SUFB 683: Why Touching A Great White Shark Is Bad

Ocean Ramsay is an Advocate known for free diving with iconic Ocean Animals such as sharks. Her uniqueness is that she touches the sharks in her pictures and images. The point of touching the sharks is to show that they are gentle animals and not the "human-killing" machines in the movies.

There is a recent viral set of videos of Ocean Ramsay swimming and laying her hand gently on a massive Great White Shark that was feeding on a whale carcass. The first video shows Ocean Ramsay swimming by herself with the shark making it seem very peaceful. However, the second video was a behind-the-scenes look at reality. There were numerous people swimming around the shark making it swim quite hectic. 

Nothing bad happened to the shark or the people around it. 

Scientists like myself, David Shiffman and many others spoke out about the video because of the touching of the shark. There is a saying among divers that you should not touch underwater life unless you have. In fact, PADI teaches the same lesson in there Beginner Open Water SCUBA Certification Course. 

Touching animals while swimming is a controversial topic. Some people say it is better than tagging sharks because touching does not hurt them. Firstly, that saying is not true. Secondly, tagging provides valuable information that led to the protection of hammerhead sharks in Florida State waters. 

What side of the issue to you lean on? Let me know in the Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

Want to get started on living for a better Ocean? Sign up for the Grove Collaborative and get a free gift: http://www.speakupforblue.com/goocean.