When it comes to being a surfer and dealing with sharks, we have to come to terms with the fact that the place we mine for our diamonds is their hunting ground. Sure, we try to keep it out of our minds that there could be a man eating predator lurking beneath our boards. That said, with Shark Week on the Discovery Channel almost impossible to miss, these big scary fish will be running through our minds more than ever.
Why Shark Week is the Longest Running Cable TV Event of All Time
We’re all fascinated by them. Sharks hold a unique place in the human psyche as a terrifying beast and Shark Week feeds our minds with awesome imagery and some unbelievable information about the man in the grey suit. It all started back in 1988, when the week long programming event was organised to raise awareness about sharks, even attempt to debunk a few myths and foster a new type of respect for these ancient beasts. It has evolved into something quite different now with entertainment being the order of the day. The whole week seems more like the circus coming to town than being focused on conservation of these largely misunderstood fish.
Mythical Monsters
At the top of the list of features to watch during this year’s Shark Week has to be the show ‘Shark of Darkness’. This feature tells the story of a rumoured 35-foot shark known simply as ‘Submarine’. There is no concrete evidence to prove a shark this size exists, but the eye witness reports of an attack off the coast of Hout Bay, South Africa, are compelling.
Another show to tune in for is ‘Megalodon: The Monster That Lives’, which explores the possibility that a 60-foot shark still exists. The consensus is that this enormous fish became extinct around 1.5 million years ago, but what if there are still some of these super sized share still out there? Get as close as you would want to by watching this show.
Get Closer than Ever Before
Whatever Shark Week has become, there is no denying that some of the footage captured by the crazy cameramen who go our chasing Great Whites is pretty amazing. Check out this video of what has to be one of the largest Great White sharks ever caught on film.
Ever thought about attaching a GoPro camera to the fin of a Great White shark and then watching where it goes and what it does from your laptop? Well some guys actually did it, and if you want to see the results watch the next video.
Is There Really Anything to Be Afraid of?
As much as people are scared of sharks, we are much more of a threat to them than they are to us. Shark Week is not just about entertainment, it’s about fun and education too. As this last video comically reveals after listing the world’s sharkiest shorelines, there are a lot more things you should be afraid of than sharks!