By Kirsten Gum
So I get to cross that one off my bucket list, you know the list you keep either on paper or in your head of all the things you want to do before you die? Yep, swimming with the sharks was on mine! Unfortunately, this experience only amplified my curiosity of the creatures, and I'm now looking to get into a cage while great whites swim around me. I've had a couple of friends do it in South Africa. They said it was a terrifying and exhilarating experience. That's exactly how I would describe my Florida Aquarium adventure.
I found myself so many times wanting to reach out and touch them - which is absolutely forbidden! They truly do look serene and harmless. I was surprised how curious and how close a couple of the white tip and black tips got to me. They are probably thinking "What's this chick want?" and "Why is she in my tank?!" Only one made me nervous, and I can't recall what type it was, but the eyes were very frantic-looking, shifty-like. And it was swimming around faster than the others, like it was nervous or agitated or something. Whatever it was, my gut was saying "Watch that one." I will admit if I had been alone down there, I would have been scared to death. There were three master divers with us. One next to me, one next to Bucky, the underwater camera operator, and one to assess the situation from afar.
Now that I think of it, I'm not sure what I would have done if one of them decided to attack any one of us. Hmmm... that's something to think about for next time. Let's stay on the brighter side of the adventure. Let's face it Megalodons are just super cool. I wish there was more information about these creatures, more drawings or recreations. A full-grown adult must have been the size of a Sperm Whale, except with several rows of gigantic teeth. Their prey, which seemed to be everything at the time, didn't stand a chance. And to think that the state of Florida was like a big nursery for them. Nice shallow saltwater bays where they could have their young and a safe place for the adolescent Megs to eat and grow strong. And I thought Florida was all about retirees! Kidding. I'm so proud of the 4-inch Meg teeth I did find. Let's just say it was all luck.
I mean when I got underwater and saw the visibility, I immediately got discouraged. Everything on the bottom looked the same. Then Marie and I saw it; hell I had been in the water less than five minutes! I got all jacked-up and thought "Alright, this isn't going to be so tough." Then it got tough. I mean we pulled out some cool fossils, but nothing compared to the first tooth. Marie is my hero. I love running into tough athletic chicks. She's a dive master, a free diver, a boat captain, and she's only in her mid-20s. I'd be glad to have her as my sidekick any day!
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