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When you see the monster up close, it doesn’t look like a monster any more. In fact, you might even want to rub its belly.
Such is often the case with sharks. They look big, and intimidating but when you are able to understand and learn about them, you find that they are majestic and misunderstood.
Remove the misinformation and the general media hype and the general public can see them for the vital part of the underwater ecosystem that they are. Sharks shouldn’t be feared. They should be celebrated. And that comes through education.
One of the easiest ways to take that first step is to come face-to-face with a shark in its own element. A recent study from researchers, including marine scientist Associate Professor Charlie Huveneers who leads the Southern Shark Ecology Group at Flinders University, found that wildlife tourism has the potential to make participants enthusiastic wildlife ambassadors and that change in public perception can be accelerated through the marine tourism industry.
Exposing tourists to sharks has considerable potential to enhance a participant’s knowledge, attitude and behaviour towards sharks, and support their conservation, including an increased level of interest and awareness of the scale of threats to global shark populations.
“Sharks play important ecological roles in marine ecosystems, and improving human perception is key to increasing conservation awareness and behaviour,” Huveneers said.
It is one of the driving forces behind the shark tank tours being offered at The Florida Aquarium in Tampa.
“Absolutely yes,” The Florida Aquarium associate curator Eric Hovland said.”It is also an economic driver of more and more seaside communities. We have examples from the Bahamas to Palau. The value of a shark alive is exponentially greater than the sum of its parts. Ecotourism develops and fosters passion for our Blue Planet.”
The shark tourism industry is estimated to be worth around $314 million annually.
The Florida Aquarium in Tampa is home to the 93,000-gallon Shark Bay tank which simulates the coral reef environment of the Florida Keys. This man-made reef is home to a wide variety of marine life like stingrays, lobsters, puffer fish, eels, and, of course, sharks.
“In my observations this can be a life changing experience,” Hovland said. “Encountering a shark in our aquarium environment one can get lost in the natural feeling of swimming together. It is a step towards appreciating these graceful creatures in our habitat and in the wild. Only good can come from such an event.”
Sand tiger shark
Swim with Sharks
The excursion, which starts at $129.99, is open to certified divers over 15 years of age. It is an ideal dive for both beginners and experts alike. Everything you need is provided for you, including tanks, BC, fins and full-body wetsuit. The team at the Florida Aquarium will verify all your information to have just the right equipment already set up for you. Just bring your mask, a towel and a sense of wonderment. I brought along a dive buddy but it wasn’t neccesary. After a simple booking process, you arrive to the Aquarium and go through safety briefings about the equipment you will be using during the 30-minute dive. After suiting up, you enter the water just above the main observation hall where non-divers can watch you from the other side of the glass.
Hanging out, blowing bubbles.
When it is all over, you will receive video and photos of the experience along with a souvenir t-shirt. Afterward you are free to explore the 250,000 square foot facility that houses over 20,000 species of marine animals. Hovlund hopes that participants take away something even bigger.
“We want our divers and all our guests to know that they can make a difference with their habits and behaviors,” he said. “You don’t have to live on the coast to have a positive impact on our oceans. Changing a simple habit choosing sustainable alternatives to plastic soda straws, lids and other single use plastics is a great example of a commitment anyone anywhere can make to improve the lives of sea creatures and therefore our own.”
If you are not SCUBA certified or have younger members in your group, the Aquarium also offers a snorkeling option, starting at $99.99. This excursion can accommodate up to five swimmers at a time. No previous training or experience is necessary. Participants must be at least nine years old and be comfortable in the water. Children who are under nine years old must have a paying in-water parent or guardian participating. All Florida Aquarium dive team members are professionally trained to supervise recreational diving activities.
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