Swim with sharks, sorta

[myriam]

This is pretty cool and about as close as I'd want to get. The "Shark Pass" is the best one.

http://kids.msn.com/kidz/feature.asp...very/sharkswim

[Sati]

Yeah.... I don't know if I'm down with that. I haven't even been certified for scuba yet. I love thrills but that my be a bit much for me, heh.

[myriam]

In about a week I'll be in Kaua'i snorkeling, and my biggest fear is definitely sharks. I really don't know what I'd do if I saw one approaching...maybe have a major heart attack and die right there and then! 8O

Holly, if you ever get a chance to go to Newport, OR, there is an incredible aquarium there that has glass tunnels you walk through, and sharks swim all around you. Amazing. They built all that a few years ago from all the unexpected money they made during Keiko the Orca's stay with them.

[Sati]

Myriam, I've been to the Newport aquarium I was born and raised in Oregon. I only moved up to Seattle about 5 years ago (I think). I haven't been in years, well before Keiko was ever there though. I think the family is going to rent a big beach house this summer like we used to though so maybe I'll get a chance to see it then

My mom and grandma are in Hawaii together right now. I'm so jealous. You lucky dog! Don't have a heart attack snorkeling! I remember my father and mother went on a trip and they saw octopus and shark but lived to tell the tail. You'll be fine!

[Allivymar]

Wheee! I'll be in the Caribbean next week and I'd be thrilled to swim/snorkel/scuba with sharks...or barracudas....or anything LOL I haven't been swimming in the ocean since I got married 4 years ago. Hubby is a non swimmer.

The last time I snorkeled was off St Lucia. Saw a couple of barracudas, but the coolest thing was actually the squid. They were small, black, and lined up next to each other about a foot apart. I got onto the end of the line and played squid for a while *grin* Then the native guys who ran the boat were spear fishing for their dinners; they were busy showing me what they had caught. Really neat!

[Sati]

I hate... Uh, I mean I'm so jealous! :P

[Fruitbat]

I did some snorkeling down along the east coast of Mexico (Playa del Carmen) last summer. I used to snorkel and SCUBA off the coast of Turkey many years ago but the bottom there was mostly sand with very little coral or other structure. I saw plenty of sharks there and was never molested by any of them (they averaged about 6 feet and were mostly black-tip types with the occasional Tiger Shark). Didn't see any sharks in Mexico but diving the world's second largest coral reef was an INCREDIBLE experience!! My 10-year-old daughter loved it too!

[shawmutt]

I did some snorkling in Looe Key in Key West, awesome time, even if I did have trouble getting the whole equalizing thing. Saw some barracuda (here's a pic). My wife and I stayed in a beachfront house with a long pier outside, and every day we'd go out to the end of the pier and hang out for a bit. Well, every day there were huge barracuda hovering at the surface of the water, and one day a huge nurse shark swam by. I really want to go again.

With this year's tax return, I am going to get certified in SCUBA and hopefully get a volunteer position at the Baltimore Aquarium. Then I'll get to feed sharks and rays all the time!

[myriam]

Well last year in Kaua'i I was happily snorkeling in some shallow water, when I saw a large moray eel swimming towards me. Have you seen the teeth on those things?! 8O Needless to say I did a very quick 180 and got the heck outta there! I'm such a chicken

Your guys' experiences sound awesome. I'm dying to go to Mexico and the Caribbean...someday!

[oscarbreeder]

Cool link.
I liked the shark pass too.