See, that's the trick of the ocean — it's not about effort, it's about design. A regular fish has a swim bladder, an internal balloon it adjusts to hover without moving, like a smartly balanced raft. But sharks? No such luxury. They're built like old airplanes; if they stop moving forward, their dense bodies sink. They must swim to breathe, forcing water over their gills.
I learned this watching a sleepy nurse shark on the reef bottom, while my own breathing was steady through the regulator. Staying afloat doesn't always mean constant struggle; sometimes it's about a clever, inner buoyancy. My students, panicking and flapping, sink faster. The ones who relax, who find their balance, float right where they need to be.
#swimming#open-water
Jump in to reply — no account needed.