My Shark Encounters - RIP to Shark Conservationist and Activist Rob Stewart

One reason I scuba dive around the world is to see the sharks in their natural habitat. They are probably the most misunderstood creatures on the planet, thanks to the exaggeration of Hollywood films and news. If you watch the documentary Sharkwater, you will see how sharks are shy and wonderful creatures, and it's not fair to portray them as villains. Even the Jaws author Peter Benchley was transformed into an advocate, and he spent his career struggling to protect sharks from the stigma that his masterpiece unleashed.

When nowadays, there are more deaths due to the infinite stupidity of humans, that if you are to ask me, I’d feel safer with sharks underwater. That if a shark mistaken my shadow for a sea turtle or sea lion, I would be fine dying due to their bite or blood loss. It would still be my fault for invading their wild territory no matter what. These horror scenarios would not stop me from scuba diving with sharks. Yes, call me a crazy adrenaline junkie. My misanthropic nature is calling me to become a shark activist or conservationist.

The first time I’ve seen the Sharkwater movie by the late Rob Stewart some years ago, I was like wow, I got to see these creatures, like not in some giant fish tank but out there in the deep blue. That time when I was still a corporate slave, I started saving some money so I could travel and scuba dive. I started dreaming about the Galapagos islands. And during those years, I met some friends who are into freediving, so I tried to learn with them. And together we planned to dive around the country to catch a glimpse of these wild creatures in their natural habitat.

I was deeply saddened when Shark Conservationist Rob Stewart died due to a scuba diving incident while filming another documentary Sharkwater: Extinction. He inspired me to follow my dreams, which eventually lead me to travel to the Galapagos islands to scuba dive with sharks. His films shed some new light on my view of these big animals. Sharks have a really bad reputation in history, and Rob did a great job of spreading awareness and creating a different relationship between humans and sharks

I can still remember the first time I was swimming with a shark, it was such an adrenaline rush. That time I was with my friends in the middle of the sea without oxygen tanks and all, just freediving. Then suddenly, I saw a shadow underneath me, silently swimming away. It was a reef shark, and it was pretty shy. I removed the snorkel and told my friends in excitement, guys did you see the shark?

We saw it too! It was amazing. And here we were, excitedly swimming after the sharks while the rest of the world are frowning at these poor creatures.

I progressed from free-diving to scuba diving to be able to spend more time underwater as the sharks are usually at the deeper part of the sea. I flew to the Galapagos just to dive with the Hammerhead sharks, and it was all worth it.

The profound moment when I was surrounded by sharks, not just one but many sharks. What an exhilarating experience! It was one of those amazing things I have done in my life, I could still remember vividly the presence of these creatures around me, it was pure magic.

White tip, Black tip, Hammerhead, Galapagos, Whaleshark - these are what I’ve seen so far. And I’m planning to travel more to scuba dive and see the thresher sharks, great white, tiger and bull sharks. I hope that I will be able to continue writing about sharks to help spread awareness and bring these creatures from the darkness to light.

There is simply no issue more important. Conservation is the preservation of human life on earth, and that, above all else, is worth fighting for. - Rob Stewart

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