FAIRMONT — The theme music from “Jaws” plays over speakers and the tension builds among those gathered. As the music reaches a crescendo, a hydraulic panel lifts to reveal sharks in Fairmont.

Three nurse sharks — not the great whites made infamous in “Jaws” — reside in a 5,000-gallon mobile aquarium. They are on display as part of the live shark experience being offered this week at the Martin County Fair.

Philip Peters, owner of Haai Inc. Shark Encounter, has shows planned all week. He dons a wet suit and enters the tank with the sharks to educate — and hopefully entertain — the fair-goers.

The Netherlands native has been doing the shark shows for about 20 years

“Kids love sharks and dinosaurs” Peters said. “Dinosaurs are a little hard to get.”

Peters admits to always having been intrigued by sharks, so he thought it would be fun to build an exhibit featuring sharks and to swim with them. There are, however, still risks. Although nurse sharks might not be as aggressive as some other sharks, they are still capable of biting the unwary. Peters said he has been bitten an average of twice a year.

“It’s no fun, but it comes with the territory,” he said.

Most of the time, he is bitten because his hand or his foot is right in front of a shark’s mouth. Once the shark takes a bite and realizes what it has bitten is not a fish, it lets go.

Even quick, non-aggressive bites like that can do damage, but Peters still has all of his fingers and toes, wiggling his fingers to demonstrate.

“So I’m doing all right,” he said, smiling.

While the mobile aquarium travels to a variety of events, summers are mostly spent at fairs. The travel is what Peters likes best about his work.

“You see new places all the time,” he said.

Peters’ show seems to have received a warm welcome from fair patrons.

Tahnisha Jimenez of Fairmont says sharks are fascinating. She has read every book in the library about sharks and is an avid viewer of Shark Week on Discovery Channel.

When a friend asked her if she was given a wet suit and the opportunity to swim with the sharks in Peters’ tank if she would take it, Jimenez responded with a resounding yes.

Jessica Salic of Granada was surprised to see Peters get into the tank with the sharks. She had expected him to stand outside the tank and talk about them. She likes that it’s something different, especially since there aren’t really any opportunities to see sharks in the area.

Salic also appreciates that Peters offered education while using humor to entertain too.

“That was nice,” she said.

“We loved it,” said Jenna Schaefer of Fairmont, adding that she would recommend others take the opportunity to see the show.

“It’s just a fun experience,” she said.

Show times today and Friday are scheduled at 3 p.m., 5 p.m., and 7 p.m. Saturday show times are 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., and 7 p.m. Sunday shows are scheduled at 1 p.m., 3 p.m., and 5 p.m.