by: Jakob Jelling
One of the main Bahamas' areas in which divers can have sharks around them and watch them eating is the Shark Arena. This place is near New Providence, about 45 minutes from it into the sea in boat, and near the Shark Wall as well. This area concentrates some of the main Bahamas’ diving attractions and one of the most famous shark diving activities of the world, attracting divers and people from all places who wish to experience something different and exciting.
When going to Shark Arena, divers can view sharks very close to them and even feel them passing right to their sides towards the food they are given as bait. One of the most impressing things for most divers who have gone through these kinds of experiences is watching sharks eating, which can be a very shocking image to view, and all this while having them very close.
Shark Arena and Shark Wall are often offered as a diving tour. According to these tours' schedules, divers are first taken to Shark Wall where they can enjoy an amazing wall diving, in a wall which has a depth of 120 foot. While they practice this wall diving, divers will have their first encounter with sharks since they will be circling around near this area.
The next step of the tour once the Shark Wall one is completed takes divers to the Shark Arena. At this point, and before going into the water, divers are given a new tank and new instructions in order to be as safe as possible. Divers should pay attention to what their instructors say and follow their indications in order for everything to go alright.
The Shark Arena area is at a depth of about 45 feet. It is a flat and sandy spot located above the deep water area, at the top of the reef. This part of the tour allows divers be really close from where sharks are being feed and feel the excitement of having them passing on their sides in such a proximity that they could even touch them if they wished.