A Quiet Disposition - The Beauty of Sharks

With this blog I not only wish to help people understand my creative and business process, I also wish to share experiences that have influenced my decisions and help educate people on certain endangered animals, like I will be doing in this post. Ever since I discovered their uniqueness a few years ago, I have been captivated by sharks of all kinds, fascinated by their grace, power and quiet disposition. One of my most influential encounters was during one of my favorite dives. It was my second year being a certified diver and we were heading out for an afternoon dive off the coast of Isla Mujeres, an island in Mexico.

(ISLA MUJERES)

The sun was blaring, it was easily 90 degrees and so being submerged in an underwater world seemed like a dream. The bubbles swirled as we descended and then there was peace, quiet and a steady sway from the waves. Everything was perfect. The sun rays dissected the waves and made shimmering patterns on the coral covered sea floor, the only sign that there was a world above was a steady hum of boat engines darting back and forth on the wake. We swam along in the perfect light, signaling with our hands, pointing to the plethora of colored fish that were darting between the rocks. Suddenly we were surprised by a humble nurse shark who was dozing in the sand. Upon seeing the shark I swam up to it, getting within a foot or two, if I wanted to I could have reached out and touched it. It started to swim and so I followed, watching the precise and beautiful movements, feeling a surge of happiness and joy. It was in that moment that I decided that the ocean and its creatures needed my protection, I need to help preserve this experience so that my children and grandchildren can have the opportunity to witness the same graceful strength.

(NURSE SHARK)

Hopefully with my new project I will be able to bring to life that dream and support the many animals on this earth that are threatened and misunderstood every day by human impact. Sharks are just one of the many animals that are misunderstood and need protection. Many coastal countries are beginning to realize the impact that sharks can have on their economy. A recent report from National Geographic outlined how much a single alive shark can be worth in the tourist market. When one shark is present in an environment, the reefs instantly benefit, bringing up to $2M in profits from an increase of tourists.
            Sadly, the shark populations surrounding Isla Mujeres have decreased due to hunting. In addition to the economic benefits, sharks play a vital role in the ecosystems of the ocean.  In past few years when I have visited the island (I am luck enough to visit every year), I have not been able to experience the beauty of the sharks again, and the ecosystem is beginning to show how it has been impacted by this loss.  The coral has dimmed, and fish populations are out of sorts. Being one of the top predators, if their populations plummet, the entire ocean will be impacted. If you would like to learn about the impact they have consider visiting this site  that outlines why sharks are necessary to the ecosystem. In addition there are many organizations working with communities where sharks are present to preserve their habitats and prevent hunting. Just a few examples are Shark Savers,  Shark trust, and NOAA. I encourage you to help spread the word and get involved in protecting these beautiful animals that are so essential to the ocean's survival.