Affectionate nurse shark follows scuba diver like a lost puppy

Nito, known in the scuba diving world as "Big Sexy" was swimming on the reef in his home in Belize. San Pedro is one of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean and it has some of the most abundant and beautiful life, above and below the waves.

Big Sexy is a world famous scuba dive master who leads his clients on explorations deep below the surface. Famous for his underwater bubblering demonstrations, he is a popular and entertaining dive master. But he is also very well known for his love for the animals of the reef. As if they sense that he is a gentle soul, they seem to interact well with him as he swims along. This small nurse shark was a perfect example. Possibly hoping for a meal, or possibly just curious, he took a serious liking for Big Sexy and followed him closely for almost an hour. At one point, the shark came up over a small coral head and swam up underneath Big Sexy. Slightly startled by the closeness, he jumps slightly but recovers immediately and he can’t help but reach out to give the shark a little pat.

Nurse sharks are gentle and completely harmless to humans. Although they possess sharp teeth, and can bite if provoked, they have no desire to hurt people and would never consider them food. Like almost all ocean creatures, when treated respectfully, they pose no danger to scuba divers. Nurse sharks are affectionately called the puppies of the ocean because they will occasionally approach divers and they are curious like dogs.

Big Sexy works at Chuck & Robbies Scuba Diving and Instruction in San Pedro. Big Sexy is famous for finding dolphins, sharks, turtles, eels, and anything else that guests would like to see. A dive excursion with Chuck & Robbie's is near impossible to beat!