From shark attack survivor to the
shark’s biggest advocate, Paul de
Gelder tells us just why these
majestic diverse animals need our
help as much as we need them.
Something happens to you the first
time you dive with sharks...
We have a perennial fascination
with sharks. Portrayed in the media
and popular culture as killing
machines, we are awed by their power
and strength. But the shark is so
much more – a marvel of the sea,
they have evolved over 450 million
years into over 500 species, from
the bioluminescent kitefin to the
tiny dwarf lantern shark, the
sociable lemon shark to the cow
shark, which can birth up to 100
pups in one litter. Bringing balance
to the ocean’s ecosystem, our planet
is at serious risk when these
amazing creatures are threatened.
Paul de Gelder, who lost two limbs
in a shark attack during a mission
as an elite Australian navy
clearance diver, spent time as part
of his recovery learning all about
sharks. He became so obsessed that,
despite what happened to him, he is
now an expert and has dedicated his
life to helping save them. Shark is
his love-letter to these unfairly
vilified animals, and his warning to
the world about what will happen if
we don’t look out for them.