More often than not, any stories involving sharks focus on the fear they instill rather than the crucial role they provide. Most of this can be traced back to Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster film JAWS which was so effective that tons of people even developed an irrational fear of sharks in swimming pools.
The irony being that even Spielberg himself developed post-traumatic stress disorder during the making of the film (more on that later). No doubt that the thought of a 20-foot predator lurking below you in the depths is terrifying but, if you open your mind, it’s not all doom and gloom.
Take the above video for instance. This stunning footage of great white sharks fully breaching off the coast of La Jolla (San Diego) shows them in a different light, truth be told, they look rather beautiful. This is easy to say, from the safety of a faraway cliff or the screen of your phone, where the creatures can be simply appreciated for their feats of athleticism and impressive capabilities. Another beauty of an example is these basking sharks in Ireland.
When viewed from the water, while floating on your surfboard and feeling all too similar to a seal, the vibe can be intense. I’ve seen some breach while surfing and, in case anyone cares to read about it, you can do so here.
Related: Shrooms & Sharks: Surfing Solo On The 4th of July
Last year, I connected with Madison Pip Stewart, aka Shark Girl Madison, who is a biologist and shark expert to learn more about them from someone who has devoted a majority of her life to studying these fantastic beasts. She actually has a specific guide about what to do when faced with a shark encounter in the wild, and general information on how to stay safe when surfing with sharks. Hint, it often requires doing something that may be very counterintuitive. Even Kelly Slater agrees..
Related: ‘Face the Shark!’: Kelly Slater Shares Surprising Survival Tip