Da-dum... Da-dum...

I've been terrified of sharks for most of my life. One time I even cried in an inflatable kayak while in the Outer Banks because I thought a shark was going to attack the boat (yeah, not so much.) On my honeymoon, we snorkled in St. John and I nearly had a heart attack from fear that a shark was going to approach us (in hindsight, that's embarrassing.) But over the last two years, I've had the opportunity to work closely with sharks, and my knowledge and appreciation for this incredible species has helped trump my fear of their predatorial instincts. In fact, you might remember that last year I actually swam with seven different species of shark at the Georgia Aquarium....

....and then again with over 40 wild whale sharks in the Gulf of Mexico.

{the proof}

These experiences only enhanced my appreciation for these beautiful fish. Do I still fear them a bit? Sure. Sharks are incredibly powerful and intelligent. It's why they've been on our planet for over 400 million years. But in reality, we're more of a threat to them then they are to us. Humans kill MILLIONS of sharks every year. And sharks? In the last decade, only TEN PEOPLE have been killed by sharks worldwide.

(You can learn more about this issue by reading my recently published article Sharks in Trouble on Nat Geo TV's website, my colleague Patrick's article Sharks' Bum Rap: A History of Humanity's Vilification of Sharks and brush up on your shark knowledge with this blog post series.)

**TONIGHT** at 9pm EST on Nat Geo Wild, researchers are putting sharks to the test with a live, 2-hour event called Shark Attack Experiment. It's going to broadcast from the waters of South Africa, an area known for its high shark populations. Be sure to tune in and see a team of free divers separate fact from fiction and hear shark attack victims share their personal accounts. It's going to be awesome! We'll be watching! I hope you do, too. Learn more here.