Learn about them and dispel your fears. Years of misinformation on television and the movies have given many people an unwarranted fear of our oceans' inhabitants. The reality is that none of them are a threat to humans. Even the shark, that most dreaded of all sea-going predators, is not quite the terror Hollywood would have us believe. The fact is that your chances are far greater of dying from bee stings than from being attacked by a shark.
Most shark attacks happen by mistake and are more often on swimmers and surfers than divers.
The shark mistakes the surfer or swimmer for a seal or injured fish and oops, it bites. Fortunately, we don't taste good to them, though that sample bite can really hurt. When you're down in the water with them, you're usually perceived as a neighbor, not dinner. See our Marine Life section to learn more. Ironically, some dive sites advertise swimming with or feeding sharks by hand.