Tides of Knowledge: Our Recent Visit to the Wallace Rotary

 Tides of Knowledge: Our Recent Visit to the Wallace Rotary

There’s something special about carrying a piece of the coast inland—bringing the salt air, the steady rhythm of the waves, and the quiet mystery of sharks into a warm room filled with familiar faces. That’s exactly how it felt during our recent visit to the Wallace Rotary, where Clay was invited to speak for the third year in a row. Every time we return, it feels like coming back to old friends.

Even miles away from the shoreline, the coast has a way of following us. As Clay began his talk, the room took on that same calm anticipation you feel standing at the edge of the surf, waiting on the next swell. The focus of the day was shark bite behavior, a subject Clay has spent years studying and presenting along the Carolina coast. The Rotary members were eager, curious, and ready to dive in with us.

Clay walked everyone through the types of shark bites, painting the picture with clarity and respect

    •    the quick hit and run, often nothing more than mistaken identity,
    •    the calculated bump and bite, when a shark taps its target to determine if it’s potential food,
    •    and the rare sneak attack, those deep-water strikes that remind us the ocean is still beautifully wild.

The goal wasn’t fear, it was understanding. Because the more we learn, the more we respect the creatures that share our waters.

From there, Clay explained why sharks bite, weaving instinct and ocean behavior together like tide lines on the sand. Sometimes it’s curiosity. Sometimes competition. Sometimes defense. And in the rarest cases, a true attempt to feed. Everything in the water has a rhythm, and sharks are just responding to it.

A favorite part of each visit is always sharing ways people can enjoy the coast more safely. We talked about avoiding fishing piers, staying out of murky water, not swimming alone, and watching for signs of active wildlife. The ocean gives hints, ripples, baitfish, diving birds, and learning to read them is one of the best ways to stay safe.

The members of the Wallace Rotary, as always, were engaged, thoughtful, and full of coastal stories of their own. Some shared memories of summers at Topsail and Wrightsville Beach, while others simply wanted to understand more about the creatures they’ve seen offshore over the years. Their questions were genuine and heartfelt, and their love for this region was clear in every word.

As we packed up, several people stopped to express how Clay’s past talks have changed the way they see the ocean. Knowing why sharks behave the way they do has helped them feel more confident, more aware, and more connected to the water they’ve grown up around.

That’s what makes these visits so meaningful, when knowledge merges with community, and when understanding replaces fear.

We are truly grateful for the warm welcome and the opportunity to return for a third year. Thank you, Wallace Rotary, for your hospitality, your curiosity, and your coastal spirit. We look forward to many more conversations and many more safe days along our beautiful Carolina shores.

If your organization would like Clay to speak or if you’re interested in shark safety materials, we’d be honored to bring the coast to you