Swimming with Whale Sharks: Intern Counselor Faces His Fear

Agape intern counselor Geries Shaheen took a step towards facing his fear this past summer by swimming with whale sharks! Read on to hear his story…

“I grew up swimming in the Mediterranean Sea as a child. Many times I would walk up and down the shore on my own after school. I didn’t fear the ocean. One day while my grandparents and I were swimming, the pull of the sea yanked me very far. I had already been swimming at a distance from my grandparents. I couldn’t see them anymore and was alone. My grandfather couldn’t find me for a while. When he did he was very tired and had a very difficult time carrying me while swimming back to shore.

Since then, I love the ocean, and swimming, but being far out, or wading in the deep end messes with me. I always have to be near the pool’s edge in case I get tired and need to grab on. My biggest fear is to be submersed deep under water, like in scuba diving. I took one step closer to facing my fear this past summer by snorkel diving 60 miles off the coast of Mexico with giant whale sharks. Before the video I was at a [anxiety/fear level] 6, after I was at a 2. I would do this again, but I think my next step is scuba diving maybe in a pool.”

Watch Geries’ experience swimming with whale sharks: