Diving with sharks is one of the most fascinating experiences for many divers. Because many shark species are shy or remain at great depths, operators use various methods to enable sightings. These range from observational diving without feeding, through luring with chumming, to direct feeding.
The debate about these practices covers ecological, behavioural and safety aspects. Critics fear that sharks could be conditioned by feeding, that they might come to associate people with food in the future, and that this could increase risks for divers, swimmers or coastal residents. Supporters emphasise the economic benefits and the contribution to shark observation. Scientific studies on these effects provide nuanced results, ranging from short-term behavioural changes to no long-term impacts.
What attraction and feeding methods are there?
In the context of shark-observation dives, several attraction methods are used. They differ in their objectives, application and their influence on the animals’ behaviour.
What is chumming (baiting / berley)?
During Chumming, fish scraps, blood or chopped bait pieces are put into the water to create a scent trail that sharks can follow. The aim is to attract sharks close to the dive boat or observation site without actually feeding them.
What are bait crates?
Bait Crates are perforated metal cages or barrels containing bait that hang in the water or rest on the seabed. The sharks try to get at the contents, but do not have to feed directly from the diver’s hand.
What is provisioning?
During Provisioning, visible food such as pieces of fish is placed directly into the water so that sharks actively consume it. This differs from chumming because actual bait is present here and not just a scent trail.
Shark diving without feeding or attractants
Under natural conditions, attempts are made to dive with sharks without additional stimuli such as scent or bait. This method has the least influence on the animals’ behaviour and yields the most natural behavioural patterns.
Pros and cons of the methods
Advantages
- Increased likelihood of sightings: Especially for shy or widely dispersed species, attraction methods improve the chance of sightings.
- Economic benefits: Attractive shark experiences strengthen local tourism offerings and can provide economic opportunities for coastal communities.
- Scientific data production: Repeatable encounters allow longitudinal studies of behaviour and populations.
Disadvantages and risks
- Behavioural changes due to baiting: Deploying chum can cause sharks to linger at a location more frequently or to change their movement patterns.
- Aggression among sharks: Intense competition for offered food can lead to more conspicuous behaviour.
- Risk of bites for divers: Direct feeding and close interactions with sharks potentially increase the risk of unintended contacts or bites.
- Ecological impacts: Regular baiting can alter natural hunting and residency patterns at a site.
Myths and facts about conditioning
Fact: Conditioning is possible, but not clear-cut
Empirical studies show that attraction and provisioning can, in some cases, cause behavioural changes. In one case with bull sharks, however, it was found that provisioning over long periods did not produce clear long-term behavioural changes or a lasting association of humans with food.
Fact: Behaviour changes in the short term
Sharks often show increased activity and longer residence times near feeding sites or chum areas, which in the immediate context can be understood as a behavioural response.
Myth: Permanent association of humans with food
Contrary to many fears, there is to date no robust scientific evidence that sharks outside the immediate feeding zone permanently associate people with food and thus become more aggressive. In particular highly mobile species such as Great White Sharks or Tiger Sharks show no clear long-term changes in movement or hunting patterns that can be attributed solely to tourism feeding.