Sharp teeth. Menacing stares. Sudden gut-wrenching violent attacks. No, I’m not talking about those week-old leftovers in the fridge, I’m talking about Shark Week! Shark Week returns with a vengeance on Discovery Channel with 2023 dates beginning July 23.
The psychology of Shark Week deserves some attention, as travel lovers both fear and admire these awesome predators who reside in many of the most popular tourist destinations.
Shark Week is now in its 35th season of chum-infused television programming. To what is this longevity due? Particularly when media is full of computer-generated monsters these days (including ultra ginormous super-sized shark movies like this), why do we return again and again to the lure of real sharks? We will explore these questions about the psychology of Shark Week, but more importantly will focus on the useful travel aspects.
The Shark Craze
Sharks look scary. There are rows and rows of sharp teeth, sudden violent strikes from the uncertain depths below, and a feeling that we humans are way out of our element in trying to match up in a duel with a shark in their own territory.
One of the things that makes shark attacks different from attacks by animals on land is the element of surprise. You can see a big bear chasing you down but the instant traumatic bite of a predator you didn’t see coming is a whole new level of frightening.
This is not always the case, as shark experts remind us of the curious nature of many sharks bumping and “checking out” what they’re considering chomping. Still, fair or not, the sudden unexpected violence is what many people still picture.
“Ideal waters, perfect temperatures, and a fun day at the beach with fresh local seafood to top it all off. That could easily be the sharks’ viewpoint on these places as well, right?”
-Psychology of Travel
As to the longevity of the series over a 34 year time-span, it’s interesting to note that the average life span of a shark in the wild is somewhere between 20-30 years. So, that baby shark from Season One? I’ll let you do the math on how he’s doing.
Speaking of baby sharks, even kids have gotten into the shark craze. All parents have at one point or another given in to their child’s pleading and bought a baby shark toy. For the young travelers in the family, you can’t go wrong with this shark luggage. So, Shark Week is now a whole family affair.
Shark Week Programming
As Shark Week has evolved, the programming has varied between educational documentary to the cult favorite and pleasingly ridiculous Sharknado. It’s also lasted this long because it’s become a social phenomenon. People gravitate towards things that they can share with others.
Similar to the point in this post on the psychology of Below Deck, the social element of Shark Week has brought it to a whole new level. Social media comes alive with Shark Week themed posts, tweets, pins, and google searches.
A more recent addition to the programming has been to include a featured celebrity. This leads to even more buy-in by the casual television viewer. Personalities like Shaq, Michael Phelps, Ronda Rousey, Snoop Dogg, and Mike Tyson all have their chance to share the waters with the gliding apex predators. The celebrity orchestrator for this season is Jason Momoa.
So, part of the longevity of the series is in keeping up with the latest marine science, but also including likable stars, humor, and social connectivity. Somehow, it strikes a nice balance.
Travel and Shark Week
Travelers love the amazing destinations and locations where the footage is shot. South Africa, Mexico, Florida, and other exotic destinations are all hot-spots of shark activity. It’s really no wonder that the sharks love it in these tropical locales. Ideal waters, perfect temperatures, and a fun day at the beach with fresh local seafood to top it all off. That could easily be the sharks’ viewpoint on these places as well, right?
In fact, one of the challenges of shark experts is communicating with the public the delicate balance between the important safety concerns and the relative safety of most tourist destinations. They aren’t trying to run you off. They’re just providing basic safety information to help limit the chances of shark to human Covid-19 transmission. Okay maybe not that, but something else scary that can happen when sharks and humans tread the same surf.
“Most importantly, make sure you bring your shark repellent. Yes, it’s a real thing…”
-Psychology of Travel
So, for the brave traveler that wants to swim in these special destinations featured on the show, I’d suggest you pack accordingly. Get a good scuba mask to see in the depths, and bring some recommended fins to get you moving in the water quickly. Most importantly, make sure you bring your shark repellent. Yes, it’s a real thing and you need to buy it today!
For the rest of us, get some shark snacks to munch on and let’s dip our toes in the water from home as we watch Shark Week on Discovery Channel. To enjoy the social aspects of Shark Week even more, comment below with your near-shark experiences during your travels!
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Happy Travels,
-Dr. L
Founder, Psychologyoftravel.com
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Yes, I love shark week! I didn’t realize that it’s been 32 years! Living in Hawaii you hear about shark sightings and encounters from time to time. There’s a local clothing brand here that makes shirts that say I heart sharks, where the heart is a shark tooth. The tourists love those shirts!
Clarissa, I’ll bet that living in Hawaii gives you a healthy appreciation for sharks as well as the safety tips to share the water safely! Haha that sounds like a creative local clothing brand. Thanks for reading!