A Return to One of Our Favorite Shark Diving Destinations
Earlier this year, Danielle and I completed our first shark diving experience off the coast of Jupiter, Florida. That January dive introduced us to bull sharks and lemon sharks for the first time and completely changed how we viewed these incredible animals.
Instead of fear, what we experienced was awe.
So when spring arrived and the opportunity came up to return to Jupiter for another shark diving weekend — this time during hammerhead season — we didn’t hesitate.
This trip would give us another chance to dive with sharks we had already seen, while hopefully adding hammerheads to the list.
By this point we had already logged multiple shark dives in Jupiter waters and encountered a variety of species, including:
- Bull Sharks
- Lemon Sharks
- Hammerhead Sharks
- Sandbar Sharks
- Nurse Sharks
- Tiger Sharks
Each encounter had been incredible. Watching these powerful animals glide effortlessly through the water just inches away from us is something that still feels surreal.
🦈 Is Diving with Sharks Safe?
One of the most common questions people ask is whether shark diving is dangerous.
The answer, when done correctly, is no.
Shark diving is extremely safe when:
- divers are properly certified
- dive masters control the interaction
- divers follow the safety protocols
Humans are not natural prey for sharks.
Statistically, the chance of being attacked by a shark while scuba diving is estimated at about 1 in 137 million.
In fact, over the last several decades there have been very few shark-related incidents involving scuba divers, and most involved species like Great White Shark, which are rarely encountered during organized shark dives.
Professional shark diving operations like Emerald Charters have been running trips for decades without serious incidents.
The key is experience and proper dive management.
🌊 Why Most Shark Attacks Happen Near Shore
Most shark incidents occur close to shore involving swimmers or surfers.
From a shark’s perspective, someone floating on a surfboard and splashing their arms and legs can resemble wounded prey like a fish or ray.
One place that frequently appears in shark statistics is New Smyrna Beach, which is a well-known feeding ground for sharks.
Ironically, divers deeper offshore are often much safer, because sharks quickly recognize that a group of scuba divers is not food.
🚤 Our Spring Shark Dive Weekend in Jupiter
On April 28th, Danielle and I joined several friends from Gulf Coast Divers for a planned two-day shark diving excursion with Emerald Charters.
Our dockside meeting time was 7:30 a.m.
The weather was perfect — a warm spring morning with calm seas and clear skies.
Before leaving the dock, the crew helped everyone load gear and run Nitrox tests on each tank.
We were diving with enriched air mixtures of up to 36% oxygen, which allows longer bottom times and shorter surface intervals.
🦈 Dive One: The Deep Ledge – Bull Sharks
After a 40-minute boat ride, we arrived at our first dive site known as The Deep Ledge.
Dive master JC briefed the group and explained the plan.
We would perform a negative entry and descend quickly to about 90 feet, where he would begin chumming to attract sharks.
Danielle and I took a little longer to descend because we had to equalize our ears, but visibility was excellent — at least 60 feet — so we could easily see the rest of the group below us.
When we arrived, JC was already working.
He banged his tank to create noise while releasing bait from a crate filled with chopped fish.
Within minutes the first bull shark appeared.
Then another.
Soon several bull sharks were circling the group, gliding slowly through the water with calm curiosity.
🦈 How Divers Interact with Sharks
During these dives, the group stays behind and slightly above the dive master.
The sharks approach cautiously at first, often sending one shark to investigate before others move closer.
Sometimes the sharks drift directly toward the divers.
When that happens, we were taught to:
- maintain eye contact
- remain calm
- gently redirect the shark if needed
A light touch on the tip of a shark’s nose usually causes it to change direction.
Seeing these animals up close is incredible — their power and grace are unmistakable.
🦈 Dive Two: Lemon Drop – Lemon Sharks
Our second dive site was an area known as Lemon Drop, famous for encounters with Lemon Shark.
After switching tanks and completing our surface interval, we descended again to about 70 feet.
Lemon sharks are often called the “puppy dogs of the sea.”
They are extremely curious and frequently swim directly through groups of divers.
Within minutes several lemon sharks arrived and began circling the group.
Some swam between the dive master’s legs as he fed them from the bait crate.
Another bull shark joined the group as well.
Everyone was busy taking photos and enjoying the incredible encounter.
Eventually JC began leading the sharks and divers slowly toward the surface, where several sharks continued circling the group even during our safety stop.
⚓ Dive Three: The Sun Mariner Wreck
After a box lunch on the boat, we headed to our third dive site — the wreck of the Sun Mariner Wreck.
This small tugboat sits in about 70 feet of water and often attracts sharks.
The current was extremely strong, so we followed JC’s instructions and grabbed onto the rail along the side of the wreck.
Kneeling behind the rail helped us stay stable while the current rushed past.
But the first visitors weren’t sharks.
They were giant Goliath groupers.
🐟 The Goliath Grouper Incident
Three enormous Goliath Grouper immediately moved toward the bait crate.
These fish can grow over 500 pounds, and they are far more aggressive about food than most sharks.
One of the groupers slammed into the crate and popped it open, swallowing a fish head — and a bungee cord — in one gulp.
JC had to scramble to keep the remaining bait secure.
The groupers lingered nearby for most of the dive.
🦈 Finally… Hammerheads
At first we didn’t see any hammerheads.
Following the plan, we left the wreck and drifted slowly behind JC as he dragged the bait crates across the sandy bottom, imitating the movement of a stingray.
Then we saw it.
A Hammerhead Shark circling the group.
Soon a second hammerhead joined it.
The sharks made several passes around the divers before coming closer to investigate the bait.
Everyone was scrambling to capture photos.
It was exactly the encounter we had hoped for.
🤿 The Importance of Neutral Buoyancy
Shark dives require good buoyancy control.
When divers get excited while photographing sharks, it’s easy to accidentally change depth without noticing.
Danielle and I constantly checked our depth to make sure we stayed:
- above the dive master
- out of the chum stream
- within safe dive limits
Maintaining neutral buoyancy is one of the most important skills during shark dives.
🌊 Wrapping Up the Dive
As our air supply ran low, JC slowly led both the sharks and divers toward the surface.
By the time we surfaced, the wind had picked up and the seas were getting rough.
Some divers were picked up quickly while others waited briefly in the water.
Back on the boat we packed up our gear and talked excitedly about the day’s dives.
Danielle couldn’t wait to review her photos.
⛈️ Sunday’s Weather Cancellation
Unfortunately, a line of severe storms moved into the area overnight.
High winds and thunderstorms forced the captain to cancel the second day of diving.
Disappointing — but safety always comes first.
🦈 Looking Ahead to the Next Dive Adventure
Even with the weather cancelation, the trip was a huge success.
We finally added hammerhead sharks to our Jupiter shark diving experiences.
Our next adventure?
Drift diving off West Palm Beach, another incredible Florida diving destination known for strong currents and abundant marine life.
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Really great and I can live the experience from my chair
Love the more adventurous than I
Thanks – but you are always welcome to join us. 🙂