Safely Scuba Dive With Sharks | 5 Rules to Stay Safe!

Scuba diving with sharks is something some divers worst nightmare. This is actually a shame because encountering one of these ultimate predators is one of the best experiences you'll get underwater. To take away a bit of this fear we have composed a list of 5 rules to follow while scuba diving with sharks. These rules will give you some understanding in shark behavior and a way to confidently dive with these mighty animals.

Join the 50ftbelow community:

[travgal]

Love diving with sharks, and I've never been afraid of them. Thanks for the tips and helping folks understand them better.

[betsybarnicle]

I was on one shark dive with a live-aboard boat, no feeding. It was amazing. We watched some large sharks (some 12 footers) in their natural patterns of cruising around.

[FriidaBC]

What an amazing and informative video! I can't wait to dive with sharks!!

[BlaneHenderson]

'Spot on' commentary and tips! I'm a very experienced shark diver as well, and I relate these exact same tips to anyone expressing curiosity about it. We seek out and dive with sharks all over the world and I'd add only this to your concise and accurate commentary: good buoyancy control is a necessary skill merely because you are less likely to trigger an attack reflex from the shark since you move less and therefore look less like prey. Also, never, ever bolt for the surface. That is what an inexperienced diver, in the waters off Cocos Island, did with a Tiger shark present several years ago. She panicked and bolted for the surface and triggered a large 16ft pregnant female tiger that bit her. Sadly she bled out very quickly. One huge caveat...and I know this is a hotly debated topic, but when bait is introduced into the equation around or near divers, it changes things completely, sharks become much more erratic and unpredictable.
These are amazingly incredible creatures, that have survived for eons. They are an integral part of a healthy ecosystem. To dive with and around them is a powerful, in the moment, experience. Sadly, as you said, our shark populations are dwindling at a frightful pace due to commercial shark finning for the Asian market place.

[PostalTwinkie]

"Most underwater creatures will think you are a weirdo."

*Giant Pacific Octopus stares*

[vtrc]

Thanks for the advise. I may not be diving with sharks but a good tip to know about sharks. Appreciated

[albertosuarez]

40 + years living in Arizona, not once I've been attacked by a shark.

[BugMagnet]

Really nice information and visuals. Also glad you mentioned the need to protect the sharks.
Only thing I found odd is the snout punch. It difinitely works, but I think it is more like a rustic means of communications. Large sharks bump stuff much harder than we can punch when they hunt. They would not do that if it was particularly painful.
What I personally find preferable to punching (since you can also slide off/miss and land right on the teeth) is to push from the side of the snout. They are easy to turn and a flat warm hand on the electroreceptors and very close to their eyes is uncomfortable, plus you change its and your trajectory.

[imdoc]

I love shark diving. I remember the first time a tiger shark tried to see what I was. I had to push it out of the way by pushing its nose. It was an incredible feeling. It never came back towards me. It was a 12 ft tiger. I’m 5’4, 135 lbs before a bowel movement.

[throntveitmarit]

I love that you are a shark advocate. I 100% agree with your recommendations as a diver. I hope and pray that the animals suffering above the water command as much attention as those below. Thank you for these wise words.

[vandermaas]

Great tips from someone who understands and respect nature. Can’t wait to dive with sharks.

[colingillespie]

Honestly I have been scared of sharks and the ocean in general my whole life. I just recently took up diving as sort of a way to face that fear. I have been doing everything to convince myself that sharks are not dangerous but that little bit of fear is still there. I just need to get in the water with them!

[ronaldmcdonald]

Going onto my first shark dive in 2 days, thanks for the video, very informative!

[albertbell]

Punch it in the nose ... is like kicking it in the balls 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣 brilliant video as always 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[gavinwood]

I’m just about to do my PADI open water diver course, so found this video, trying to seek as much information about the underwater world as I can.

I’ve always been afraid of the water, mainly because of sharks, so getting a better understanding of them will certainly help me on my way

[mowilderness]

I find it so fascinating that just think that their fish like a little common bluegill. But if you ever watch bluegill you can see them get really aggressive with flies and bugs so I guess the bugs see the bluegill as sharks

[Mongooseonthaloose]

Great video! I’m a diver and love seeing sharks. Raising awareness about these beautiful creatures is so important to their preservation. Keep up the good work 🤙🏾

[randomvideos]

Thanks I'm going to dive right now. I'm currently wearing my suit ❤️🤙

[michaellambert]

Thanks for the video! When i have been shark diving i was just told to take your hand and redirect the shark to the left, right or below you if they get too close. I have never had a problem with them using this technique and as an added bonus: it doesnt scare the animals away. :-)

[ToddBryantsr]

There is a lot of new research that suggests that punching a shark in the nose will cause an involuntary response that may cause a bite. Instead, researchers suggest redirecting the shark.