CLICK HERE FOR A CAYMANREEF SHARK GALLERY!!! Drawing a deep breath and taking careful aim, Mark Kay shoots the pole spear. He's hit his mark: the identification tag winds up securely nestled behind the dorsal fin of a 7-foot Caribbean reef shark. Thrashing its tail angrily, the shark veers away and abruptly disappears in the transparent blue waters off Grand Cayman's far-flung East End. But she'll be back - soon. On the boat, Mark is all smiles. It's a good day to be a shark researcher/enthusiast. He managed to tag two sharks on the previous dive, bringing his overall total to three. There are another 10 or so to go. After that, he hopes to collect tissue samples from the now familiar group of sharks. The identification tags and tissue samples are part of a larger research project that also involves similar efforts to gather data on sharks off Brazil and at Walker's Cay in the Bahamas. The goal is to learn about these impressive predators - largely unchanged since their origin - that have patrolled the oceans for nearly 400 million years. But Mark and the rest of the staff at Ocean Frontiers aren't focused solely on research. When it comes to sharks, the main emphasis is on educating divers. Shark lessons Divers on Grand Cayman can now complete a two-day PADI Shark Awareness Specialty course offered only at Ocean Frontiers. The course includes an informational classroom session, followed by an unforgettable ''observation'' at a nearby site. To start the first day's class, Mark relies on a cheesy prop - a singing toy shark that croons ''Mack the Knife.'' But then he gets down to business, explaining the important role that sharks play in the world's oceans, outlining the serious threats that they face globally from over-fishing and dispelling the myths that portray them as cold-blooded man-eaters. The highlight of the second day takes place near a patch reef in about 50 feet of water. A bucket containing squid and other morsels is lowered to the bottom while divers gather a safe distance away in the sand. The scent of the food soon attracts the sharks. At least 10 sharks showed up on the day when Sport Diver staff members and a local television reporter joined Ocean Frontiers' research team. Thwarted by the bucket's fastened lid, the sharks circled relentlessly amid the rapidly flashing strobes of underwater cameras. The female that was tagged early in the dive returned just in time to thrust her head in the bucket of food moments after Mark finally removed the lid. An Ideal Location The shark research and education program that started last year has generated some controversy. But that didn't stop the government's conservation board from granting a research license to Ocean Frontiers on Dec. 1. The Project AWARE Foundation also provided a grant to buy shark-tagging equipment. Ocean Frontiers owner Stephen Broadbelt says his operation's location on Grand Cayman's sparsely populated East End is the ideal place for shark awareness activities. ''You couldn't do something like this down on Seven Mile Beach,'' he explains. Unlike the circus atmosphere found at some shark-feeding encounters, Broadbelt is committed to maintaining a carefully controlled, educational experience. ''We aren't trying to create another Stingray City,'' he says. Sharks and more In addition to its popular Shark Awareness course, Ocean Frontiers attracts plenty of divers who are eager to see the East End's uncongested walls and reefs. A fleet of custom dive boats that includes a 38-foot catamaran makes trips to these nearby sites, which are among some of most pristine areas found in the three Cayman Islands. Ocean Frontiers offers a full range of instruction, including training and equipment for rebreathers and technical diving. The operation includes a retail shop and a professionally staffed photo center with film processing and video editing services. Divers visiting Ocean Frontiers also can take advantage of a special package at the newly opened Royal Reef Resort throughout the rest of the year. For Tourist Board Informaiton...