I used to have a sheer phobia of sharks. As in, I could not even look at a photograph in a National Geographic magazine without a sheer panic attack. I felt so stupid about it, so I forced myself to read about them.
I am now to a point where I can look at photographs, watch videos and even go to an aquarium and watch the living sharks swimming around.
Now, I see them as graceful creatures. I'd like to go see them in the ocean sometime but I'm not sure if I could go into a cage because deep water scares the hell out of me as well.