Shark diving is not the average hobby for your everyday person, but for those living life on the edge, this might be the perfect side gig for you. Most people would argue that ‘sharks are dangerous’ while being terrified of the off chance of getting bitten. Shark expert Stefanie Brendl had this to say when discussing the benefits of swimming with the sharks: “Sharks are worth so much more alive than dead. Just look at the future potential of ecotourism… They take out the weak, dead, and the sick and therefore keep diseases from spreading in fish and mammal populations. They make sure the strongest, fastest survive and that keeps populations vibrant and strong.”
The best diving sites are spread out in different locations around the world. Shark experts have confirmed that the following 3 spots are the safest and most breathtaking diving sites to visit: Molokai Fish Rain (Hawaii), Tiger Beach (Bahamas), and last but not least Guadalupe Island (Mexico). The Molokai Fish Rain is for the more experienced divers as it is currently one of the ‘most challenging diving spots to access. Located on the east side of Molokai the body of water decreases to 110 feet; locals mentioned that the further you descend into the water the more it feels like it is ‘raining fish,’ hence the given name.
As you can probably already guess, Tiger Beach in the Bahamas is famously known for its immense number of not only Tiger sharks, but Hammerheads as well. With cages not required, at this specific site divers are granted permission to float at the bottom of the sand as various species of sharks take their time to approach in “warm crystal clear waters.” But as for Guadalupe Island in Mexico, certain aspects of the diving process and species of shark might get a little advanced. While the first two spots contained a more general population of sharks, Guadalupe Island contains one of the rarest species a human is able to with, being the Great White shark. Just one of 4 different places in the world where you are able to see this incredible mammal up close is located over 150 miles off the west coast of Mexico.
In hopes of attracting new people to the blood rushing hobby, shark expert Dr. Mauricio Hoyos stated, “Cage diving is often controversial because baiting the animals has been linked with potential negative effects including habitat use, surface behavior, bioenergetics, conditioning, as well as an increase in the frequency of interactions with humans.”If you’re looking to add a little spice to your life while on vacation this summer, any of these three places should be highly recommended on your list.