The Most Thrilling Places To Swim With Sharks

Many people are scared of swimming in shark infested beaches, and for good reason. Sharks have sharp teeth, frightening eyes and can be deadly. The word "shark!" alone usually sends people into panic. But, for the adrenaline seekers, who have no fear, there are places in the world where you can literally swim with the sharks.

*Related: The World's Deadliest Sharks

Swimming with the sharks is an experience like no other. These deadly creatures are actually unique and spectacular animals. They have an incredible sense of smell, they live very long lives and for the most part, they are just trying to mind their own business... that is unless you antagonize them.

Visit the places on this list for an up close and personal shark encounter. Go cage diving and view Great White Sharks, snorkeling with lemon sharks or scuba diving into the deep blue sea. Adrenaline lovers – this is an adventure you will definitely want to add to your bucket list.

Isla Guadalupe has become a favorite destination among Great White diving enthusiasts. It is known as one of the top spots in the world for cage diving. Fun Fact: Guadalupe white sharks have been seen on shows like Shark Week and National Geographic's Great Migrations.

Check out Great Whites and Bull Sharks deep in the sea on a shark cave diving experience in Gansbaai. A typical excursion lasts about 3-5 hours, which is more than enough time to experience shark sightings. Visitors say the best time of the year to go is from June to September. Click here to see a variety of tours to choose from.

According to Dive The World, Osprey Reef is known as one of the premier Great Barrier Reef dive liveaboard destinations, both for the visibility that it offers and the big fish action. Capture a glimpse of the variety of marine life and get up close and personal with sharks. Expect to see silky sharks, grey reef sharks and maybe even silvertips and hammerheads. Bonus: The northern Great Barrier Reef is a year-round diving destination.

The Farallon Islands are located in San Francisco, California – the only major metropolitan city in the world to host a population of white sharks, according to greatwhiteadventures.com. Expeditions are held from late September through November.

This world famous dive site is well known for their Thresher Sharks; it is the only place in the world you can encounter them every day. The best time to see them is in the morning. Dive in the Visayan Sea with Big Fish Expeditions for a once in a life time experience. You have the opportunity to do up to 20 dives throughout the week and experience exotic species and a variety of marine life, amongst the sharks.

Some of the most incredible wildlife in the world can be found on the Galapagos Islands. "For the fourth year in a row, Galapagos is rated the #1 best overall dive destination in the world by Rodale's Scuba Diving Magazine's 2001 "Readers' Choice Awards"!! 100% of the survey respondents that had been to Galapagos said they would go back," according to Shark Diving International.

False Bay is well known for its sightings of whales and sharks. Go Great White Shark Breaching and cage diving all in one trip. Peak season is from mid-May through mid-September. Look out for Great White Sharks, Whale Sharks and Tiger Sharks.

South Australia is the only place in Australia where you can get up close and personal with a Great White Shark. According to National Parks South Australia, "the sharks are protected in South Australia, and the crystal clear waters of the Neptune Islands Group (Ron and Valerie Taylor) Marine Park are one of the best spots to see them in their natural habitat." Check out one of these three tours: Adventure Bay Charters, Calypso Star Charters and Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions.

Steward Island is one of the largest islands in New Zealand. It has a small population and a variety of wilderness. If you're looking for the experience of a lifetime, go cage diving with Great White Sharks.

Explore the deep sea on a Tiger Shark cage dive in the Bahamas. See Tiger Sharks, lemons and other shark species up close. Sharks are guaranteed to be seen from dawn until dusk. Enjoy six nights accommodation aboard the Dolphin dream and five days of unlimited shark diving with Big Fish Expeditions.