South Africa

A glimpse of a great white shark while in the ocean is what nightmares are truly made of. Imagining those coal black eyes transfixed on you as their next source of carbs undoubtedly brings you into an inescapable zone of fear. For most sane humans it is the last thing they ever want to see when romping the reefs and waves. But many have been changing their minds lately and heading to Gansbaai, South Africa, for what is perhaps the Everest of underwater adrenaline rushes. After cruising in a boat for about 45 minutes you reach Shark Alley, aka"Fast Food Alley." The surrounding islands are covered with seals, and the islands form a barrier between the open ocean and the bay where sharks love to roam for their meals. And why not, it's easier than a drive-thru at McDonald's.

By jumping into a cage you can observe this feeding activity firsthand. And where else but in South Africa can you get jaws AND paws all in the same day?

Bahamas

They say it is therapeutic to come face-to-face with fear — confront it head-on. If that's the case, then diving cageless with reef sharks circling all around you is perhaps the most powerful dose of Prozac. Nassau attracts thousands of tourists every year who come to enjoy the corals and beautiful fish — but the desire to see something"big" has been increasingly on the rise. To satisfy the shark seekers, many dive operations now guide the curious travelers to prime locations where, after dropping chum to attract usually a gathering of white or black reef tip sharks, divers jump in as a group and observe the feeding frenzy above them. As with any tourist destination, the price can be quite hefty here. But the visibility of the Caribbean, and the unpredictability of the visitors you might encounter — anything from small reef sharks to the grand poo-bah of them all, the great white — it is no wonder that the Bahamas is pitched as the number one shark diving resort in the world.

Rhode Island

Pull on that thick wetsuit and jump overboard into the frigid waters off Rhode Island — Point Judith to be exact, about three hours offshore along the pelagic-rich edge of New England's continental shelf. It is here, believe it or not, that the highly migratory blue sharks prefer to linger. The water temperature maintains a bone-chilling 55 to 64 degrees and it is their preferred pitstop before shifting southward to Cape Hatteras and as far away as Venezuela and Africa. These fascinating sharks hold the long-distance record — they have been known to journey nearly 4,000 miles. Once the waters are chummed up you will find yourself surrounded by a dozen or so blue sharks — their pointed snouts and slender bodies are quite distinguishable. You generally get two 30-minute turns in the cage, and you have to swim the 20-foot gap between the cage and the boat unprotected!

Florida

Bet you didn't know that the largest number of unwanted shark encounters in the world happen in North America — particularly the Sunshine State. Although overfishing of sharks has been a big concern in Florida, tighter restrictions make divers hopeful that the East Coast sharks will be protected enough to allow people to enjoy them — alive. And a few key places where you can dive, swim, or observe sharks is Tenneco Towers, just north of the Dade/Broward county line. Big bull sharks will be your host at this deep dive site. Despite their being skittish of your bubbles, the encounter will feel like a true adrenaline-inducing run with the bulls! Get your fill of Chanel and sharks at Palm Beach, an increasingly popular place to spot hammerheads, bulls, tigers, whale sharks, and Caribbean reef sharks. There are plenty of diving outfits that can suit you up and help you get"chummy" with these Florida residents!

Brazil

It is hard to make lemonade from lemons found in the blue watery depths of the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of northeast Brazil. Especially when the lemons have rows of razor-sharp teeth! The warm waters in this area are home to a caucus of brightly colored tropical fishes, coral reefs, and predator — the lemon shark. Observing these interesting fish — recognized by their narrow, long pointed teeth either on boat, or in the water is a highlight of many who head to their stomping grounds off the coast of South America or in Australia. Atol das Rocas, a lagoon off the coast of Brazil, is a key habitat for them and a key destination if viewing or fishing these sharks is your prime concern.