Shark Meet

The scariest creature to wade in the waters off eastern Long Island isn’t the Montauk Monster or the leather-skinned grandma in the Gucci bikini. This beast is both terror-inducing and prehistoric, and this summer we invite you to get up close and personal, with Montauk shark cage diving.

This Shark Week, get off the couch and into the action; climb aboard the Sea Turtle, a 35-foot dive boat, and go face-to-jaws with blues (some over 12-feet-long), makos and threshers. After a 1.5-hour trip out to sea, the Turtle’s crew will start chumming the water to attract the sharks. Once the sharks arrive (and there are frequently three or four at a time), you and another diver will be lowered into the water inside an anodized aluminum pipe cage that will be floated three to seven feet below the surface. Visibility will range from 20 feet to over 100 feet – giving you just enough time to scream like a girl when the sharks come looking for a nibble.

Experience isn’t necessary to take the plunge so non-certified divers are welcome. No need for scuba gear either, since the Sea Turtle crew will provide tanks, regulators, masks and weight belts. Trips last between eight to 12 hours and coolers are provided, so bring your own food and drink – though we recommend you leave the sixer of Bud at home. Because as perilous as beer goggles are on dry land, they’re even more treacherous in these waters, when reaching out and touching something can lead to a fate worse than a walk of shame.

Make your reservation today at Sea Turtle Charters. It costs $200 for certified divers, $250 for non-certified. For a photo-oriented trip, book through Eco-Photo Explorers.