Facing my fear: Shark Encounter

By Bobbi Lee Hitchon // 10 April 2010 // Comments: 0 // Related Categories: mooloolaba, shark

I wouldn’t exactly call myself a daredevil, but not much scares me. I actually enjoy heights. I look forward to flying. Roller coasters are fun. I don’t enjoy public speaking, but I can get through it. Even death doesn’t really bother me.

But I have one fear that while I try my best to hide, constantly impedes on my actions.

Sharks.

It may seem a little ridiculous to fear something most never even come in contact with, but I can’t help it. They’ve stopped me from jumping in clear blue water on a hot day and even give me chills when thinking about them on land.

I wasn’t always like this though. Somewhere between watching Jaws, Discovery Channel’s Shark Week and that tiny blond surfer girl getting her arm bit off by a 15-foot tiger shark, I developed my fear.

Not one to shy away from anything, I’ve inched towards conquering this fear over the years. I earned my dive certification a few years back and have even been surfing quite a bit on this trip. While all these things could lead to an encounter, none of them ensure it.

I personally could have kept with the baby steps a bit longer, but that’s just not possible in a country where the majority of people live for thrills and adventure. So following in the Aussie spirit, I plunged into my fear by scuba diving with sharks at Underwater World in Mooloolaba last week.

Shark Encounters wasn’t my idea. Going with the flow on this wonderful backpacking adventure, I’ve pretty much just shown up to places and said yes to everything various people suggested. But when Bobbi-Jo mentioned the possibility of diving with sharks, my first instinct was no, no, no. I guess between telling her my dive experience and going on as many crazy rides as possible at Dreamworld, she assumed I would be all for it.

I wasn’t, but there must be something in the water here, because I agreed and tried not to think about it in the days leading up. Luckily, we’ve been so busy the past two weeks, there really wasn’t a lot of time to think about it. Even on the day of our shark encounter, we had to be rushed from one tour directly to Scubaworld, the company that leads the 30-minute dive in Underwater World’s 2.5 million litre Oceanarium, for our 3:45 p.m. dive.

I kept my composure signing papers and talking with reception, only asking the occasional questions regarding fatality rate and what kind of sharks are in there. The staff started with comical answers like “there's a few great whites in there,” then got serious when they saw the awful reaction on my face.

The honest answers made me feel a bit better. There is no fatality rate. In fact, Scubaworld has run thousands of shark dives at Underwater World over the years and no one has ever been attacked. An array of sharks, such as grey nurse, wobbegong and bull sharks, live in the tank, as well as rays and other fish.

Even with their reassurance, I couldn’t stop my eyes from watering when Mike, our divemaster, told us protocol for the dive. It was the same as any other dive except only 3 meters deep, no fins and heaps of weight as we would be walking through the tank rather than swimming. As for diving, this was an easy one. Still, I was shaking as I put on my wetsuit and BCD. I even sat in on a course for those without their certification, because I was so flustered.

The preceding events to the dive went by too quick and even though I wanted to be last in the water, I somehow ended up second in our group of five (six including Mike) right behind Bobbi-Jo.

In any dive, the scariest part for me is getting in and out of the water. Diving is actually quite reassuring, because you see everything going on beneath you rather than floating at the top with no idea. For this dive, I had to kneel on a step at the surface until Mike grabbed my foot signaling me to lower myself. Each person went one by one until all were in the water.

I tried my hardest no to cry and keep my breathing at a normal rate down there.

Two seconds in, three seconds out.

When I first got in even the reef sharks on the bottom freaked me out. I wanted to stay calm, but my heart was beating so fast I actually felt pain in my chest. Then, as an instinctive defense strategy I suppose, I actually removed myself from the situation. I forced myself into thinking there was still glass between the sharks and myself.

My defense mechanism went out the window when a bull shark brushed against my shoulder.

I’m not going to say I got used to it, or am over my fear, but I did start to appreciate these magnificent creatures. With arms kept close to my chest the entire dive, I stared at a bull shark as it glided above me and a grey nurse shark as it smiled in front.

The sharks continued their swimming as if we didn’t exist. Every once in awhile I’d stare one in the eyes, only to have it ignore me and keep on passing by.

As soon as I reached the surface I felt faint, which never happens to me on dives. When I saw Bobbi-Jo I couldn’t stop crying. It’s by far the best things I’ve experienced here and maybe even anywhere. No matter what your fear is, it confines you and prevents absolute freedom. This fear was something that limited me in various situations for so long, so to confront it was exhilarating. On top of all that, they truly are majestic creatures. In fact, my favorite to watch were the bull sharks, which are actually the most potentially aggressive in the tank.

Bobbi-Jo and I returned to Underwater World the next day to swim with seals. April, an Australian sea lion, kissed us both on the cheek. Then we played with Bella, an Australian fur seal.

Both encounters offered were unforgettable. But if you have to pick one, I recommend Shark Encounters. It’s a once in a lifetime chance to swim with one of most beautiful creatures with bad reputations. Face your fear or confront the stereotype.

Shark Encounter: $225 for non-certified divers, $195 for certified divers. Three dives offered daily. Reservations required. Call 07 5444 8594 or email info@scubaworld.com.au to book your encounter.

Seal Swim: $90. Swim offered daily after 1 p.m. Seal Show. Reservations required. Contact 07 5458 6226 (Monday-Friday) and 07 5458 6280 (Saturday and Sunday).

Underwater World and Scubaworld are located across the street from eachother on Parkyn Parade, Mooloolaba.

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Many special thanks to VIP Backpackers and All Seasons for being our gracious hosts throughout this trip!