IF YOU DECIDE TO GO, HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW.
YOU NEED TO KNOW. IT GOES AGAINST COMMON SENSE.
IT GOES AGAINST COMMON SENSE. GET IN THE WATER WITH THE
GET IN THE WATER WITH THE OCEAN’S MOST FEARED PREDATOR.
OCEAN’S MOST FEARED PREDATOR. SHARKS.
SHARKS. BUT THOUSANDS OF TOURISTS ALL
BUT THOUSANDS OF TOURISTS ALL AROUND THE WORLD DO IT EVERY
AROUND THE WORLD DO IT EVERY YEAR.
YEAR. SHARK TOURS HAVE BEEN ATTRACTING
SHARK TOURS HAVE BEEN ATTRACTING ALMOST 600,000 THRILL SEEKERS
ALMOST 600,000 THRILL SEEKERS WORLDWIDE.
WORLDWIDE. AN INDUSTRY WORTH MORE THAN $314
AN INDUSTRY WORTH MORE THAN $314 MILLION.
MILLION. BUT IS IT SAFE?
BUT IS IT SAFE? TODAY, I’M GOING SHARK DIVING TO
TODAY, I’M GOING SHARK DIVING TO SHOW YOU.
SHOW YOU. BEFORE YOU EVEN GET ON THE BOAT,
BEFORE YOU EVEN GET ON THE BOAT, DO YOUR RESEARCH.
DO YOUR RESEARCH. LOOK FOR A REPUTABLE AND
LOOK FOR A REPUTABLE AND CERTIFIED TOUR COMPANY ONLINE
CERTIFIED TOUR COMPANY ONLINE WITH GOOD REVIEWS.
WITH GOOD REVIEWS. WHEN YOU GET THERE -- WHAT DO I
WHEN YOU GET THERE -- WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW -- MAKE SURE THE
NEED TO KNOW -- MAKE SURE THE OPERATORS DO A SAFETY BRIEFING.
OPERATORS DO A SAFETY BRIEFING. >> IF YOU SWIM SLOWLY WITH YOUR
>> IF YOU SWIM SLOWLY WITH YOUR FEET, YOU’RE LOOKING MORE
FEET, YOU’RE LOOKING MORE NATURAL IN THE WATER.
NATURAL IN THE WATER. >> Reporter: SO YOU KNOW WHAT TO
>> Reporter: SO YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO AND WHAT NOT TO DO.
DO AND WHAT NOT TO DO. AS WE’RE HEADING OUT, I’M
AS WE’RE HEADING OUT, I’M NERVOUS.
NERVOUS. >> TOTALLY NATURAL TO BE
>> TOTALLY NATURAL TO BE NERVOUS.
NERVOUS. YOU HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.
YOU HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. >> Reporter: JANELLE HAS BEEN
>> Reporter: JANELLE HAS BEEN DIVING WITH SHARKS FOR SIX
DIVING WITH SHARKS FOR SIX YEARS, LEADING DIVERS LIKE ME.
YEARS, LEADING DIVERS LIKE ME. >> YOU CAN TRUST ME.
>> YOU CAN TRUST ME. I GOT YOU.
I GOT YOU. >> Reporter: WHEN WE GET TO THE
>> Reporter: WHEN WE GET TO THE DIVE SPOT, OUR CAPTAIN CHUMS THE
DIVE SPOT, OUR CAPTAIN CHUMS THE WATER TO ATTRACT THE SHARKS, A
WATER TO ATTRACT THE SHARKS, A RECENT PRACTICE RECENTLY UNDER
RECENT PRACTICE RECENTLY UNDER FIRE BECAUSE EXPERTS SAY IT
FIRE BECAUSE EXPERTS SAY IT COULD ENCOURAGE SHARKS TO COME
COULD ENCOURAGE SHARKS TO COME CLOSER TO SHORE AND ENDANGER
CLOSER TO SHORE AND ENDANGER PEOPLE.
PEOPLE. OUT HERE IN THE WATERS, IT’S
OUT HERE IN THE WATERS, IT’S LEGAL, AND MANY TOUR COMPANIES
LEGAL, AND MANY TOUR COMPANIES DO IT.
DO IT. I SUIT UP.
I SUIT UP. IF YOU’RE GOING SNORKELING, TRY
IF YOU’RE GOING SNORKELING, TRY ON YOUR GEAR BEFORE YOU EVEN GET
ON YOUR GEAR BEFORE YOU EVEN GET IN THE WATER.
IN THE WATER. IF IT HOLDS TO YOUR FACE, IT’S
IF IT HOLDS TO YOUR FACE, IT’S GOOD.
GOOD. PRACTICE BREATHING THROUGH IT SO
PRACTICE BREATHING THROUGH IT SO YOU’RE COMFORTABLE.
YOU’RE COMFORTABLE. IF YOU’RE GOING DIVING LIKE
IF YOU’RE GOING DIVING LIKE ME --
ME -- >> ALL RIGHT.
>> ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE YOUR AIR RIGHT HERE.
WE HAVE YOUR AIR RIGHT HERE. TANK.
TANK. >> Reporter: MAKE SURE A SAFETY
>> Reporter: MAKE SURE A SAFETY DIVER GOES DOWN WITH YOU, AS
DIVER GOES DOWN WITH YOU, AS WELL.
WELL. WITH SHARKS SWARMING BELOW,
WITH SHARKS SWARMING BELOW, THAT’S OUR CUE TO DIVE IN.
THAT’S OUR CUE TO DIVE IN. SHOULD I BE WORRIED RIGHT NOW?
SHOULD I BE WORRIED RIGHT NOW? >> NOT AT ALL.
>> NOT AT ALL. THEY WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH US.
THEY WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH US. THEY MAY BE CONFUSED, BUT FOR
THEY MAY BE CONFUSED, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, THEY KNOW WE’RE
THE MOST PART, THEY KNOW WE’RE NOT ON THEIR MENUS.
NOT ON THEIR MENUS. >> Reporter: THAT’S BECAUSE OF
>> Reporter: THAT’S BECAUSE OF WHAT I’M WEARING.
WHAT I’M WEARING. WHY AM I WEARING GLOVES?
WHY AM I WEARING GLOVES? >> THE SHARKS EAT SMALLER FISH.
>> THE SHARKS EAT SMALLER FISH. IN THE BOTTOM OF YOUR HAND, IT
IN THE BOTTOM OF YOUR HAND, IT LOOKS LIKE A FISH.
LOOKS LIKE A FISH. THE GLOVES ARE PROTECTION.
THE GLOVES ARE PROTECTION. >> Reporter: ANOTHER TIP, KEEP
>> Reporter: ANOTHER TIP, KEEP YOUR HANDS CLOSE TO YOUR BODY AS
YOUR HANDS CLOSE TO YOUR BODY AS YOU SWIM, SO SHARKS DON’T
YOU SWIM, SO SHARKS DON’T CONFUSE THEM FOR LUNCH.
CONFUSE THEM FOR LUNCH. IF A SHARK DOES COME TOWARDS YOU
IF A SHARK DOES COME TOWARDS YOU LIKE THIS ONE --
LIKE THIS ONE -- >> THE BEST THING TO DO IS
>> THE BEST THING TO DO IS MAINTAIN EYE CONTACT.
MAINTAIN EYE CONTACT. LOOK AT THEM.
LOOK AT THEM. THEY’VE ALREADY TURNED AWAY.
THEY’VE ALREADY TURNED AWAY. >> Reporter: THIS IS KEY, EYE
>> Reporter: THIS IS KEY, EYE CONTACT.
CONTACT. EXPERTS SAY LET THE SHARK KNOW
EXPERTS SAY LET THE SHARK KNOW YOU’RE A TOP PREDATOR AND
YOU’RE A TOP PREDATOR AND ESTABLISH DOMINANCE, WHICH IS
ESTABLISH DOMINANCE, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I COME
EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I COME FACE-TO-FACE WITH THIS SHARK.
FACE-TO-FACE WITH THIS SHARK. DID YOU THINK THE SHARK
DID YOU THINK THE SHARK RECOGNIZED I WAS BIG AND WASN’T
RECOGNIZED I WAS BIG AND WASN’T A FISH?
A FISH? IT JUST SWAM AWAY.
IT JUST SWAM AWAY. EXPERTS SAYS SHARKS ARE NOT
EXPERTS SAYS SHARKS ARE NOT INTERESTED IN HUMANS.
INTERESTED IN HUMANS. WHEN YOU’RE UNDERWATER, YOU’RE
WHEN YOU’RE UNDERWATER, YOU’RE ON THEIR TURF.
ON THEIR TURF. DON’T GET TOO CLOSE.
DON’T GET TOO CLOSE. >> DON’T TOUCH THEM OUT OF
>> DON’T TOUCH THEM OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE SHARK.
RESPECT FOR THE SHARK. >> Reporter: ARMED WITH THESE
>> Reporter: ARMED WITH THESE TIPS, YOU MIGHT JUST BE BRAVE
TIPS, YOU MIGHT JUST BE BRAVE ENOUGH TO TAKE THE PLUNGE.
ENOUGH TO TAKE THE PLUNGE. ONE OTHER TIP, THE EXPERTS SAY
ONE OTHER TIP, THE EXPERTS SAY IF THE SHARK IS HEADING DIRECTLY
IF THE SHARK IS HEADING DIRECTLY TOWARDS YOU, GET YOUR FOOT UP
TOWARDS YOU, GET YOUR FOOT UP AND GET THE FIN ON THE SIDE TO
AND GET THE FIN ON THE SIDE TO REDIRECT YOU.
REDIRECT YOU. IF YOU CAN’T GET THE FIN UP, USE
IF YOU CAN’T GET THE FIN UP, USE YOUR ARM, LIKE A STIFF ARM
YOUR ARM, LIKE A STIFF ARM HEISMAN TROPHY MOVE, BRINGING
HEISMAN TROPHY MOVE, BRINGING THE SHARK JUST BY YOU.
THE SHARK JUST BY YOU. IT WORKS, THEY SAY.
IT WORKS, THEY SAY. IN THE DECADE THEY’VE BEEN
IN THE DECADE THEY’VE BEEN BRINGING FOLKS OUT HERE TO SWIM
BRINGING FOLKS OUT HERE TO SWIM WITH SHARKS, THEY’VE NEVER HAD
WITH SHARKS, THEY’VE NEVER HAD AN INCIDENT.
AN INCIDENT. GUYS, BACK TO YOU.
GUYS, BACK TO YOU. >> OH, KERRY SANDERS.
>> OH, KERRY SANDERS. ALL NEXT WEEK ON SHARK WEEK ON
ALL NEXT WEEK ON SHARK WEEK ON "TODAY," WE’RE TEAMING UP WITH
"TODAY," WE’RE TEAMING UP WITH THE DISCOVERY CHANNEL SHARK WEEK
THE DISCOVERY CHANNEL SHARK WEEK TEAM.
TEAM. WE’LL GET UP CLOSE AND VERY
WE’LL GET UP CLOSE AND VERY PERSONAL WITH THE ALWAYS
PERSONAL WITH THE ALWAYS FASCINATING GIANT SEA CREATURES.
FASCINATING GIANT SEA CREATURES. WE’LL SHARE GROUND-BREAKING
WE’LL SHARE GROUND-BREAKING INSIGHT FROM THE WORLD LEADING
INSIGHT FROM THE WORLD LEADING SHARK EXPERTS.
SHARK EXPERTS. WHO BETTER FOR THAT ASSIGNMENT
WHO BETTER FOR THAT ASSIGNMENT THAN AL ROKER?
THAN AL ROKER? >> THAT’S RIGHT.
>> THAT’S RIGHT. I WILL ADMIT, I DID HAVE A
I WILL ADMIT, I DID HAVE A MOMENT OF TREPIDATION WHEN I
MOMENT OF TREPIDATION WHEN I LOOKED DOWN.
LOOKED DOWN. THEY TELL YOU, YOU ALWAYS DO
THEY TELL YOU, YOU ALWAYS DO THAT BEFORE YOU DIVE.
THAT BEFORE YOU DIVE. I SAW TWO DOZEN SHARKS.
I SAW TWO DOZEN SHARKS. I THOUGHT, OH, OKAY.
I THOUGHT, OH, OKAY. BUT WE DID IT.
BUT WE DID IT. >> YOU’RE BRAVE, AL.
>> YOU’RE BRAVE, AL. >> PRETTY AMAZING.
>> PRETTY AMAZING. >> AL ROKER SWAM WITH SHARKS OFF
