Chase the Sharks? No Way!

As anyone at Scubaversity will tell you, sharks are my favourite fish in the sea. But it wasn't always that way. I grew up on Jaws, convinced I'd end up in its jaws the moment I so much as paddled in the waves. Then I learned to scuba dive, and decided it was time to challenge that belief. Maybe some of you will recognise this story.

The night before my first shark dive at Aliwal, I paced the corridors of my hotel wondering what on earth I was doing. Every so often I'd rush back to my room, sit on the bed, and start writing what felt suspiciously like a last will and testament — convinced I'd be eaten the next day. Then I'd get up and pace some more. Morning came far too quickly, and I dragged myself down to the beach for the dive briefing, false smile firmly in place.

“Please,” my instructor said, “don't chase the sharks — this is their home.” What?! Chase the sharks? No way — I was planning to swim as fast as possible in the opposite direction. Heart in my throat and palms sweating (and not just from the tight wetsuit), I climbed onto the rubber duck and we sped off through the waves toward the Shoal.

As is often the case at Aliwal, the current was running, but my instructor was a sturdy guide, leading us — with me puffing along at the back — to Raggies Cave, around 18m on Aliwal Shoal. And there they were. I was blown away by how beautiful and graceful the sharks were, moving slowly with the current like they owned the place. I was so enthralled that I completely forgot my instructor's warning, and swam straight toward them for a closer look.

Since that day back in 2003, I've come to genuinely admire the ocean's apex predator. I've since written a PADI Distinctive Specialty on the Sharks of Southern Africa, ratified by PADI, and I rally for sharks every chance I get.

If any of this sounds familiar, do yourself a favour and join us at Aliwal. You won't regret it. Next time, I'll dig into the puzzling disappearance of the sevengill cowsharks in Cape Town. See you soon!

Written by Annie Brown.

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