutely beautiful. You will never hear me call them cute or sweet; they deserve way more respect than that.

I feel like I may have unlocked a new part of me through today's journey. What started out as a week of education when I was 14 years old has become something incredible. My bucket list idea has become a new passion, one that I hope to explore. I feel like I may have unlocked a new part of me through today's journey. Out of all the animals in the ocean... I chose sharks.