Shark tales of the deep at sea life centre

Published on Tuesday 15 May 2007 12:01

A SHARK expert who has spent time swimming with Great White sharks in South Africa will be giving talks on his experience at Deep Sea World this weekend.

Rob Bennett will be telling visitors about his real-life encounters with the fearsome predators as part of Deep Sea World's Shark Awareness Weekend.

As well as the talks, he will take part in question-and-answer sessions and show people a DVD of footage of sharks in the wild.

Mr Bennett has been a shark diver for nine years and has taken part in more than 7000 dives, including a Great White Shark diving course in South Africa.

"Diving with sharks is one of the most exciting feelings I have ever felt and it has been the same since my first dive in 1998," he said.

"I feel very privileged to have dived with so many different types of sharks over the course of my career and believe very strongly that it is vital for aquariums such as Deep Sea World to continue raising awareness of conservation issues."

During Shark Awareness Weekend, which runs from Friday, May 18, until Monday, May 21, visitors will also have the opportunity to meet one of Deep Sea World's own shark divers who looks after the aquarium's sand tiger sharks.