July 5 marks the beginning of National Geographic’s SharkFest, an annual televised celebration of nature’s most perfect aquatic killing machines. The event will span for six weeks, contain over 80 hours of content across four networks (National Geographic, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo Mundo, and Disney XD), and it’s all getting started with a new special from the God of Thunder, himself. Shark Beach with Chris Hemsworth will air at 9 p.m. ET, July 5 on National Geographic. The one-hour special will follow the Australian movie star as he seeks to understand how mankind can live more harmoniously with sharks. The documentary comes from Nutopia (One Strange Rock) and features shark conversationalist icon Valerie Taylor, who will guide Hemsworth on a shark diving experience. You can check out the first trailer below. Shark Beach with Chris Hemsworth was announced in August of last year which means Marvel’s risk management legal team really must have been asleep at the wheel. Perhaps that’s why Hemsworth got so inconceivably shredded for Love and Thunder – he needed to fend off some sharks. Here is the rest of this year’s SharkFest programming with all descriptions provided by National Geographic. WHEN SHARKS ATTACKNational Geographic — Premieres July 5, at 8/7cNational Geographic — Premieres July 5, at 8/7cNat Geo WILD — Encore Presentation Aug. 2, at 8/7cDisney+ — Beginning July 9The world’s beaches quickly turn deadly in this terror-filled deep-sea saga when sharks descend, shocking the local community and sending scientists reeling. What causes these spikes in activity? And how can they be prevented? SHARK BEACH WITH CHRIS HEMSWORTHNational Geographic — Premieres July 5, at 9/8cNat Geo WILD — Encore Presentation Aug. 2, at 10/9cDisney+ — Beginning July 9Chris Hemsworth is on a mission to uncover the science of shark behavior and discover how humans and sharks can safely coexist. After an increase in local shark attacks along the east coast of Australia, Hemsworth seeks to understand different species of sharks and their behaviors while also exploring new preventative measures and the latest technology to help stave off shark-human encounters. The special from Nutopia (“One Strange Rock”) also features underwater conservationist and legend Valerie Taylor. ROGUE SHARK?National Geographic — Premieres July 5, at 10/9cNat Geo WILD — Encore Presentation Aug. 11, at 10/9cDisney+ — Beginning July 9In October 2018, the remote islands of the Whitsunday in Australia were rocked by a series of shark attacks. Incredibly, all the victims were attacked in the same small patch of ocean, no larger than four football fields. Was a rogue serial killer on the loose? Or was something new drawing sharks and humans into conflict? ORCA VS. GREAT WHITENational Geographic — Premieres July 6, at 10/9cNat Geo WILD — Encore Presentation Aug. 3, at 10/9cDisney+ — Beginning July 9Off the coast of South Africa in 2017, orcas began hunting and killing great white sharks. Now, researchers in New Zealand set out to discover if it could happen again. Diving with several shark populations along New Zealand’s southern coast, they investigate this murder mystery and seek answers to this burning question: have their local orcas developed a taste for great white sharks? CROC THAT ATE JAWSNational Geographic — Premieres July 8, at 10/9cNat Geo WILD — Encore Presentation Aug. 4, at 10/9cDisney+ — Beginning July 9From mysterious severed heads and ambush attacks to mob hunts and stand-offs, what happens when two of the deadliest predators on the planet go head-to-head? WORLD’S MOST DANGEROUS SHARK?National Geographic — Premieres July 9, at 10/9cNat Geo WILD — Encore Presentation Aug. 5, at 10/9cDisney+ — Beginning July 16The great white has a reputation for being the scariest in the sea, but Explorer Jacques Cousteau called the oceanic whitetip “The most dangerous of all sharks …” Two teams of experts dive deep into the world of the oceanic whitetip to reveal what makes this species a top contender for the title of “world’s most dangerous shark.” SHARK ATTACK FILESNational Geographic — Premieres July 12, at 9/8cNat Geo WILD — Encore Presentation Aug. 9, at 10/9cDisney+ — Beginning July 16This action-packed series is an investigation into bizarre and fascinating shark behavior. Featuring footage from actual attacks, interactions and behavior captured by both professionals and observant bystanders, every twist and turn leaves viewers sitting on the edge of their seats. Scientific experts and investigators dive deeper into the mystery of these unexplained behaviors and come to a stunning revelation that ties these extraordinary events together. SHARK ATTACK INVESTIGATION: THE PAIGE WINTER STORY National Geographic — Premieres July 12, at 10/9cNat Geo WILD — Encore Presentation Aug. 6, at 10/9cDisney+ — Beginning July 16Paige Winter was only 17 years old when she lost a leg and portion of her hand to a shark. Experts unpack the details of Paige’s attack to determine what kind of shark is responsible and what can be done, if anything, to avoid this happening again. Despite all Paige has lived through, this inspirational teen remains an advocate for sharks and, with the guidance of professionals, takes brave steps to overcome her greatest fears. WORLD’S BIGGEST BULL SHARK?National Geographic — Premieres July 13, at 10/9cNat Geo WILD — Encore Presentation Aug. 10, at 9/8cDisney+ — Beginning July 16It was a freak encounter that broke all the records. In 2012, off the coast of Florida, shark scientist Dr. Neil Hammerschlag caught the mother of all bull sharks—it stretched more than 10-feet long and weighed over 1,000 pounds! They named her Big Bull and set her free. Bull sharks in Florida patrol the beaches, terrifyingly close the swimmers, and feast on seasonal migrations of baitfish. Many long thought these sharks were just well-fed, but now some scientists believe that Big Bull is the matriarch of a unique population of giants. There is only one way to find out … and you gotta get close. PLAYING WITH SHARKSDisney+ — Premieres July 23A true pioneer in both underwater filmmaking and shark research, Valerie Taylor is a living legend and icon in the underwater world whose life’s work has become the basis for much of what we know about sharks today. Through remarkable underwater archival footage, along with interviews with Valerie herself, PLAYING WITH SHARKS, from National Geographic Documentary Films and twice Emmy®-nominated director Sally Aitken, follows this daring ocean explorer’s trajectory from champion spearfisher to passionate shark protector. From the birth of cage diving to “Jaws” hysteria to the dawn of cageless shark diving, Valerie became a trailblazing advocate for the ocean’s most maligned and misunderstood creatures.
