One of the most common misconception from non-divers is that the sharks are dangerous & they will eat or attack divers.
Sharks, however, pose almost no risk to divers or humans in general. Worldwide, only about five humans die due to shark attacks each year. In Australia, there were 72 fatal attacks between 1958 and 2018. Humans, on the contrary, kill around 100,000,000 sharks per year.
Snorkeling can be a great experience for non-divers but it’s more or less a spectator sport compared the immersive experience scuba diving offers. Being fully submersed, weightless and being closer to the marine life is a completely different experience than floating on the surface.
When asked about scuba diving, most people think of the crystal clear blue water & colourful coral reefs in the tropical waters. The truth is no matter where people live, chances are there's a popular dive site somewhere nearby.
In Sydney, for example, there are many popular dive sites with unique marine species that attract divers all year round.
Scuba Diving is often being perceives as macho sport that has very few female divers. This perception might be true in the 1950s. In today society, diving is becoming more and more balanced.
Well, my diver buddy (Belinda Thompson) is a female. That's balanced 50/50 ratio in my experience!
The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever
Jacques Yves Cousteau