ORLANDO, Fla. – Shark Week is known for high-energy programming, but at Discovery Cove, the up-close shark experience is designed to be more educational than extreme.
Discovery Cove’s Shark Interaction Program allows participants to step into a shallow-water habitat while animal care specialists run a feeding and training session with some of the more than 20 sharks that live there. The program focuses on helping people better understand sharks and what they do — and don’t — do in the water.
“Now everything we do here, Discovery Cove with our animals is voluntary,” a trainer told participants. “So if they would like to participate in the training session, they are more than welcome to. But if they don’t want to, we’re not going to make them.”
During the interaction, I met Triton, a full-grown male nurse shark. Trainers said he is about 9 feet long and around 200 pounds. They also use the moment to explain shark biology, including the tooth-like scales that cover a shark’s body. Known as dermal denticles, the structures can make shark skin feel rough and help protect the animals as they move through their environment.
After the trainer-led portion, participants gear up with snorkels and masks and move into deeper water for a free swim alongside several shark species. Discovery Cove said the habitat can include Pacific blacktip, nurse, zebra, whitetip reef and bonnethead sharks.
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A portion of the proceeds from the Shark Interaction Program supports the Guy Harvey Foundation, which funds scientific research and educational programs focused on marine conservation, according to Discovery Cove.
The overall goal, trainers said, is to leave participants with a clearer understanding of sharks — not just as animals with teeth, but as species that play a role in a healthy ocean ecosystem.
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