Shanghai Changfeng Ocean World, which was opened in April 1994 at the cost of 25 million dollars, is 13 meters under the surface of the Silver Shovel Lake in Changfeng Park. It is China’s first large-scale theme aquarium and the flagship tourist attraction. The aquarium is the only marine life-themed show stadium in China, which is home to thousands of creatures from oceans and rivers all over the world. It showcases a colorful and spectacular underwater world with animal shows such as fishes and sharks dancing together, deep ocean diving, otter, dolphin and Beluga Whale Shows.

The shark diving experience at the Ocean World Aquarium is a guaranteed adrenaline rush. Managed by Big Blue Scuba which runs the diving operations, divers have the opportunity to tour the shark tank which is inhabited by  stingrays, turtles, eels, a variety of large fish and, Five different species of Shark , sand tiger sharks, nurse sharks, whitetip reef sharks, blacktip reef sharks and guitar sharks. The Aquarium is said to have 100-150 sharks several over 10 feet in length .

The Shark Diving program requires divers to register at least two days in advance, and costs  around 800 RMB per person ($120), which includes a behind the scenes Aquarium Tour, the Shark feeding show,  a single dive in the shark tank with full scuba equipment and instructor provided. The instructor will provide a basic diving skills refresher in a swimming pool to get comfortable following which the dive in the main tank lasts around 20 minutes with the sharks. Divers can also hunt for shark teeth that are found in the substrate of the tank, and can keep them as a souvenir.

So the next time you happen to visit Shanghai, and have the urge to take the plunge and go Scuba Diving, try out the Ocean World Shark Diving experience and you are sure to have and experience of a lifetime.

Swimming with Sharks in Shanghai was written by Nevin for Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog - Bringing You The Other 70% Of Our World

Humans have an irrational fear of sharks. Most of this, I believe, is simply fear of the unknown. We don’t understand sharks nor most of the ocean and this frightens us. Combined with their poor treatment by the media and entertainment world, sharks overall get a bad rep. I’m here today to balance the score a little. Statistics put the risk of a shark attack worldwide at about 1 in almost 300 million. That’s a 3 with 8 zeros behind it! And this is only taking into account those who actually go in the water, not your Aunt Mildred who thinks the ocean is “dirty”.

That’s a big number, and big numbers don’t usually mean much to people. Let me put in in more relate-able terms. Here are 5 things more likely to happen to you than getting attacked by a shark:

1. Win an Academy Award. Over 50 Oscars are given out each year (including scientific and technical award winners), meaning you are more likely to win the coveted gold statuette this year than get bitten by a shark. Better get crackin’ on that script!
2. Die while scuba diving. While it sucks to think about, over 100 people die a year while scuba diving, often from unknown causes. You’re more likely to die while scuba diving from something like an equipment malfunction than to get attacked by a shark. There, don’t you feel better?
3. Dealt a full house—three times in a row. The odds of getting dealt a full house (three of a kind and two of another kind, one of the highest hands in poker) is 1 in 693. Let’s say you spend all night playing poker with the guys. You are more likely to get dealt a full house three times in a row than get bitten by a shark. Just how much money did you win last time you played poker?
4. Killed by a falling aircraft. In murky waters everyone’s on the lookout for killer sharks. How often are you on the lookout for falling aircraft? Instead of the Great White Shark you should be looking out for the Great White Airbus.
5. Win a Nobel Prize. Six prizes are awarded. This actually makes your odds of winning any one year lower than getting bit by a shark. However, factor in how often they are awarded, and your odds quickly zoom past shark territory. In fact, in any one year you are more likely to become a nobel laureate (nominee) than get attacked by a shark. Isn’t it nice to know that the Nobel prize committee cares more about you than Jaws?

Now don’t you feel ridiculous? These numbers are only for getting attacked by a shark. Let’s say lightning strikes and you do get bitten (actually, the chance of you getting struck by lightning is orders of magnitude greater than getting attacked by a shark). Even then, the chance of you dying is still very small (about 1 in 30).

The problem, of course, is that no one lives by statistics. Rather, we live by our emotions. Next time you feel yourself getting a little irrational, start running the numbers in your head. If worse comes to worse, who knows, maybe the sharks will decide to leave Rain Man alone.

About the Author: David Harmon is a PADI Divemaster, founder of “The Diving Blog” and all-around scuba enthusiast. His scuba blog records his learning curve & experiences as he journeys on to becoming a certified instructor. Catering to all levels of divers it discusses issues, offers tips and educates about all things subaquatic!

*Image Credits: photo by egarc2 on flickr

5 Things More Likely Than a Shark Attack was written by Noreen for Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog - Bringing You The Other 70% Of Our World

Situated in the Pacific Ocean a mere  550 km (340 mi) off the coast of Costa Rica and just north of the famous Galapagos Islands, Cocos is an uninhabited speck of a volcanic island with an area of 23.85 km² (9.2 mi²) rising up from the Pacific depths. Covered in lush tropical rainforest, and speckled with hundreds of waterfalls, this enchanting island served as the backdrop for the filming of the movie Jurassic Park.  Both the Island and the waters surrounding it are declared a Costa Rican National Park and are protected from fisherman or visitors by Costa Rican Park Rangers.

To get to Cocos Island, the nearest airport is located in the capital of Costa Rica, San Jose. From San Jose you need to travel by bus to the Pacific coastal town of Puntarenas which is the jumping off point to the Cocos Island. From Puntarenas you have three options, all live-aboard boats since there is no accommodation or even camping allowed on the Island. The three boats permitted to conduct dive operations are the Undersea Hunter, the Sea Hunter, and the Okeanos Aggressor each well equipped dive ships with experienced dive instructors who have been diving the islands waters for years. The trip from Puntarenas on the liveaboard takes approximately 30-40 hours, but the trip is well worth it once you finally arrive.

As enchanting as the island is, the main attraction lies below the surface which is why the Cocos Island was named one of the best 10 scuba diving spots in the world by PADI and numerous other dive authorities. From the largest schools of hammerhead sharks in the World, to eagle rays, manta rays, silky sharks, Galapagos sharks, sailfish, wahoo, jacks, and the list simply goes on and on!  Schooling hammerheads are usually “guaranteed” sighting, and large vortexes of pelagic fish such as jacks are so common that fish at other sites elsewhere in the world will seem to pale in comparison.  Large fish and predators seem to be the theme of every dive on Cocos, and you will probably get to see almost each and every species of shark and ray during the course of your trip.

The diving off Cocos Island is meant for the more experienced diver, as currents can be strong, dive sites deep with chances of being swept away into the open waters. Liveaboard diving is usually upto 5 dives a day and Some sites often require Nitrox or experience with rebreathers to get the bottom time necessary to enjoy the sites without scaring away the hammerheads. Almost every dive site is rated as Skill Level Advanced, so make sure you have the necessary degree of comfort  in your diving skills if you plan to dive here.

Leisurepro Travel offers a brilliant Cocos Island Dive Package aboard the Okeanos Aggressor which includes 7 nights accommodations aboard the Okeanos Aggressor, airport and/or hotel transfers on day of charter, all meals, snacks, non-alcoholic beverages, local beer and wine, an average of up to 4 or 5 dives per day (depending on weather and itinerary), compressed air tanks, weights and belts. For more information visit LeisurePro Travel.

photos from flickr by g-na, ClifB, petersbar

Dive the Cocos Islands in Costa Rica was written by Nevin for Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog - Bringing You The Other 70% Of Our World

1. Gansbaai, South Africa
For what nightmares are made of, there’s no where in the World like South Africa to encounter the so called ‘man-eater’ Great White. 12kms offshore from Gansbaai (160km from Cape Town), there are two islands Dyer Island and Geyser Rock where all the action takes place. The islands covered with seals and jackass penguins are like a ready to eat fast food meal for the sharks who patrol the shallow and narrow channel that runs between the two islands, as if they were at a McDonald’s drive-thru.

Jump in a cage here an all that’ll separate you from the most feared shark in the sea is a few metal bars. It’s a front row seat to watch the dinning frenzy and maybe a closer encounter with a curious great white when it checks out your cage. You’re guaranteed you’re moneys worth and an experience of a lifetime.

2. Nassau, Bahamas
Think cage diving is for wussies? Want a little more thrill and excitement? How about coming face-to-face with tens of reef sharks without the metal protection. Nassau attracts tons of divers every year to witness a swarm of reefies in a feeding frenzy. The difference however is that the sharks are lured by the dive master/operators dressed in chain-mail that feed them while the other divers play spectators down below unnoticed by the hungry sharks.

With no cage or protection the thrill of this high can be described as a powerful dose of prozac. Shark encounters include tens of blacktip or white tip reef sharks circling you feeding on bait and on rare occasion and run in the daddy of all sharks -the great white.

3. Rhode Island, United States
A combination of frigid waters and plenty of sharks makes this one of the top shark diving destinations. Point Judith, three hours offshore of New England may not seem like a great place to dive, especially since the Atlantic’s bone-chilling waters aren’t very inviting. However, the migratory blue sharks have made it their pit stop on a long journey to the coast of South America.

Pulled in by chumming the waters (throwing in bait to lure sharks and fish), the blue sharks are drawn here for the diving which is done from a cage. Their slender bodies and pointed snouts are quite distinguishably different form other shark species. The fearless may opt to go cage-free but this isn’t advisable.

4. Cocos Island, Costa Rica
A must dive site for shark diving enthusiasts, Cocos Island is a unique spot to dive with literally hundreds of hammerhead sharks. Ranked as the 6th Best dive site by the PADI network, it’s a live-aboard only dive destination as it’s situated some 300 miles off the main coast of Costa Rica.

The silhouette view of swirling hammerheads as you gaze up on a dive here is an intense and almost surreal diving experience. The sheer numbers of hammerheads is shocking and makes you wonder if there are any fish left around there. Apart from hammerhead sharks, white tips, bull and whale sharks are frequently spotted in these parts too.

5. Rocas Atoll (Atol das Rocas), Brazil
A lagoon off the coast of Brazil in the Brazilian State of Rio Grande do Norte, 260 km (160 mi) northeast of Natal is volcanic formed island. This atoll was designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site because of it’s rich marine and coral life. The warm waters in this area are home to a caucus of brightly colored tropical fishes, coral reefs and it’s predator—the lemon shark.

With a thriving population of lemon sharks here, which pose very little threat to humans it’s possible to dive with a school of about 30 sharks at once making it a tangy experience.

*Photo Credits: photos by manoellemos, Le Grand Portage, underwatertourist, twellsv, AlKok on flickr

Top 5 Shark Diving Destinations in the World was written by Noreen for Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog - Bringing You The Other 70% Of Our World