Tourists pay Dh25,000 to dive into river filled with crocodiles

In a latest fad, tourists are paying £5,000 (Dh25,268 approx) to swim alongside 12-foot-long Nile crocodiles in a river in Botswana. The dangerous creatures weigh up to half a ton and one nip of their massive jaws can kill someone in seconds.
In the crazy attraction that is picking up among adventure-seekers, the divers are urged to descend quickly below the surface of the river so that the deadly crocodiles do not see them as a 'potential meal'.
According to the California-based tour operator Big Animals, the cold waters of the Okavango Delta make the crocodiles 'lethargic and slow', making it 'safe' for divers. The divers have to wear scuba gear and follow an expedition leader behind a crocodile who then signals them to swim forward one by one to be alongside the crocodile, according to reports in Daily Mail.
Amos Nachoum of Big Animals said, "This is for people who want the ultimate experience but who are also experienced divers." Before the dive, tourists have to sign a document waiving the Botswanan government and Big Animals of responsibility should anything go wrong.
One such British holidaymaker Tony Rowlands, 62, braved the dive and emerged ecstatic out of the river. He said, "You can swim up close to this massive prehistoric animal, knowing he could tear you to shreds in seconds but he doesn't, and it's wonderful."
Rowlands, who owns property companies in Liverpool and is a former Royal Navy sailor, said, "We were quiet, looking all the time for a big croc warming himself on a riverbank. The big old ones are the best - they can be around 50 years old and they are scared of nothing and have no reason to be skittish."