Scuba divers join large school of sharks resting on the ocean floor

Sharks are one of the ocean's most intriguing creatures. They are the subject of fascination and fear, and much of what we believe about them is based on misinformation. Full of teeth, and capable of inflicting serious harm or death, they are animals that instill terror among many. But the truth is that they are far from being the savage beasts that we are led to believe.
This family of scuba divers has ventured out to Bartolome Island in the Galapagos to dive with ocean creatures like these whitetip reef sharks. This video shows them coming face to face with these top predators, yet there is no attack and no attempt to bite the humans. Sharks are largely scavengers, preferring to prey on the weak and the dying, which makes the essential to the health of the ocean's ecosystems. Approaching slowly and respectfully, these divers were able to drift up within several feet without disturbing the sharks, and without triggering any kind of aggression. This species of shark is actually even less aggressive to people than most, and they are occasionally curious about swimmers. Whitetips are able to pump water over their gills so they do not require movement to breathe, like many other species of shark.

For people swimming in the ocean, sharks almost never present any threat. With the frequency of drones now flying over popular beaches, we are just starting to understand how commonly sharks swim through crowded beaches and among swimmers without incident. Swimmers are rarely even aware of their presence.

These whitetip reef sharks are approximately 5 feet in length, which is near the maximum length for their species. They showed a mild curiosity as these scuba divers swam among them. It is common for them to lie on the bottom in groups during the day and they often congregate in underwater caves, coming out at night to hunt for fish and octopus.

The more we learn about sharks, the more likely it is that we will understand their crucial role in the survival of our oceans and the survival of the planet. Conservation efforts will only succeed if we can put our fears aside and begin to understand how beneficial sharks are.