“Mother Nature is, of course, impossible to predict; however, you’ll get a refund if you see zero sharks.”

“Remember that you’re an apex predator too,” Ocean Ramsey, aka The Shark Whisperer and co-founder of One Ocean Diving, tells us as we get ready to get in the water. “Oh sure,” I think as I adjust my snorkel mask and gaze down into the clear blue and impossibly deep water with my heart pounding, “so easy.”

I’m on a boat off the coast of the North Shore of Oahu ready to get into the water while dozens of 10-feet-long sandbar and Galapagos sharks circle below me — no cage or chum in sight.

Once I get into the water, I keep a tight grip on the rope attached to the boat and do my best to keep my head on a swivel; one of the lessons on our boat ride to the site was to know what’s around you (it’s what apex predators do). I find myself in awe at the sight of the circling sharks as shafts of light filter down through the water; it feels like being inside of a nature documentary.

One Ocean Diving was founded by Ramsey and her business (and life) partner Juan Oliphant with a goal of helping people better understand sharks as well as to help further research and conservation efforts. What better way to understand sharks than to give people a chance to swim with them in the wild? 

What to Expect During Your Shark Dive

It’s about a 20-minute boat ride from Haleiwa Harbor to the shark site. Along the way, you might see sea turtles, dolphins, and even whales in winter and spring. You’ll get a lesson in shark biology and behavior as well as how you should behave in the water; you’re entering their home, and so you need to follow their rules.

There are always at least two safety divers in the water with you. You’ll get about 45 minutes to an hour in the water; however, you don’t have to stay in the whole time if you don’t want. You’re holding onto a rope on the boat; for those who want to, you can free dive down a bit if and when the safety divers tell you that you can. 

The staff at One Ocean Diving know that you might be scared, but they’re there to help. “Replace fear with knowledge and respect. Fear often comes from misunderstanding. Sharks are not the aggressive, man-eating creatures depicted in movies; they are intelligent, curious animals that play a vital role in the ocean,” says Ramsey.

Mother Nature is, of course, impossible to predict; however, you’ll get a refund if you see zero sharks. Sandbar and Galapagos sharks are the most common species, though 

there’s a chance that you could see a tiger shark or a scalloped hammerhead.

You’ll return to shore with incredible memories and a deeper appreciation for sharks and the ocean ecosystem.

Why Care About Sharks?

Sharks are vital to the health of the oceans, yet they’re being killed by people at an estimated rate of 100 million per year, whether it’s intentional or accidental. There’s a demand for shark fin soup in some parts of the world where sharks are specifically targeted, and sharks can get entangled and accidentally caught up in commercial fishing gear; this is called bycatch.

Without sharks, the entire balance of the ocean ecosystem gets thrown off. There are over 500 species of shark, and each play their own part in their own ecosystem. But broadly speaking, in their role as apex predators, they keep prey populations in balance. This also helps promote the health of coral reefs and prevent overgrazing of seagrasses, which can help absorb carbon. The health of the ocean “directly impacts global biodiversity, fisheries, and even the air we breathe,” explained the One Ocean Diving Team.

How to Help Sharks

Along with educating people about sharks, One Ocean Diving participates in a range of conservation initiatives from beach and reef cleanups to aiding in research about marine wildlife, including tracking individual sharks.

They’ve also got a clothing and accessory line where a part of the proceeds are donated to carefully selected nonprofits that help protect marine life and habitats.

You might think that once you get home, there’s not much you can do to help sharks. But you’d be wrong. The One Ocean Diving team has several recommendations for how we can all help marine life, no matter where we are.

Their list includes avoiding shark products (such as shark fin soup, supplements, or cosmetics with shark-derived ingredients), reducing single-use plastics that end up in the ocean, supporting sustainable seafood choices or opting for plant-based alternatives, donating to or volunteering with marine conservation organizations, and educating others about the importance of sharks and sharing conservation messages.

Know Before You Go

It can be a bumpy boat ride out to the site. If you’re prone to motion sickness, you definitely want to take something like Dramamine. They run up to eight shark dives in a day, and the water is typically the calmest in the mornings.

Women, don’t worry if you’re on your period. Many of the safety divers on staff are women, and the sharks just aren’t interested.

You need to be able to swim but don’t need to be a strong swimmer. If you know you don’t want to get in the water, they have an option for ride-alongs.