“I am the Shark Whisperer.”
That phrase was floating through my head today during a morning jog.
“Eli the Shark Whisperer.”
It’s a label I’ve heard many times throughout my career. And even back when the media buzz was loudest, I never liked it.
Never believed it.
Never wanted it.
In fact, I freaking hated being called that.
Because deep down, it never felt true.
It made me feel like a fake.
Image by Juan Sharks
Image by Paul Spielvogel
The truth is, as much as I know and understand shark behavior, especially the species I’ve had the privilege of working with closely, I really don’t know much about sharks.
They are, and likely always will be, a mystery to me.
I have been blessed with sharing countless hours with sharks, especially lemon and tiger sharks, and I have been allowed extended glimpses into their lives; which has allowed me to learn things and behaviors about these animals that few get to see, or understand.
But even with that, the idea that I am, or was, some sort of whisperer, makes me laugh.
The thought that anyone could be considered a shark whisperer is a silly idea to me, because there are over 500 different species of sharks.
Each one is unique… different personalities, different behaviors, different instincts.
Unless you’ve spent meaningful time with every single species (and no one has), claiming some kind of mastery over them all is... well, it’s just not real.
And let’s be honest, these are wild animals.
Even with the tigers I’ve spent years diving with, I never once felt comfortable.
I never fooled myself into thinking I could cozy up to them like a pet.
I’ve always known that if I screw up, there’s a price I will pay.
That reality keeps me sharp, and It keeps me honest.
From Ripley’s Believe it or Not, annual book.
I have seen a few other people out there being called the same thing… and maybe they are?
A few shark pros I know have been diving with the same sharks for 20 plus years, and know their sharks intimately, they for sure are deserving of that kind of title.
They have a deep understanding of their sharks, and for that, I do give them props - I have mad respect for them.
But just like me, they lack experience with other species of sharks, and probably, just like me, may find that name uncomfortable.
Don’t get me wrong, I truly appreciated that people would say that about me.
Because it meant they respect my work - and it is a good feeling when people see what you have done, and show some love.
I think at our core we all want to be appreciated for our life’s work, but to be called some kind of master, just never sat well with me, because I knew that I wasn’t.
Anyway, as we move forward, I am sure I will see future news stories, with new “Shark Whisperers”, - all with amazing images, trying new things and sharing new behaviors with us.
Which is the way it is supposed to be - Passionate Shark Divers, should always be moving what we know about sharks forward, and someone NEEDS to continue carrying the torch; showing people the beauty of sharks and what sharks can be like.
Who knows…maybe, just maybe, a shark diver will show up, that truly is a real Shark Whisperer, and they will be able to come in and finally get a tiger shark to lay down on their lap, or the ultimate, roll a white shark.
Now, that is a person that I would love to dive with and learn from.
But until that day comes… the world is stuck with the one’s that we have.
Including a fake one like me.
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