If you haven’t noticed, Justin and I have recently added a poll to our website. We will refer to the poll as “You Choose”, because you will be able to select an element of our nomadic lifestyle.  “You Choose” could be deciding what we do, what exotic food we consume (and try to keep down), or even what place we travel to next.  We hope that “You Choose” becomes a fun way for us to experience what you want to read about.

With only 14 days remaining until we fly to Australia, our first “You Choose” question was, What one thing should we do before leaving New Zealand?

I can’t imagine why ‘Diving with Sharks’ won.  I don’t even like salt water, and I have always had a big fear of sharks.  If you have seen Jaws, you might know what I am talking about.  Frankly, I was hoping, “See a Rugby Match” would have won.  I’ve never seen a live rugby match.  It would have been a new experience too.  However, Diving with Sharks won and I willingly got into an aquarium with live sharks (much bigger than myself, or Justin) to dive for over an hour.

In Napier New Zealand, countless tourists show up at the National Aquarium for feeding time.  We had the option of entering the tank at feeding time for the opportunity to feed the fish, as well as the sharks.  I decided feeding the sharks sounded less frightening than getting into the tank an hour or so before feeding time.  What if they became really hungry, while anticipating their next meal, and went after me as a lovely appetizer?  Needless to say, getting into the water with a bucket of dead fish (about the size of my arm) to feed to the sharks is less intimidating than diving in the tank without offering a meal to the meat seeking creatures.  Feeding the sharks seemed like the perfect peace offering, as I aimed to keep all of my limbs attached to my body.

As I initially entered the water, and came face to face with a shark, I realized that I was no longer looking at it through the Plexiglas as the tourists were able to.  I was now in the same water as a shark, as a dozen or so sharks, and they were swimming tiny inches away from me.  I began thinking wild thoughts:

“This isn’t natural.  Humans are not supposed to willingly force themselves into a position where they are surrounded by hungry sharks.  Sharks can be seriously aggressive creatures.  I hope I don’t piss one off!!!”

Instead of entering panic-mode, I decided to resort to my recent dive training.  Stop.  Think.  And Breathe!  I was able to stay calm and actually began to enjoy myself after a while.  Then it was go time.  Time to feed my first shark.  I took one of the large dead fish from the lidded bucket we had brought underwater with us.  I kept the dead fish close to my body, as I was instructed.  Then the biggest shark in the tank began swimming near me.  I saw her eyeing me and the fish.  I realized I needed to offer the fish.  She swam smoothly towards me, opened her mouth slightly, and her clamped down on the fish with the swift motion of professional pitcher tossing the first strike of the game.  As she bit, I held the tail of the fish for a second or two.  I could feel her massive jaw vibrate my whole body as I continued to hold the tail.  I released the tail of the dead fish just before she chomped the rest towards the hundreds of teeth layered within her mouth.  Turns out, sharks are very beautiful creatures, that I can now appreciate on a new level.

I still cannot believe I actually went diving with sharks.  When we put the “You Choose” (poll) onto nomadbackpackers.com, I was hoping we would end up sea kayaking or something else less intimidating.  But now that I have my enriched appreciation for the aggressive beast, the shark, I want to personally thank anyone who discovered the poll and placed a vote.

Our next “You Choose” poll will center around Sydney, Australia.  Do you have any ideas?  We have never been to Sydney, Australia.  Should we go without a guide book.  Explore the city on foot with no other reference other than Sydney locals.  “You Choose”.  Feel free to vote now.

View Image Gallery

© nomadbackpackers.com -  All rights reserved 2009

Tags | New Zealand, You Choose