Are you Afraid of Sharks?: What to Know About Shark Safety as a Scuba Diver
Learning how to scuba dive can be an incredibly rewarding experience, no matter what your current skill level. There is a strong community around scuba diving, and becoming a scuba diver can take you to incredible destinations all over the world.
If you have a phobia of sharks, it could stop you from learning how to scuba dive or from taking your scuba skills to the next level. Once you learn more about diving safety though, you’ll realize that a fear of sharks shouldn’t stop you from experiencing great scuba diving.
Below, we’re sharing all the information you need about shark safety while you’re scuba diving. Your shark phobia should never hold back. Read on to learn more, so you can take your scuba diving to the next level.
1. Most Sharks are Harmless
If you need more confidence to get in the water, it might be helpful to know that most sharks are completely harmless to humans. There are many hundreds of species of sharks, but very few of them have ever been associated with a shark attack.There are just three sharks that are often associated with shark attacks, and those include the great white shark, the bull shark, and the tiger shark.
2. Shark Attacks are Rare
Being nervous about shark attacks is understandable, even if it’s unfounded. We all grew up with images of a shark coming out of the water, gnashing its jaws as if it’s going to eat an innocent human in one bite. In reality, there were only five fatal shark attacks on humans in 2017. If you think about how many people enter the oceans every year to swim, surf, scuba dive, and more, you’ll realize how rare shark attacks actually are.Knowing the facts could help you overcome your shark phobia so that you’re ready to scuba dive again.
3. You Can Take Steps to Minimize Your Risk
The more you know about scuba safety, the better prepared you can be to minimize your risk while diving. Diving should be fun and carefree, but if you have a phobia of sharks, you want to be aware of how to minimize your risk of encountering a shark. The time you dive matters. Sharks tend to hunt most at dusk and dawn, so if you’re nervous, you should avoid diving during these times of day. Certain colors attract sharks too, so you can keep that in mind when picking out your wetsuit and scuba gear. Avoid pale colors and opt for dark shades instead.
Ready to Overcome Your Fear of Sharks and Start Scuba Diving?
When you’re going to be spending an extended amount of time in the water, it makes sense to brush up on diving safety. Because scuba divers spend so much time at deep ocean depths, they are actually less at risk for shark attacks that surfers or swimmers.
If you’ve ever wanted to try scuba diving or if you want to take your diving to the next level, don’t let a fear of sharks hold you back.
For more information on getting into scuba diving, please contact us at any time to get some information on local diving.
