The preconceived notion for many people is that sharks are killers and getting in the water with them is a death wish. The idea that sharks are out to get us is our own selfishness, thinking the natural world revolves around our existence. In fact, it’s the opposite. Sharks want little do with humans and oftentimes are shy and scared of us! It’s more likely you will get into a car accident than get attacked by a shark.

My personal shark encounters have been otherworldly and humbling. When getting in the water with any kind of shark species, it shifts your perspective of these animals. They are graceful, calm and majestic. I have come to find shark diving quite peaceful, almost cathartic. I’m not saying you should interact with sharks as if they are not an apex predator, as they surely are. However, the idea that “sharks hunt humans” is something that I hope changes in my lifetime. One of the best ways to get over any fear of sharks is to learn more about them, spend time with experts who have studied them, and get in the water with them under supervision of professionals.

After diving with a wide variety of shark species, I had yet to meet a great white face to face. That’s why the first stop on our Edges of Earth expedition was dedicated to finding them in the wild. For six months, I had been liaising with Andrew Fox, the owner and operator of the family business, ‘Rodney Fox Expeditions‘, and a great white shark expert. Andrew and his team had set up a 10-day liveaboard in order to increase the chances of seeing multiple great whites in peak winter season.

With some detours along the way due to the rough seas, we made it to the Neptune Islands 70km southwest of Port Lincoln, accessible only by boat or helicopter. The islands are situated in the open ocean, far from populated areas but close to over 750 great whites. With water that’s considered temperate, I had to self-motivate when plunging into the 13 degree water each day. Being cold almost at all times ended up being entirely worth it.