ORLANDO, Fla. — Shark week officially kicks off in the month of July and you can swim with these toothy fish at Discovery Cove.

What You Need To Know

  • Discovery Cove offers several shark interactions that will have you touching, snorkeling and learning about a variety of sharks

  • Customers can swim with six species of sharks and learn that the animals are not out to attack humans

  • While in the water you can watch sharks feed and even touch some of the unique creatures

Shark week first began in 1987 to celebrate sharks with the hopes of educating viewers about these majestic creatures.

Florida is well known for its sharks, including New Smyrna Beach that is labeled the “shark bite capital of the world.”

On average, the popular Volusia Beach community will see five to 10 shark bites annually.

Shark week creates plenty of media hype often portraying sharks as wild killers.

Discovery Cove’s Senior Aquarist Jeff Olson knows firsthand sharks are often misunderstood, he says.

He believes the best way to understand the animals is to get in the water and experience them firsthand.

“So, whenever we go into an animal's environment, we're going to be the guest in their home,” said Olson.

Olson spends his days taking customers to snorkel, touch and get right next to sharks that make their home at Discovery Cove.

People can swim right alongside the sharks.

They can snorkel near pacific blacktips, zebra, nurse, bonnetheads, and white tip reef sharks. 

“You're going to see over six different species of sharks, 17 individuals. We've got two large stingrays in here, a large grouper and a variety of fish. So, there's lots to see,” said Olson.

A customer who makes a reservation and pay a fee are given a wet suit and taken to the shark habitat where they are instructed how to interact with the animals.

Olson, who has been working with a variety of species for 10 years, says sharks are almost never trying to attack humans and simply get a bad rap often by the media.

“When we sort of cross paths with them, sometimes you can have an interaction with one. But for the most part, you're far more likely to be injured by a bee sting than a shark. And it's our hope here that people leave with a better appreciation for them,” said Olson.

The shark lover says there are a few things to consider next time you’re swimming at the ocean.

“Always be aware of your environment, swim near a lifeguard and try to avoid places where people are fishing,” he says.

While the aquarist enjoys shark week like everyone, he hopes his shark interactions encourage a future generation to learn that sharks are really not out to get us while swimming at the beach.

For more on  shark interactions visit Discovery Cove.