Image courtesy of Beatriz LaGrave-Llaneza.

From: Beatriz La Grave Llaneza
Some Place in the Bahamas, July 12, 2008

Understanding Sharks

This expedition has been an exciting adventure for the whole family. Every day started by waking up with the sunrise, diving during the day, contemplating the sunset and working on the project.

Being in the Bahamas gave us the opportunity to be in close contact with sharks. There are over 375 different species of sharks. Our experience has proved once more the theory that sharks attack as purely inquisitive testing. Researchers say that 96% of all shark attacks are single strikes, or "hit and run" attacks or mistakes.

We need to support the worldwide effort to give sharks a chance to survive. But we as a society can advance the cause immeasurably if we remove the idea of the shark as killing machine and stop the shark-killing. Mass killing of sharks could cause detrimental effects in underwater ecosystems. This is very unfortunate because the study of sharks has offered scientists new information about different areas of science. This is why the critical issue is saving these beautiful predators and the ecosystem they create and maintaining balance undersea.

Diving with sharks has been a unique experience. Hopefully some of you will try it and experience the adventure just to be in close encounter with yourself and with this unique & amazing animal. We all need to learn more and understand why they attack and end the fear that drives us to destroy them.

Go to the next postcard

Postcards from the Field: Shark Watching

You might also be interested in:

Cool It! Game

Check out our online store - minerals, fossils, books, activities, jewelry, and household items!...more

Biomes and Ecosystems

Biomes are large regions of the world with similar plants, animals, and other living things that are adapted to the climate and other conditions. Explore the links below to learn more about some of the...more

Understanding Sharks

This expedition has been an exciting adventure for the whole family. Every day started by waking up with the sunrise, diving during the day, contemplating the sunset and working on the project. Being in...more

What We've Learned About Shark Behavior

We have ended this interesting expedition. We shared very exciting moments and learned a little more about shark behavior and how sharks interact with humans. Sharks belong to the sea environment and they...more

Magin Llaneza

Since I can remember, I have always been wet. And the sound of the ocean has always softened me immensely and at the same time wakened me for new adventures. As the only boy in my family, my dad was my...more

Marina LaGrave

The ocean and diving has always been a part of my life! Since a young age, I loved and had a fascination with the natural world. My father was an admiral for the Venezuelan navy, so our family spent summers...more

Understanding Shark Behavior

Our journey to the Bahamas began on Saturday June 21st. We departed from Boynton Beach Inlet, on the East Coast of Florida, in spite of the weather forecast that predicted scattered showers and thunderstorms....more

Shark Behavior Project

On July 1, 2008 we left the Florida East Coast at 5 am and headed to the south reef of Grand Bahamas Island. When we started out we sailed toward a beautiful sunrise, clear blue skies, and a flat ocean....more

Windows to the Universe, a project of the National Earth Science Teachers Association, is sponsored in part is sponsored in part through grants from federal agencies (NASA and NOAA), and partnerships with affiliated organizations, including the American Geophysical Union, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Earth System Information Partnership, the American Meteorological Society, the National Center for Science Education, and TERC. The American Geophysical Union and the American Geosciences Institute are Windows to the Universe Founding Partners. NESTA welcomes new Institutional Affiliates in support of our ongoing programs, as well as collaborations on new projects. Contact NESTA for more information. NASA ESIP NCSE HHMI AGU AGI AMS NOAA