Customer Comments

Our experience there was amazing and I hope others will be able to experience it
Joan

I absolutely loved going on that dive. – Aloha, Joshua

… you offer a truly incredible experience that we would love to do again. Good Luck in keeping your business going.
Todd

I hope everything works out for you because I had a blast and have some friends that I referred to you who went and had a blast too!
Cheers!  Chelsea

…. It was one of the highlights of my trip, and I recommend it to any of my friends going to Oahu.

I had a terrific experience, you provided me with an opportunity that made me like sharks more and worry about their protection and conservation.

I look forward being again in Hawaii to visit Hawaii Shark Encounters again.
Alfonso

Hi Stefanie
…my husband and I LOVE your company and had a blast and hope the next time we are in Hawaii we can dive with you again.
Kelly VanDahl

Hi Shark-Team,
This is Martina from Germany. My friend Michaela and me, we did the most impressing adventure in my life at Wednesday, Septembre the 12th with you.
It was gorgeous, extraordinary - something I will never ever forget in my life and I want to thank you so much for this breathtaking experience!
Afterwards, when I signed out for the DVD, I was still so filled with these impressions, that I was shortly before crying, because my mind could not absorb any more in that moment.

I felt so full of respect and honour, facing those sharks - it was more than amazing.
…
Thank you, shark encounters, you really changed my life by this!

Sincerely,
Martina

I really would like to thank everyone at Hawaii shark encounters. We spent two weeks in Oahu and did everything from hiking to waterfalls, the cultural center, swimming with dolphins, surfing you name it we did it the shark dive was by far the most incredible experience of our trip. I wish we could have done the dive earlier in our trip so that we could have had the chance to take two dives. When people ask about our trip the first thing we tell them about is the shark dive, the second thing we tell them is that Hawaii shark encounters needs to be the first stop they make. The only problem we have now is that we are a little addicted to shark diving and I was wondering if you could suggest any other dive companies maybe in Aruba, The Bahamas, or other locations. We have even thought about coming back to Oahu just to experience the shark dive with you again. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU again for an incredible experience.
Kimberley Thistle and family

Hi
This was our first holiday in Hawaii, we cruised on the Pride of Hawaii for seven days.
Every port stop we elected to particpate in a Shorex shore tour, from helicopter flights, bus trips and snorkel dives.  All which we enjoyed greatly. Whilst on board we met a young Marine Biologist,she had been on your Shark Encounter Tour the previous week and enthuiasically recommended it. The discission to go on your Shark Encounter Tour made for one of the greatest tour experiences of our lifetime. We wish to thank both Capt Rich & decky Phil for their guidance and commentary during our tour.

We will gladly recommend your tour to anyone visiting Hawaii.

Great work fellas

Darryl & Sharon Taylor

Hello,
I was one of your shark tours back in May, and it was the experience of a lifetime. More than that, your knowledgeable staff educated me about sharks and how ignorant most of us are about them. 

Please keep up the great work!  I encourage anyone visiting O'ahu to book a tour with you. 

Take care,
Tom Nguyen

Subject: Shark Encounter (5-5-09)

Hi,
I just wanted to thank you once again for the incredible experience we had on May 5th.  From start to finish your people made this one of the most memorable times of our lives…..You can count on one thing, you have changed the way three more people look at sharks.
We will be back.

The Paddack Family

Stefanie,
I am very sorry to hear that your business is under assault. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience and came away with a much greater appreciation of the importance of sharks. I can honestly say it change my attitude about sharks.

I do wish your company well. We hope to someday take another Shark Encounters excursion. It was a highlight of our Hawaii trip.

Regards,
Jon English

Tango Productions
As a professional Film & TV Production company we are producing high quality documentaries and travel shows for the German and international television market since 20 years. Within this period we’ve worked with several environmental organizations, travel agencies and similar groups like Hawaii Shark Encounters
For one of our travel shows about Hawaii (Voxtours) as well as for a high end documentary about sharks ( ZDF: Hannes Jaenicke im Einsatz für Haie) we´ve worked with Hawaii Shark Encounters.

The collaboration was excellent and it was a great pleasure to work with such nice and experienced people.  For our travel show we presented Hawaii Shark Encounters as an excellent example of ecotourism. It represents Hawaii and the conservation of nature the most positive way. Among all tourist attraction it was the most valuable experience. We always felt very welcome and had a great time under water with the sharks. They were very professional in handling their guests as well as handling us as a film crew. They knew exactly what we were after and took us to the most incredible places. What we really liked was that all of the guests of Hawaii Shark Encounters had a great time too. They learned a lot about sharks and the Hawaiian culture and also about the conservation of nature. It is a real difference between the program of Hawaii Shark Encounters and what tourists experiences when they were on tour in Waikiki. These were most of the time real tourist traps.
Hawaii Shark Encounters got sustainable practices and focuses on educational entertainment which is one of the basics of sustainable ecotourism.
With the help of Hawaii Shark Encounters, we could create an image of Hawaii that really shows the beauty of the island, and the fascination of the sharks.
We definitely recommend Hawaii Shark Encounters as partner in media business as well as an excellent tour operator for Tourists.

Sincerely

Markus Strobel
Tango Productions

Until recently I would have been one of the uninformed mass's who would have been all for a shark ban.  What changed?  I went on a shark tour off Oahu's North Shore with "Hawaii Shark Encounter" Having been born and raised in Hawaii I had a real fear of Sharks. By seeing them in person and learning about them I have become a shark advocate. It is so important for people to see the sharks and learn about them, The tours are the only thing which allows people to see the sharks in their environment and have a real understanding on how beautiful and spectacular they are.

I learned Sharks are being destroyed by the millions each year. This type of awareness would never have happened if I had not gone on a shark tour. 

This shark tour company educates people, local school kids and provides jobs for the North Shore community. Nationally it has an intrust and active role in preserving sharks.

The Hawaiian Aumakua is still being regularly hunted and killed in Hawaiian waters and no body is outraged about this.  Yet when people try and ban a business which only views sharks and helps to bring awareness and save sharks the outcry is
"Desecration to the Aumakua".

Before you make a decision regarding the shark tours please go on a tour. I would like to invite you on a tour and pay your airfare to Oahu.

To see the Sharks in the ocean is indescribable. They are incredible. I instantly became a shark advocate. We must do everything in our power to save these magnificent animals. I learned so much on the tour and I have been back 4 more times since then. I am no longer afraid while in the water.
I have written our Federal government supporting House and Senate bills banning shark fining. I keep an eye on world events and groups who are tying to save the sharks.
This type of educational shark tour is essential for the opportunity to allow people to see the sharks. To learn about how their populations are being decimated and that they really do need every single voice to help save them.

I also want to be able to have the opportunity to return yearly to Haleiwa and go off shore to see the sharks.

Aloha,
Patricia

I have spent over thirty years documenting the life in our planets oceans and watched the
unwitting decay and deterioration of our marine resources first hand. The situation is dire for sharks as they are being emptied out of our oceans and into bowls of soup at an alarming rate.

Sharks have been slaughtered in astonishing numbers to the point where several species are now considered completely wiped out in some areas with little hope of them ever being found there again. A combination of misinformation from Hollywood depicting sharks as blood thirsty killers and ignorance has brought these calm, careful, cautious and magnificent creatures to their collective knees.

Many groups around the world are trying to turn around the misconceptions and bringing people and sharks together is one of the best methods for doing this. Divers and snorkelers that have spent some time with these animals in their environment come out of the water with a whole new appreciation for a species that our grand children may not be able to find if something is not done. Shark encounters are available in all oceans now and there is no correlation between these operations and the few shark attacks that occur around the world. Tracking devices have been put on individual sharks and they show that these animals do not leave the area where they are encountered to seek out humans.
As we lose biodiversity in the oceans we come closer to collapsing ecosystems that the entire planet depends upon its existence. Decisions that affect our oceans need to be made from a point of knowledge not senseless paranoia.

David Fleetham
Conservationist/ Underwater Photographer

I take this opportunity to enthusiastically support Hawaii Shark Encounters in Haleiwa.
This is a great venture for Haleiwa, for Hawaii and especially, for the sharks.

Education is the key to protecting these magnificent fish and there is no better way for people to recognize their magnificence than by seeing them in the open ocean.
The killing of sharks for sport, food, sharkfin soup, cartilage, shark liver oil and out of fear has decimated shark populations around the world. It is estimated that many populations have been reduced by 80% in recent years. Education is vital to protect the remaining shark populations. The popularity of shark fin soup in Asia is keeping the sharks in peril.
Hawaii Shark Encounters provides a great service, educating tourists and locals alike about the importance of sharks. People who take the tour learn that sharks are not the senseless, killing machines the media lead us to believe.
You can read about sharks, look at pictures, see videos, but nothing will tell the story quite like seeing them in their natural environment.

I took five Guam high school students to Hawaii a few years ago and we got to see the sharks from safety of the shark cage. After the event, the students said, "Miss, we never knew.... even though you had taught us about the sharks." My students developed a new and powerful respect for these top predators in just an hour at sea.

The employees of the shark boats are well trained and educated regarding sharks and enthusiastically pass their knowledge to their passengers.
Thank you for this great opportunity,

Sincerely,
Linda Tatreau
Marine Biology teacher/ Guam

Brent Tibbatts
Department of Agriculture
Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources, Guam

Stefanie, I was a guest of Hawaii Shark Encounters on May 7, 2009. Our crew, Captain Chris and deckhand Cole, were very professional and educational. We were given a description of the sharks we should see, a brief history of their biology, the reason sharks are at the area the tours take place, and background information on shark human interactions in Hawaii. The sharks have been attracted to this area by the actions of commercial fishermen.
No shark feeding takes place with this tour, so the sharks are at this site regardless of the presence or absence of this company. Several of the sharks are tagged, and valuable research into their biology and life history is ongoing. The customers were instructed to keep all arms and legs inside the shark cage, or they would be asked to exit the water. In addition, the crew showed their concern for the environment by retrieving a large mass (around 50 pounds) of floating net during our return to the dock.
As a fisheries biologist on Guam, I have seen fish tours that do not practice socially and environmentally sounds policies. Feeding of fish, including potentially dangerous fish such as barracudas, allowing customers to damage the environment, and leaving trash behind after visiting a site. In my opinion, Hawaii Shark Encounters gets it right. They promote and practice social and environmental responsibility during their tour, and provide a valuable educational resource as well. If a company were to consider opening a similar operation on Guam, I would use the Hawaii Shark Encounters experience as a model for how the business should be run.

Sincerely,
Brent Tibbatts

Hannes Jaenicke, ZDF Germany
Writer/Producer 'The Last Witnesses'

Dear Stefanie.
We've just finished the final cut of our shark documentary ('The Last Witnesses') for the ZDF and I just wanted to express how thankful we are for your incredible support. This conservation documentary turned out fabulous thanks to the material we shot with 'Shark Encounters'. The head of programming at ZDF, Thomas Bellut, actually said he's never seen shark footage like the one we shot with you. Not in 'Shark Waters' or any of the South African shark films. He'll submit the film to several festivals and expects world sales to be far beyond average. Our film will air prime time in August and Bellut is convinced it'll even beat the ratings of our pilot film about the demise of Orang-Utans.

Without you and 'Shark Encounters' we would have never gotten the film we have now. I also wanted to let you know that the re-runs of our 2007 Vox Tours
program about Oahu and its tourist attractions were watched by over 4 million viewers. Vox shortened the film to a half hour format, cutting out the section about Waikiki, the parasailing, the jet skiing and big game fishing. The film now focuses on the footage regarding traditional Hawaiian culture and all the environmental activities going on in Hawaii, prominently featuring Jack Johnson's involvement and of course 'Shark Encounters'.

Thank you again, and please stay in touch.
With best regards,
Hannes Jaenicke

Aloha,
Just wanted to drop you a line and tell you how much I enjoyed the tour. The crew was fantastic. The sharks were amazing. I even got to see 3 whales at the start of the tour. I can’t wait to come back. This was, without a doubt, the highlight of my trip to Hawaii. Thanks again.

Lisa Greene

My husband and I went out on your 7 am trip on 3/9. We just wanted to let you know what a great time we had. We went out with you last summer but this year it was just amazing. The crew of Rich & Cole were just great. We enjoyed every minute of our shark adventure and will definitely come back a third time!

Cristy & Jason Denton

Wild Classroom
We wanted to send you this long overdue thank you for taking us out with Hawaii Shark Encounters. We are so happy to share your commitment to educating the next generation about sharks and their critical role in the marine ecosystem. Thank you for the wonderful opportunity to see Galapagos sharks (and for allowing Jonas to swim with them). We know the footage will make an excellent addition to our series on adventure science videos for 9th grade students. We would love to work with you again. Please let us know if we can help you and Hawaii Shark Encounters in any way.

All the best The science crew of "Wild Classroom"

Project Leimamo (A vision on a Mission)

Aloha, Kakau
To the most bravest and nicest people on the North Shore. The Shark Encounter was the most exciting, thrilling and very educational experience, I have ever encountered. Project Leimamo was designed to practice the Hawaiian values with Substance Abuse Treatment Programs, from around the island and since 2003 we have grown to almost 200 clients from 13yrs to 60 years and older. One of the Hawaiian value that is the most important value of all is Ho ‘ihi respect), and your educational program that you presented to us was unforgettable, that through the letters of the teenagers, you will read how learning respect for them was important. When you learn how to give Ho ‘ihi in return you will learn how to respect yourself. This project helps to connect them to a spiritual experience as they learn to aloha and malama the aina (Love and care for the land).
Your educational program has surely taught us that, every living thing on this earth has a purpose, even the sharks. I learned that without them in the ocean the ecosystem will start to change. The sharks, eat the sick fish, to stop them from spreading disease to the school. I believe that caring people like you guys, help your youth by educating them on a better way of living, and that life’s natural high is the best thing for them, not drugs.

I believe that they also learned, that as the sharks, they also have a purpose in life, and for them, not to give up an continue to give respect, and in return they will receive Ho ‘ihi.
This experience for the clients at the Bobby Benson Center was a once in a lifetime that I know they will never forget. Project Leimamo wishes you many safe journeys in to your quest, to help the education of the life style of the shark species.

May the Aloha Spirit continue to be with all of you and your Ohana

Me Kealoha, Pumehana

Mahalo Project Leimamo (A Vision on a Mission)

Jackery Burgess-Manoha (Ho’okele – Navigator)

Dear Mr. Shark Encounters Man:
The experience that Saturday on the boat was unforgettable.. I feared shark’s so badly, but after what you said, they are so interesting and cool to me. Thankyou so much for letting th Bobby benson girls experience that. It meant a lot to me. I hope in the future we will be able to return and experience the cage. Thankyou again

Dear Shark People,
Thank you so so so much for taking us to see the sharks. I loved it so much. you guys are crazy but cool. i had so much fun. Thankyou for malking my day a lot better. all of us had a good day because of you guys. So Thanks. Tell the sharks Hi for us.

Hi. Shark Man’s
Every day from in the morning I have bad day’s. I even have hard time sleeping with night mare’s of my past. When Jackery told me I coming to the shark in counter I said NO! She said yes. So I came. I so glad that I did. I now know what respect is when I saw the shark and was laughing when Jackery was screaming in the cage. I glad I came. Thankyou for taking us. I will remember this day. because it was a good day for me. Today I wasn’t sad.

Aloha Care Taker of the Sharks.
I wasn’t so pose to come because I was rude on the last project Leimamo. But Jackery said if I understand what I did I clean the gazbo and the laundry room, sweep the boogie board area I then I could come. That day was out of sight. You guys are awesome and I would clean the hole campus if I had to. Thankyou for having us. I learn a lot and to be respectfull to others. Thank you for letting us come.

Dear Hawaii Shark Encounters,
aloha. I just want to thank you for being part of my recovery because I didn’t know anything about sharks. I thought we had an awesome time in the water. I enjoyed everything you, gentlemen did. I will stay in touch with you guys and once again thanks.
P.S sorry about my handwritting Thank you so much…

To: Hawaii’s Shark Encounters,
Thank you so much, You’ve made me over come the fear of the most scariest thing that lives in our waters (SHARKS)! You made me see sharks in a new point of view.

I’ve judges sharks all my life and never seen one until you guys took me on this amazing trip and me see how clam and harmless sharks are with my own eyes.

It was too bad that I couldn’t go in the cage but there’s always next time and I can guarantee you that I’ll be back. You guys are very trusting and that’s why I’ll support you all the way!

Once again I would like to thank you for changing my feelings and thoughts of the creatures that lies in the deep blue.

Thanks!

To: The Shark Encounter.
Wow thank you so much for taking us out on that fun trip to see al the sharks It was so fun I never had so much fun. You guys made me have the experience of a life time. I will never forget watching all the sharks by us. And even getting to throw fist. I know that even when I get out I will come again. Seeing one of our staff in the cage was the best part and how you all supported her to go out there. I think you guys are so brave for all the brave things you do to let other people you don’t even know to have the experience of their lifetimes. Thank you so much for everything. It means a lot for me cause I probably wouldn’t go on my own. Thank you!!

Dear Jimmy and Stephanie,
Thank you so much for coming on Saturday. I really enjoyed watching that video. It mean a lot to us that you came to speak to us. That was really unexpected and suprising.

I learned a lot from watching that video. It made me want to go. I would like to go to experience al the fun and to get in touch with my amakua. The shark and honu are my two aumakua.

I learned so much about the sharks and how they swim. I thought all sharks ate humans, so I was really surprised when you told me and the girls which species do eat/bite them. I learned not to let fear get in the way of doing fun things and getting in touch with your aumakua.

As my part I think I can take care of the beaches and the ocean. I will do that by picking up rubbish and cutting the soda plastics. I can also get in touch with my mana and spiritual side by sitting on the beach in the sand and meditate.
Thank you so much for coming and sharing,

Cant wait to see you…

Hey Jimmy and Steph
Its me Vana Thankyou so much for taking your time to teach us about sharks and how unharmful sharks are. Also while you guys were here I have leant that there are many different types of sharks and what most people say about them such as “all they want to do is eat you” is not even true because sharks don’t even like humans they just mistake us for other stuff

What I do know when I go places like the beach or something I pick up the rubbish that I see around and cut out the soda rings because I really wouldnt want them to die and because they are also really precious animals to you and me.

Well guys that’s all I got to say and I hope I do get to go with you guys because this letter is coming straight from my heart.

Dear Jimmy and Stephanie,
I would really appreciate it if I could get the chance to go on the shark encounter with you folks. I think learning about sharks would be so interesting and cool. Because the fact that you can even come in contact with them creatures are just an amazing thing. So i would like to go to the shark encounter to learn the intrerting facts about the sea life. I would like to learn how many different kinds of shark there are and what they eat, ooh and another big one. Do sharks really attack when they smell blood? And I can help malama the beacher by picking up trash, cutting the soda can rings so their can be more living creatures in the ocean..because the ocean is a beautiful place and the sharks are amazing creatures! Thank you for sharing!

Hey Jimmy and Stephany,
I thank you for coming yo Bobby Benson center and sharing whatever you guys needed to share. At first I hated sharks, but now that I know more about sharks im actually interested in them. Well, the reason why I want to go with you guys to the shark Encounter is because I wanna be able to not be afraid of sharks. Also, I want to be able to experience how sharks really are. Maybe in the future I’ll be like you guys, swimming with sharks. I really learned alot from you guys that day. I learned that sharks are harmless, they don’t mean to bite you, different types of sharks, and that sharks are friendly. If i were to malama the beaches, I would malama them by picking up and unnecessary rubbish and putting then into the trash.

Hey Jimmy and Stephany,
I thank you for coming yo Bobby Benson center and sharing whatever you guys needed to share. At first I hated sharks, but now that I know more about sharks im actually interested in them. Well, the reason why I want to go with you guys to the shark Encounter is because I wanna be able to not be afraid of sharks. Also, I want to be able to experience how sharks really are. Maybe in the future I’ll be like you guys, swimming with sharks. I really learned alot from you guys that day. I learned that sharks are harmless, they don’t mean to bite you, different types of sharks, and that sharks are friendly. If i were to malama the beaches, I would malama them by picking up and unnecessary rubbish and putting then into the trash.

Dear Jimmy,
I would like to see the shark because I think it would help me get my fear out of the way because shark is so cool but some time they can hurt people. If you hurt them. They would hurt other back.

I want to learn what kind of sharks are there what kind of food do they eat. Where in the ocean do they live. In the middle of the ocean or fur out like north.

We as a community can pick up Rubbish because the Rubbish can get into the ocean. cut the soda can Rings so they don’t get trap.

Dear Jimmy and Stephanie
My name is Amy and I would love to be able to have the chance to go o the shark encounter. I’ve always loved the ocean and everything about it. I want to go because it would be an amazing learning experience and I feel like I could grow as a person. Being with and learning about animals has always been theripuic for me. I love animals. When I see, learn or am just around animals, it helps me find ways to change my thinking. In the past couple months that I’ve been here at BBC I’ve changed so much and have grown so much. I guess what I’m trying to say is that, well I need this. I think it would help me to become more clam, and I know I’d learn so much, not only about the sharks, but about myself too. I’d love to learn everything I possibly could about the sharks. How they swim, how they hunt, breathe, sleep, spend their lives. From this I could learn how I could take care of the ocean and how my actions affect it. I hope I am able to go on the shark encounters.

Thank you so much for this oppertunaty, and hopefully I’ll see you soon.

Dear Jimmy and Stephanie,
Thank you for taking the time to come and share with us. I’m really shocked to know that you folks actually swim with sharks. I would be delighted to go. At first i was really, really afraid. After watching your movies i learned a lot and i’m not that afraid of sharks. i’m not really sure how to write, but i’m trying because I really want to go. I appreciate that you’re taking the time to take us, and share with us. i’m really grateful for you folks. Thank you so much for caring for us

Dear Jimmy and Stephanie,
My name is Dee and I was recently on your shark encounter tour. I was the frightened girl who was not even sure that she wanted to get in the boat. Let alone see ant sharks…I am sure that you remember my repeated "oh, my god!!!"

Anyway, I wanted to take a moment to say thanx to you for making that trip one of my best experiences during my 12 days in Hawaii. You were both very kind and understanding of my fear of water, as well as extremely knowledgeable about sharks and their behavior. I felt completely safe and at ease from the moment I stepped onto that boat. (no small feat for a girl who doesn’t even put her face under the shower stream!!)

You had me out there three miles into the ocean, on a boat smaller than my living room, watching 8 foot sharks in 450 feet deep water – and I was enjoying it!! Although I only briefly climbed into the shark cage, I did overcome some of my fears by even placing a toe in that water. I managed to place my snorkel mask (however temporarily) into the water and observe one shark in his natural habitat!

After watching those sharks for a while, I did come to realize that they are not the monsters that Hollywood makes them out to be.

I spent the rest of my time in Hawaii way more assured and confident getting into the water knowing that sharks were not maliciously lurking in the depths ready to pounce on me at any moment.

Again I truly do appreciate your efforts to makes me feel comfortable and I know that the next time I am in Hawaii (which will hopefully be soon!) we will head up to see you again and this time I will spend more than 60 seconds in your shark cage!!

I look forward to another shark adventure with you soon!

Dee Hamer Calgary, Alberta, Canada

…We spent about 45 minutes watching these sleek creatures in their natural habitat, marveling at their elegance and straightforward function in the marine environment.

And I must say that the Hawaii Shark Encounters crew provided us with a safe, eco sensitive and remarkable educational experience that is almost impossible to describe in its emotional impact.

I also interviewed the passengers and they all agreed that it was one of their most memorable "Hawaii experiences" and that they would recommend it to their friends without hesitation.

To close, I can only remark that seeing the sharks in their natural environment was incredible…and I will tell my visitor friends that it is something that must be experienced to be appreciated.

A hui hou Steve Doyle

To whom it may concern,
My name is Dee and I was recently on your shark encounter tour. I was the frightened girl who was not even sure that she wanted to get in the boat. Let alone see ant sharks…I am sure that you remember my repeated "oh, my god!!!"

My experience on the shark tour was unforgettable. Just knowing that the sharks were swimming free in the ocean made the experience so much better than staring at them in the captive sea world aquariums.

The crew were all very highly qualified, clean, well groomed, thoroughly professional in every way and provided more than an abundance of facts and information on sharks, Hawaii, the boat, safety of course, and most importantly they made me and the other customers feel comfortable and ready for an experience that I will treasure for the rest of my life. I could tell that the crew love what they do and love where they do it. With their qualifications they could go anywhere in the world and work on shark tour boats, but they all live, surf, and love the North Shore.

It was a special visit with the Mano in the free ocean waters off the North Shore.

Respectfully with Aloha, Monica Parker

To: Hawaii Shark Encounters,
I am writing this letter to express my heartfelt thank you for the experience you shared with my family a few years ago by hosting us on a Shark Encounter. Trough your generosity my family has had life changing moments. My husband once and avid fisherman has always had a healthy respect for sharks. As he calls them, "the man in the gray suit" or "the tax collector". When I told him of your kind offer, he wanted to go for the boat ride. After seeing the sharks at the back of the boat, to my surprise he was one of the first people in the cage.

My daughter, born and raised the majority of her life in Hawaii, swimming in the ocean as a young child was occasionally overshadowed by the media brain- washing of Jaws. After the tour both my husband and daughter have a new found admiration for the beauty, grace and power of the shark in the ocean. Our shark encounter has inspired my daughter to dedicate herself towards the conservation of these animals. I hope that you will continue to educate as many people as you can about how valuable the shark is to our ocean environment.

As for myself, my shark swim was something surreal akin to what I imagine a space walk might be like. The ocean was so beautiful it is hard to describe. Seeing the sharks in the wild can not compare to visiting an aquarium. Again, mahalo for the wonderful shark encounter.

Sincerely, Carole Crist

To: Hawaii Shark Encounters,
Recently my sister and I went on a shark tour operated by your company. Our experiences on the tour were nothing short of wonderful. The opportunity to see sharks in the wild is something that will never be forgotten. Your boat was clean, well kept and comfortable. The crew gave us a safety briefing and then educated us about the different sharks we might see. My sister and I are Kamaina, being born and raised in Hawaii. We have been in the ocean our entire life. The shark tour is a special window into the realm of the ocean that one will possibly never see in a lifetime.

I hope that your vision to share this can continue, and that you, through this tour will be able to educate many people about the important role that the shark plays in our ocean. Again, thank you for the experience or a lifetime.

Sincerely, Carole Morine

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