“It was an unbelievable charge!” he says. “The shark’s skin felt like soft suede. Of all the members of the shark family that we encounter in Hawaii, the whitetip reef shark is considered to be the least aggressive.”
That said, Gough, a PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) master instructor with more than 3,500 hours logged underwater, doesn’t advocate touching or disturbing any sea creatures — especially sharks. “I’m a professional diver who has done many dives with sharks,” he explains. “Do not attempt to do that on your own!”