I personally have a long history with sharks up close and personal. Many years ago I used to surf off of the coast of Los Angeles to Mexico. All the way in Hawaii too.

Once upon a time in the west, I was on a boat just off the coast of Catalina Island, California. Did you know I have a huge love affair with killer jerky? As in dried meat. It’s super lean and packed with protein. And savory as all can be. Hell, I even make it now. Let me get off this tangent.

So, I was a great swimmer. I jumped off the boat to swim to shore. In-between the boat and the shore, swimming away in peace, I felt incredibly safe. I was young and focused on that Buffalo Jerky which back then, Catalina was known for.

I remember swimming and then hearing people call my name. “Leila, come back. We gotta something for you.”, “Leila, take your time enjoy your swim slowly.”. So, I swim back to the boat. As I get to the boat, they YANK me out of the water and into the inside of this big ass yacht.

They turn me around, and said look out, stay calm, and look down. Apparently, I was swimming with Great White Sharks. They were just swimming with me. They didn’t want to eat me. Quite frankly, when I was swimming to shore, it felt very peaceful. They didn’t come at the boat or me, they just kinda pealed away when I turned around. Whoever said sharks are non community are so wrong. They do swim together. And are amazing.

That was my 1st encounter with sharks, up close and personal. I am pretty certain I had this experience when I was a child, I just only see it hazy. I was little. I have always loved the water. Um, I must of been 17. My second is with Tiger Sharks in Hawaii. They are very curious. Once again, me and my naivete. I didn’t know there was even a shark more dangerous than a Great White.

Back then, I uses to love and live to body surf. To feel the water move me. It felt like home. So, me and North Shore Hawaii.

Did you know that Tiger Shark can swim into 2′ of water. Generally, they hunt, or bite you for amusement or sport. Yes, we are their sport typically. A lot like dolphin.

All I will say is… God has always been with me. God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, and all of the Angels, and Saints. For Tiger Shark, yeah, accidental encounter. But, all good. I am here writing this right? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Amen to that.

Sharks, Dolphins, Manawar, Whales, we have a wild relationship. Even the sea turtle and many other fish. On my bucket list, I want to swim along a whale. I may die. But, considering my bucket list, I could die from it all. Jumping out of a perfectly great plane? Yep, 60? 65? Free dive 70?

So one of my favorite movies is Life of Pi. Of course I read it decades ago. But, I love love love the movie.

Jumping out of a perfectly good airplane and parachuting? Yep. I would love to see places, I am allergic to. Yep. Like the Amazon. I would even love to swim with an Anaconda. Of course the latter is a fantasy, because I am pretty certain it would choke me out maybe. But, who knows right? I mean i have held a 15′ Burmese White Python. I have held tarantulas. I have broken pit bulls. Just call me Mrs. Doolittle.

I was shocked when…

Did I tell you I was bit on the shin by a clam or definitely SOMETHING? Like a snake, SOMETHING has FANGS!!!

Damn fangs. Who knew? Like snake fangs! Had to call the paramedics for that one on Bainbridge Island. They haul my ass up the cliff! On a stretcher!!! I was so embarrassed.

We lived on Bainbridge Island. That place is beautiful fire. I mean just gorgeous. Where the eagles have babies, whales swim by, it is my favorite place. We will talk about Bainbridge Island later.

Of course there is always Greece or England or Scotland, or Ireland, Spain? You only live once this lifetime right? According to 23andme.com, I am an anomaly, or a freak on a leash of my own design.

You learn a lot from DNA. That is all I gotta say about that.

Moving on to what we don’t know…

I am certain there are Megadons alive and thriving. During COVID Mother Nature reclaimed some of her. I would assume that applied to the sea as well. Did you know not only do we have 8 Continents. We have an entire ocean below our ocean?!?!? We are so blinded by our egos, we fail to see what is right in front of us. Life and it’s existence.

Hmm….

I want to tell you what AI says because I will always tell you the truth. Me, and my Libra booty. Lol.

Yes, great white sharks are found off Catalina Island, though adult sharks usually stay in deeper water, making encounters rare, while juveniles may be closer to shore. Recent incidents include a 2025 shark attack on a long-distance swimmer and a 2024 encounter where a shark swam into a fishing boat.

Sightings and encounters
Adult sharks:

Adult great whites are more commonly found in deeper waters, often migrating to the Channel Islands and likely avoiding competition with others for prey like bluefin tuna.
Juvenile sharks: Juveniles are more likely to be found in warmer, shallower waters, and are responsible for a recent attack on a long-distance swimmer near Catalina Island in September 2025.
Fishermen: Commercial fishermen have also reported encounters, including a great white shark that swam into a fishing boat in August 2024.
Divers: Scuba divers have had rare, close-up encounters, with one incident in late 2024 where a shark calmly circled a group of divers before swimming away.

Incidents and public response
Swimmer attack:

A long-distance swimmer was bitten by a shark estimated to be 3 to 4 feet long in September 2025, forcing an end to the swim attempt.

Public safety measures:

Following the 2025 swimmer attack, some local water programs temporarily canceled activities.

Experts’ view:

Experts note that sharks are frequently encountered by fishermen and that while shark attacks are rare, sightings are becoming more common.

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Deep beneath the icy waters of the North Atlantic, a Greenland shark continues to swim—an ancient survivor believed to be nearly 400 years old.

This remarkable creature was already gliding through the depths in the 1600s, long before the invention of cars, electricity, or telephones. As empires rose and fell and human civilization advanced through revolutions and discoveries, she remained undisturbed in the cold, dark ocean—a living witness to centuries of change.

Greenland sharks hold the record as the longest-living vertebrates on Earth, with lifespans that can span multiple human eras. One lifetime for this shark has encompassed the invention of the telescope, the rise of industry, the dawn of flight, space exploration, and even the digital age.

Nearly four centuries later, she’s still here—still moving, still enduring, still timeless. 🌊🐋

discovery #oceanvibes #NorthAtlantic

Wait til I tell you the crazy story of me and the Manawar in Florida. Just call me Mrs. Doolittle. As in the female version of Dr. Doolittle. Animals, old people and children. They love me🥹🥹🥹🥹. That and insects 😭😭😭. All good.

If I were to ever describe my life, it would be…

If the ‘Big Fish’ movie and ‘Life of Pi’ had a baby that would be my life. Amazing, crazy, grateful, sometimes scary. But, grateful. Add some really scary, as i  fear for your life, yeah. Oh, and I am definitely ‘The Butcher’s Wife’. Inherented. Another story for another day.

Every single day I am grateful.

My cousin committed suicide when I was 11. That changed me in every way.

We will talk about that later. For this is a happy post.

I want to share a recommendation for music. If you have nothing heard them or about them, ‘Black Violin’. They are brilliant and sexy, and every thing you want to inhale. They have no idea who I am, but, they are incredible. Highly recommend. It is were classical meets rock n roll.

Feeling blessed.

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