Sharks reel in fans in Mediterranean waters

HADERA, Israel - The wind was blowing, clouds blocked the sun and the sea was choppy and cold, but Hagai Mayer and his two friends didn't care. They wanted to see the sharks.

Every winter, as sea temperatures drop, sharks seeking warmer waters head to a northern Israeli shore, drawing enthusiasts who take the plunge in hopes of catching a glimpse of the enigmatic predators.

Dozens of sandbar and dusky sharks, which can reach up to three meters in length, converge by the bubbly stream of seawater used to cool the turbines of a power station near Hadera and then discharged back into the Mediterranean.