Trying To Keep His Cool
Max tried to keep his cool. The shark was now inches away from him and looked like the strangest shark he'd ever seen. But its behavior was what would surprise him the most. The shark wanted something from him.
It circled around him and occasionally bumped him with its snout. That's when Max finally understood what it meant. But by then, it was already too late, and his life would change forever.
A Passion For The Ocean
He had always had a passion for the ocean ever since he was a child. He'd volunteer in every beach clean-up Florida had and make sure to recycle all of his plastics. This passion would never die, and he'd find himself as a licensed diver as an adult.
This allowed Max to explore the ocean he'd been trying to protect his whole life. But once on the ocean floor, he'd noticed a strange shape in the distance that had been following him. But by then, it would be too late.
Max Taylor
While other kids grew up wanting to be sports stars or actors, Max Taylor wanted to do something for the ocean. Its sparkling blue depths had captivated him his whole life.
Max got his diver's license and worked as a diving guide as an adult. But that didn't mean he didn't often explore its depths by himself in his free time. But one day, he'd realize that the ocean isn't as forgiving as he thought.
Always Had Respect
Max loved every aspect of the ocean, from its refreshing beaches to its deeper, untamed regions. The ocean felt like one of the last places mankind hadn't entirely interfered with. But he still had to help undo what little they had done.
He was a part of the Marine Conservation Foundation. It was a place where everyone tried protecting marine life in Florida. Max had massive respect for the ocean. He knew it could be a dangerous place if not explored properly. Something he'd remember when he was face-to-face with something he never expected he would.
Weekend Relaxation
While most people Max's age would go out to clubs or have barbeques on the weekend, he chose a different activity. Nothing relaxed him more than diving on his own. Being able to explore the ocean depths while there was nothing but silence.
So one Saturday morning, Max decided that he would take a boat, drop anchor, and go diving. But he had no idea what he would find once at the bottom of the ocean.
Doing Everything Right
Max knew that a diver always had to do things right. One oversight could mean serious injury or even death for the diver. He made sure that his tank was topped up with oxygen and that his rebreather and mask were sealed tight.
Confident that everything was working well, he packed his clothes in a backpack and chartered a boat just off the coast of Florida, where it was shallow enough that he could reach the ocean floor. But there was a shark in the water that day that he didn't count on.
Into The Water
Now over the spot where Max wanted to dive, he put on his equipment and took some deep breaths before falling backward into the water. He was always disoriented for a second before he figured which way was up.
Once he found his bearings, he looked down into the depths of the ocean. It was clear of any wildlife, but that should have been the first sign that something else was nearby.
Swimming Down
There was only one way for Max to go. His favorite thing was exploring the ocean floor, from ocean reefs to wrecks. He never knew what he would find until he had mustered up the courage to swim down.
Max swam down for a long time. Soon, the light found it hard to reach where he was. But that didn't stop him. What almost did, though, was the feeling like something was watching him. Then he looked behind him.
A Shark
There was a shark in the distance, something that didn't immediately cause panic in Max's mind. The ocean was their territory, and he had to share the waters with them. Normally, they don't find divers that interesting.
But this one was heading straight for him. He decided to keep diving, hoping it would pass above him. But the creature didn't.
Definitely Following Him
As max reached the ocean floor, he looked back up. To his surprise, the shark was still following him. Now, much closer, he could see that it didn't look like any shark he had ever seen before.
It had glossy white eyes and what looked like catfish feelers. It looked like something out of a horror movie. But that wasn't the only strange thing about the shark.
Strange Behavior
Max tried to keep his cool. The shark was now inches away from him and looked like the strangest shark he'd ever seen. But its behavior was what would surprise him the most. The shark wanted something from him.
It circled around him and occasionally bumped him with its snout. That's when Max finally understood what it meant. But by then, it was already too late, and his life would change forever.
A Nurse Shark
It finally clicked in Max's mind. He realized what kind of shark it was. Nurse sharks are sometimes found on the ocean floor and look just like the one in front of Max. He kept his cool now that he knew what he was dealing with.
Unlike some shark species that can be aggressive towards divers, Nurse sharks are known for being extremely docile unless provoked. Max decided to do something incredibly risky.
Reaching Out An Arm
Max had a hunch about what the shark wanted from him. He slowly reached out his hand and placed it on the shark's snout. Surprisingly, it leaned into his hand as he started to pat it.
It looked like the shark actually liked it. It was like a playful stray dog that he had encountered in the waters, not a shark. He was glad he managed to catch everything on his camera.
Looking For Affection
Max had heard his colleagues speak about Nurse sharks liking affection before, but he never thought he would be able to experience it himself. This reassured his mind of how wonderful the ocean was.
It further strengthened his bond with the sea and inspired him to fight even harder to ensure it was conserved. It was a place worth fighting for.
Still Being Careful
Even though it seemed like the shark was enjoying the petting session with Max, he knew he had to be careful. He had the experience as a diver to understand the situation. He would never recommend someone try this on any other species or even on this shark without the proper knowledge.
He was reluctant but knew he had to swim back to the surface. As he made his ascent, he saw something beautiful. More nurse sharks had appeared behind him as if to give him a proper send-off. In order to protect the privacy of those depicted, some names, locations, and identifying characteristics have been changed and are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblances to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental.