Of all the oceans denizens, sharks are the most enigmatic. Enshrined in folklore and immortalised on the big screen, sharks have long fascinated people. For many years that fascination was based on fear and revulsion. But in more recent times attitudes have started to change. At the forefront of promoting shark awareness are divers. We are the group that most often encounter sharks naturally in the wild. And by sharing our one on one experiences with the wider public, through our photographs and videos, we are beginning to make people care about them. With sharks under ever increasing threat from overfishing on a gigantic scale, they need all the support they can get. The Shark Trust is dedicated to helping to protect sharks. We're delighted that our good friend Grant Bates has agreed to make a special presentation for Ocean Optics-Mavericks Diving about sharks and the Shark Trust. Grant is a Shark Trust trustee and a shark expert who has dived with them around the world. He will provide you with an intriguing insight into shark biology that will really increase your understanding of sharks and enrich your next diving experience with them. Grant will also explain about his work with the Shark Trust and expand on how, as individual divers, we can each contribute to their protection.

The Shark Trust is an organisation that Ocean Optics-Mavericks Diving does try and support when we can. All of us have been drawn to sharks and have been fortunate to dive with top shark experts including Andy Cobb and Andre Hartman. With Grant's help we launched Shark Day at the London Aquarium last year with support from shark encounter and photography specialists Gavin Parsons, Mark Addisson and Tom Peschak.

If you are as addicted to sharks as we are, you won't want to miss Grant Bate's presentation.

The talk will be held at King's College, London; meeting at the shop first. Call or e-mail to book your place.....

As always, we look forward to your company.

See also:

• See the pdf flyer
• The Shark Trust
• Shark Day