June 2002
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Key largo

Nurse sharks, Ginglymostoma cirratum, swam into our diver circle to be handfed by a diver.  One brushed up against me as it swam towards
the center of our circle to be fed.  At first I thought it was another diver it was so large! I got to hold one too.  They are relatively harmless.
I did not know that there was going to be a shark feeding that day until I was getting into the water. This scared me and I almost did not get into
the water but it was my last weekend in Florida and I was getting certified so I figured what the hell.  
I do not condone this behavior on the part of divers and I feel it is dangerous and irresponsible, especially if bigger more aggressive sharks
show up!  
The water temperature that day was about 82 F.