The great white shark, also know as white shark or white pointer is the largest know predatory fish.This solitary predator can be growing up to 6,8 meters (22,3 feets) and weighing up to 2500kg (5500Ib). Females are usually bigger than males. They live at least 15 years.

The great white shark is only white on its underside, the top of them is grey,blue or black (it depends on the location : most of the time they are black in South Africa and Grey in Australia)

Where can you meet a white shark? Great white sharks live in all coastal temperate waters, and sometimes you can find them into the deep water of open oceans.

What do they eat? Their most important prey are seals, sea lions and elephant seals. They also eat whales, dolphins, tuna fish and dead animals that they find floatting on the surface. Their hunting techniques varie with the spacies they hunt. The one they use to hunt at Seal Island (South Africa) is probably the most spectacular. It is a full vertical attack that begins in deep water and carries the shark high into the air.

Here is an extract of one of my favorite documentary about white sharks : Air Jaws.

Despite what most people think, sharks attack are very rare. But the fear of sharks has been exagerated since the famous Jersey shark attack in 1916 (a series of shark attacks where 4 pepole died in 12 days) and movies like Jaws in 1975 directed by Steven Spielberg.

In fact, by the number of reported incidents, dogs kill more people year than great white sharks have killed in the past 100 years.

If you don't care about statistics, here are some advices, from the "Florida Museum of National History", to reduce the risks of being attacked by sharks:

• Always stay in groups since sharks are more likely to attack a solitary individual.
  
  
• Do not wander too far from shore --- this isolates an individual and additionally places one far away from assistance.
  
  
• Avoid being in the water during darkness or twilight hours when sharks are most active and have a competitive sensory advantage.
  
  
• Do not enter the water if bleeding from an open wound or if menstruating --- a shark's olfactory ability is acute.
  
  
• Wearing shiny jewelry is discouraged because the reflected light resembles the sheen of fish scales.
  
  
• Avoid waters with known effluents or sewage and those being used by sport or commercial fisherman, especially if there are signs of bait fishes or feeding activity. Diving seabirds are good indicators of such action.
  
  
• Sightings of porpoises do not indicate the absence of sharks --- both often eat the same food items.
  
  
• Use extra caution when waters are murky and avoid uneven tanning and bright colored clothing --- sharks see contrast particularly well.
  
  
• Refrain from excess splashing and do not allow pets in the water because of their erratic movements.
  
  
• Exercise caution when occupying the area between sandbars or near steep dropoffs --- these are favorite hangouts for sharks.
  
  
• Do not enter the water if sharks are known to be present and evacuate the water if sharks are seen while there. And, of course, do not harass a shark if you see one!

Here are some stories and videos of shark attacks.

Shannon Ainslie, a 15-year-old surfer from East London was attacked by two white sharks at the same time.

"I was just catching a wave when the shark came up and made a grab for me. Next thing I knew I was underwater and came face to face with the shark," he said.

"I looked straight into its eyes and thought I was dreaming."

Ainslie escaped with a severely injured right hand, almost losing a middle finger that hung by just a thread.

A shark expert known for unusual research methods and "pushing the envelope" in his study of the feared marine predator's behavior was badly bitten by a shark in the Bahamas.

A woman being attacked by a white shark in South Chile. (1994)

If one of your dream is like mine to dive with white sharks, let's share your experiences and the best destinations to do it.