Sharks In Belize – And How I Ended Up Chasing Them

Last Updated on March 2, 2022 by Tia

In this article, I am sharing the story of swimming with Sharks in Belize and how I ended up chasing them instead…

Sharks in Belize are plentiful. And when I heard that I could swim with them on a lower risk scale I was sold!

I mean, isn’t it everyone’s dream to swim with sharks and live to tell the tale?

This article is a short story about yet another epic travel fail. So keep reading if you like to laugh at other people’s travel fails!

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The Dream

I always wanted to swim with Sharks.

The obvious goal was to swim with sharks without being eaten alive.

After a good few years of traveling, I finally plucked up the courage to face my fears and Swim with Sharks during my Central America trip to Belize.

The bestie (who today shall be named Mrs. S) didn’t need much persuading either – she’s on my own level of crazy!

The Sharks in Belize Plan

So when I read up on Shark Ray Alley on Ambergris Caye in Belize I immediately booked the excursion and started mentally preparing.

By mentally preparing I mean following a set of steps. I always take every time I am phased with yet another epic travel fail:

Firstly, Whatever you do, do NOT tell mum. She will freak out regardless of your age and then blame you for premature aging.

Secondly, Tell as many people as you can either that you love them, or that you hate their guts. (in case you like, die).

And last but not least, take a deep breath, and go for it!

I did all 3 and I am so glad because these kinds of funny travel stories are my very own travel legacy. One that I will treasure forever and remember until my very last days.

Are there really sharks in Belize?

For many visitors to Belize, exploring the waters of the Caribbean Sea is on the top of their to-do list.

This is because it is renowned for an impressive variety of sharks, from the offshore Whale Sharks to Caribbean Reef Sharks, Silky, Bull, Tiger Sharks, and Hammerheads.

The Nurse sharks, however, are the type of shark you see the most of, and by far the friendliest of the bunch.

So when the opportunity came about to swim with Nurse Sharks I knew I’d found the right tour!

The reviews were amazing, and the pictures were awesome!

Ecstatic tourists were saying how they got to touch the sharks (apparently they feel like rough sandpaper).

So we booked those seats immediately! Hurrah!

The day finally came

 We ate lobster by a shack practically in the middle of the Caribbean Sea like it was our last meal on earth.

We went over every possible scenario of things going wrong.

I told her that if I die id like to be cremated and for people to wear white at my funeral. Honestly though, why am I so dramatic?

We armed ourselves with underwater cameras and into the boat we went.

Upon arrival at Coral Gardens, the first destination, we quickly got into the water, with our guide.

O.M.G. Awesome!!!

No sharks here, but plenty of awesomeness all around! Giant turtles, colorful fish, and a shy and lazy Manatee that swan lazily next to me for ages!

Shark Ray Alley

Feeling like the real conquerors of the sea, we arrived at our second stop… the infamous Shark Ray Alley.

The sound of the engines alone immediately drew dozens of sharks and huge stingrays around the boat.

Brownish grey in color and some of them over six feet in size!!

There they were...swimming in circles around the boat. Hello ''Jaws'' flashbacks.
Damn you Steven Spielberg, you ruined an entire generation of kids! 

I took one look at my bestie and armed myself with courage. In reality, I wanted to scream “Good God in heaven”. I’m gonna die! But I am a firm believer in fake it till you make it, so I kept that one quiet haha.

Snorkel mask on (seriously no one looks attractive wearing those) I jumped into the water saying my last prayer.

The Hysteria

”GAAAAHHH!!! Something touched my foot!! ”

”I feel no pain but maybe I’m in shock?? Has a shark chopped it off?? ”

I frantically look down with the elegance of a crazed goat in search of floating limps. Nop, the foot is still attached.

A panic moment is in full swing, and I somehow forget to breathe. My mask escapes my face, there is water in my eyes and I am practically drowning my own damn self in shallow water. Classy Tia, classy.

”Calm down Tia” I whisper to myself. Fixing the mask, I dive underwater.

Mrs. S is there, loving it and frantically pointing at the sharks as if I have lost my sight and can’t actually see them right in front of my face.

”Holy S*** … Look at the size of them!!!”

Camera at the ready and shaking hands in full galore I start swimming to join the pack of 6 sharks circling the bottom of the ocean and eating fish bits thrown in by the boat.

But wait… Sensing my presence they quickly swim off.

What?!? Why are they leaving?!

The Confusion

I come up for air in full confusion.

The snorkel guide looks at them with the same adoration I look at my students when they finally master a correct grand plie.

”They are just a little shy,” he says.

HUH? Shy? The sharks… are SHY?

I quickly decide he hasn’t got a clue about sharks. Sharks are many things but surely shy isn’t one of them! 

For a while, I get preoccupied with the -MANY- stingrays all around my feet.

I manage to touch a couple, so cute and slimy!

But my thoughts drift back to the sharks. It’s like when you go to a concert and have no patience for any of the supporting acts.

Where are they? I wanna touch one dammit!!

The Paranoia

With Mrs. S and my other boat fellows happily swimming with the stingrays, I separate myself from the pack.

I start swimming in the opposite direction in search of sharks.

AHA!!!!! I see a little pack of 6-7 baby sharks ahead!

Somehow, I transform myself into a fearless amazon of the sea – I have never swum so fast in my life, let alone TOWARDS a pack of sharks.

With my Fins working frantically, I am determined to integrate the pack.

Let me nurse you baby sharks!!

NOOOOP they swim away again!!!

Swimming further and further away from the group I am running after those sharks as if they are newly hatched chickens.

Refusing to let go

By that point, all logic has gone out the window.

I hear frantic voices- ”Come back you crazy Greek!! ” scream the tour guide and Mrs. S.

If you know me at all, telling me not to do something is a foolproof way of getting me to actually DO IT.

There’s no stopping me now. I’m going to pet these sharks and no one is going to stop me!

I continue my frantic chase and FINALLY manage to get close to a shark swimming alone.

I get close, really close – FINALLY VICTORY!!

Honestly, I am in awe of this nurse shark, the size of it, its strength,  the tail, and the fin that I’ve only ever seen in movies.

It’s always moving, never quite staying still, always on high alert. I almost stop breathing taking it all in. Amazing!!

Camera at the ready and about a foot away from this beauty, I steady myself for the Instagram photo OF MY LIFE…..

but off it swims AGAIN leaving nothing but the ocean and a swirl of sand in its wake.

The Defeat

”This isn’t going to happen is it” – My brain is reluctantly processing this.

I come up for air, utterly exhausted, and realize I am so far away from the boat. I also realize the sea is empty.

There is just me…and dozens of…sharks?

Suddenly my obsession with petting them seizes. Better cut my losses and get out alive!

Accepting defeat, I quickly start swimming back to join the others, who are already eating lunch on the boat.

Live entertainment was of course provided by yours truly!

Mrs S loses it – ”Tia you could have died! No one actually runs after sharks!!”

Feeling like a moody scorned child I reply ”But I really wanted to pet them!!”

The whole boat bursts into fits of laughter and off we go to the safety on Ambergris Caye.

I came. I saw…but I did NOT conquer.

Unfortunately, I did NOT pet the damn sharks. Because apparently…. sharks are shy. Go figure !!

And this guys, is how i switched up the roles and ended up chasing down sharks in Belize in the middle of the Caribbean Sea.

I hope you have enjoyed this article about Sharks in Belize and my highly unsuccessful encounter with them!

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Tia x

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