"(Oh Lord) Please Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood." So sang The Animals, the British rock group who made this song famous back in the 1960’s, but bull sharks now seem to have inherited the term, as they are one of the most misunderstood fish in the ocean. Numerous false assumptions have been driven by movies, mass media reports and word of mouth, but now the time has come for more responsible reporting so the bull shark is better understood.

Facts About the Bull Shark

• Classified as the third most dangerous shark
• Live in the shallow waters (15 meters) of the Caribbean and migrate to deeper waters in the summer (20 meters plus)
• Migrate for 3 months during the summer to breed
• Inhabit both fresh and salt water - the conditions in the Riviera Maya

Assumptions About the Bull Shark in the Riviera Maya

• Chumming of the waters has brought the bull sharks to the area (they have been here longer than our tourism)
• Bull sharks will attack swimmers and snorkelers (none to date in the area)
• Bull sharks are less then 10 meters from shore in the Riviera Maya (the water is too shallow for them to come that close to the shore)
• Chumming of the waters is done for local businesses to make money (local dive centers do not want to take the risk of chumming and have opened up bull shark tours due to demand, as well as their better understanding of this fish)

Now the truth. bull sharks have been sighted in the area for many years, and divers have long known their whereabouts. Local divers knew where they congregated and knew at which depth the bull sharks could be seen. Fish, like humans, are habitual, and they navigate to the same area each year based on water temperature, breeding habits, currents and natural sources of food. Not knowing a lot about bull sharks, divers did not take tourists to the areas where the bull sharks were known to be. Instead they conducted dives on their own, to study and observe the habits of this local shark.

In the last 5 years, bull shark observation tours for experienced divers have been introduced to the line up of Riviera Maya ocean activities. Part of this is due to visitor demand, and part due to the increased knowledge that local dive centers have gained about this fish.

Scuba diving is an activity that people want to learn so they can observe the habits and landscape of the underwater world. Once you hit the professional level you act as a guide and educator, and want other divers to have the same knowledge. This very practice has made the cenotes, caves and whalesharks a popular destination activity that has fueled the local economy and tourism. bull sharks provide the same benefits and are treated with the same respect as these other observations tours, no touching, no chumming, and no disturbing. If you do, you will find you are out of the game, either as a guide or as a visitor.

Local guides are extremely careful about the ecology of the areas that they visit, including the safety of the participants. Reputations of the dive centers, the guide and the area are at stake, so each guide not only watches themselves, but also other guides. This self monitoring practice is more effective than any federal guidelines.

What do you actually see when you are diving with the bull sharks? A beautiful, elegant creature cruising around in the ocean. What is so mystical about the bull shark is the dichotomy of its physical apprearance with its physical movement. It is square, it is strong, it is grey, but one of the most graceful fish as it travels through the water. Think of a football player who has become a professional ballerina. It is that strength and grace which makes these fish so fascinating. You will also witness a unique interaction between the bull shark and other underwater creatures.

As James Cameron has said many times, scuba diving takes you to another world, and another world it is. As scuba divers we feel privileged to have the ability and knowledge to observe another ecosystem that takes up over 73% of the planet.

”But maybe you understand me now” is one of the lyrics in The Animals song, and just maybe people will start to think about understanding the bull sharks instead of assuming they know the habits and perceived dangers of this uniquely beautiful fish.

Finding a Dive Center for Bull Shark Tours in Playa del Carmen

1. Ask the dive center personnel about their eco practices in the water
2. Ask for a breakdown of their bull shark tours and see if their philosophy matches yours
3. Check the longevity of the dive center in the area and their history with the bull sharks
4. Check the dive center's trip safety, trip rules and regulations and diving practices
5. Ensure they ask YOU questions about your diving experience

Article by David Tomlinson, owner of Abyss Dive Center