Fear of sharks is one of the most common fears new divers have. In reality, though, there are almost never any bad interactions between sharks and divers under water. Pay attention to the next report you hear about a shark attack. I bet it will be on the surface in the dim late of early morning or early evening. We are not part of the natural food system for sharks, and there is some evidence that they don't even like the way we taste. You will almost never hear of a shark consuming a human--it is almost always a single bite followed by a retreat. It is believed that those single bites are because the shark mistook the shadow of a swimmer or surfer for something they do like to eat, such as a sea lion. Once the shark realizes the mistake, it rarely returns.
That's on the surface. Under water things are different. The shark can clearly see and hear the diver, and can clearly tell it is not on the menu. Although there have been some exceptions, almost all shark incidents with divers involve competition for food, as in speargunners. Those incidents are rarely fatal. In fact, I cannot identify a single case of a diver killed by a shark while diving at depth. I am sure it has happened, but I haven't heard about it.
Once you become an experienced diver and hear that sharks have been sighted in the water near you, your most likely reaction will be to get your gear on quickly so you can get a good look.
