9 places you can go diving with sharks - and what it looks like

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You can dive safely with sharks, but remember: look, don't touch.

If shows like those on Discovery's Shark Week or National Geographic's SharkFest make you think "I'd like to see these creatures up close in the wild," you should get yourself SCUBA-certified.

Sharks are fascinating, often-misunderstood, and far more at risk from humans than we are from them.

There are places you can swim and snorkel with sharks, but as a diver, you can hover underwater and watch them in their natural environments.

The following locations for shark diving have been recommended by diving organizations like the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) as some of the best places to see sharks in the wild.

Before you book tickets, however, remember to exercise caution. Even though sharks aren't out to harm people, they might bite in a moment of curiosity or confusion, or if you bump into them. Many sharks are also threatened and endangered species, so it's important to ensure that you're diving with a group that understands the importance of conservation and doesn't encourage harmful behaviors like grabbing onto sharks.

But as long as you keep conservation and safety in mind, you really can get out there and enjoy the company of some of the most fascinating fish in the ocean. Here's where to go.