How Instructors Handle a Shark Sighting Mid-Course
Every course session runs with a buddy system and close instructor supervision, so a sighting is spotted quickly rather than discovered mid-dive. That constant awareness is what allows the group to respond calmly instead of reacting in a panic.
The response itself is judgement led, not a single fixed rule. An instructor weighs up the species, its behaviour, and how far the group is from shore before deciding whether to wait it out, relocate, or end the session for the day. Some sightings barely interrupt training, others mean packing up and trying again another time.
This approach comes from real safety experience, not just course notes. Our founder Dan Parsons has worked as a National Geographic head safety diver, and that background in assessing marine life risk in real time shapes how the whole team handles moments like this.
Nothing about this process is designed to alarm you before you start. It exists so that if a sighting does happen, everyone already knows exactly what to do, which is usually the difference between a manageable pause and a stressful one.
Want to Understand Our Safety-First Approach?
If you would like to know more about how we run sessions before booking, our try freediving course is the natural starting point for beginners. Learn more about our approach at Freediving Central, or get in touch if you have questions about safety before your first session.