Surrounded by Bull Sharks in Fiji♥️ would you dive here? #bullshark #fiji #ocean #dive #1

Bull sharks, tiger sharks, and white sharks are the three species that are reported to have the highest number of bites on humans. While global annual fatalities are fewer than 10 people per year, there is still much we can do to reduce our chances of an adverse interaction. Understanding species specific behavior can help us to make informed decisions about where and when and how we choose to swim and enjoy time in the ocean, the sharks full-time and only home. Bull sharks are one a very few species of shark who can go and live in freshwater, this can sometimes lead to an increased chance of human conflict and humans have historically settled close to fresh water. These areas also tend to have murky water with limited visibility, which is possibly why bull sharks have not evolved to have large eyes. They are very responsive to sound, scent, and bio-electric signals which may explain why most bites tend to happen near shore in murky water, often in proximity of river outlets where females tend to pup (give birth.) Happy to have dove in Fiji: observing and filming bull sharks! • I've seen bull sharks in many areas of the world but Fijian sharks just seem to be bigger, perhaps because sharks have been revered and respected for so long throughout Fiji's traditional and current cultural practices. I think I dove with @aquatrekbeqa in 2004, 2014, and so I guess I'm on a 10 year to Fiji migration pattern * It makes me so happy to see the Fijian locals loving working with the sharks, the industry thriving, and the evolution of operation I've seen over the years • Any GOOD operator continues to adapt and evolve the longer they operate, it shows they are learning and adapting to the needs and behavior of all species present. I love that in Fijian culture, sharks are sacred - protectors of the islands and symbols of strength, guided by the legend of Dakuwaqa. Today, sharks here support life beyond the sea - supporting eco-tourism that generates millions of Fijian dollars providing sustainable income alternatives for coastal communities that might otherwise rely on fishing while simultaneously inspiring ocean conservation♥️