Bear Grylls has survived all kinds of sh*t. On his show “Man vs Wild,” he’s had crazy adventures in arctic waters, wild rivers, quicksand, snowy mountains, rainforests, jungles, lava fields. He’s met all kinds of beasts, from lions, rhinoceros, pumas and bears to crocodiles, snakes, scorpions and bees (don’t laugh—that’s how he found out he’s allergic to their sting).
But there was one thing the British survivalist had yet to do. He had yet to come face to face with sharks.
Bear Grylls does exactly that for the 30th anniversary of “Shark Week,” and he thinks it was the perfect timing. “I’ve always been a big fan of what “Shark Week” stands for in terms of promoting conservation and it was incredibly timely to be approached by Discovery to take part. I have recently announced a dive and conservation experience at the Bear Grylls Adventure park in the United Kingdom. Our incredible one-of-a-kind diving experience will feature sharks and other aquatic creatures. Places and experiences such as our responsible aquarium have a positive impact on the awareness and conservation of sharks through quality education and acting as a connection between the visitors, allowing them a unique look into this incredible underwater worlds. The Bear Grylls Adventure will donate a percentage of each and every dive from this incredible dive experience to The Shark Trust charity to ensure these fantastic animals are protected for future generations to come.”
In “Shark Week,” Bear gets really close to sharks. “Super close and without a cage… It was such a privilege though to get to study some of the biggest most majestic sharks off the Bermuda Triangle. I wanted to see how I fared when the sharks have the home field advantage and how we can protect ourselves should you ever find yourself alone and stranded at sea and exposed to a potential shark attack. It really was totally awe-inspiring to be out there alongside these wonderful creatures and feel the sheer size of them up close, and we have such a responsibility to protect them… The big lesson though if you are in the water with aggressive sharks is to stay calm and not show fear. They can detect it almost as strongly as blood in the water.”
We asked Bear what his favorite moment was during his shark encounter and here’s what he said: “Working with the local conservationists to tag the tiger shark with a tracking device was a special moment for myself and the team. There was a huge sense of care, purpose and focus that went into ensuring it was done safely and well. For every little bit we can do toward gathering data and understanding shark patterns and behavior, the better chance we have of protecting this amazing species.”
“Shark Week” returns to Discovery Channel from July 23, 8:10 p.m., to July 29.