my very first dive as a certified diver ended up being a shark encounter. there was about 20 of us in the water and the captian dove down and tied off the boat, came up and told us there was a manta and a 300lb jew fish, so while everyone was checking that out, i was chasing a flounder and when i looked up about 10 feet from was a 9 ft bull shark. she circled me about 3 time and went about her business. it was the most awsome thing i hve ever encountered in my life. i am dying to do a shark dive now.