Fridae

A lot of movies like Jaws will have you believe that sharks are very dangerous predators. But this underwater documentary is set to change that impression, especially after you've seen the writer-director Rob Stewart happily swim alongside sharks � the way some people jog with their dogs.

According to Sharkwater, more people have been killed by crocodiles, tigers and elephants than sharks � in fact, only five people die of shark attacks every year compared to 100 who die of elephant or tiger attacks.

Even more sobering than this is the fact that by the time the 89-minute documentary is over, about 15,000 sharks would have been killed � mostly for the manufacture of shark fin soup.

The shark fin soup is an important ceremonial delicacy and a symbol of prestige among the Chinese. But Rob alleges that it is responsible for many shark killings. Rob even claims that in some parts of the Costa Rica, the industry is run by Chinese mobsters who bribe the authorities to turn a blind eye on the practice of shark killing.

Some of the claims are indeed sensational, and this documentary does not bother to show both sides of argument. After all, the Chinese taste for shark fin is no less contentious than bull-fighting in Spain or the once-popular use of animal fur coats in the fashion industry, just to name a few offenders.

Still, what's eye-opening in this documentary is the realisation that sharks are really less dangerous to humans than humans are to sharks. A must-see for nature lovers.