S. Africa Cage Dive Trip

Sevengill Cow Shark

So on my last day in S. Africa we had the privilege of meeting with marine biologist Alison Towner at Marine Dynamics   who presented, Predator vs Predator , a presentation on the attacks of orca (killer) whales on great white sharks in the Gansbaai area (The peak season for seeing great whites is about March to September). This was a very unique and interesting presentation because this is a problem that has been seen in places such as the Farallon Islands but not in the False Bay area. This has really hurt & affected the great whites in the area and is something that researchers are now looking into. The researchers use the dorsal fins of sharks to identify them because they are like fingerprints - unique to each animal. Sharks, like many animals, release a death hormone when they are killed and this plays a big part in the disappearance of sharks after an attack. Great whites became a protected species in S. Africa in 1991 and so when a great white washes ashore dead ...

So today we did our 7th cage dive and it was probably one of the best out of all of them. We had a total of 15-18 different sharks around the cage at various times and they all  have their own unique personalities. Some came in just for a look and didn't really go after the tuna head but there were a couple that were very interested and wanted the tuna head desperately. They came up to the cage and even tried to taste the cage in front of a couple of friends. It was amazing to see even from where I was in thr cage BUT my favorite was one when another shark actually swiped it's pectoral fin and tail against the cage in front of me. I really was tempted to touch it and DIDN'T because my love and respect from these animals has grown even more. Not only that but then the shark that bit the cage before we got out swam directly in front of my and we made eye contact. Her swimming was so delibrate,  slow, and stunning beyond words. I wasn't able to get that on my go-pro becau...