Dancing with sharks
Published: 21 February, 2009, 09:52
Sharks are among the most feared animals in the world, and the thought of sharing the water with one is a nightmare most people. But in an aquarium they can be surprisingly affectionate.
Every evening shark diver Sergey Panchuk performs with these dangerous creatures in St Petersburg oceanarium, the largest in Russia and Eastern Europe.
“The hardest thing when working with sharks is to never show that you are scared. You can't even have increased blood pressure because they can feel it. No emotions – even if they try to bite you,” Sergey says.
Sergey used to be a diver for the Russian special forces. After quitting eight years ago he found a job where he cleaned aquariums containing sharks.
That's how his romance with these natural predators started.
Now every time he enters the aquarium, one of its dangerous inhabitants comes to meet him. This time it's the stingray just like the one that tragically killed Australian wildlife expert Steve Irwin.
Sergey’s son, Evgeny, also works there but with less dangerous animals – seals.
During the show the sharks don't act as if they are one of the most dangerous predators in the water, but rather like kittens teasing their owner for some more milk.
Sergey takes them for a dance or two and even shows off some acrobatic stunts, and people love it.
During his years of working hand in fin with sharks, Sergey has picked up a few scars from his sharp-toothed friends. But he still says that the key to these dangerous but grand creatures is love and respect.
21.02.2009, 07:45
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