Want a chance to meet (or meat, I guess, depends on how terrified you are of the concept of Jaws) a Great White Shark? The shark-tracking organization OCEARCH is here to give one lucky person and a guest that opportunity.
They're launching a sweepstakes that closes on September 30th where the grand prize is a 5-day ocean research voyage that will let you get up close and personal with a Great White Shark. One of the primary methods of researching sharks is to tag them, and OCEARCH's nonprofit mission is to learn where the sharks are traveling and when. Other than white sharks, the organization also tags other shark species, various fish, and sometimes dolphins and alligators.
OCEARCH's open-access tagging data is a useful tool for following the lives of individual ocean animals and also for inspecting larger trends in animal migration. Trackers send data pings of the animal's location whenever they surface, allowing scientists to gather valuable data.
Great White Sharks are among the ocean's top predators. They can grow up to 20 feet long, reach speeds of over 35 miles per hour, and have hundreds of serrated teeth suited for tearing into their prey. Despite their status as fearsome hunters, this didn't stop a pod of orcas near South Africa from turning a few sharks into past-tense hashtags recently - but for the most part, no one messes with these toothy torpedoes.
The sweepstakes page doesn't specify the location of the expedition, but it alludes to the winner being able to "meet" a shark - and given that the purpose of these expeditions is to tag and release, it seems reasonable to assume that meeting will be fairly up close and personal.
The sweepstakes is meant to raise money for the non-profit; there are some minor prizes as well. Either way, it all goes to a good cause. If you enter, good luck!