« Sharkwatcher I Am | Main | Wedding Wine »
May 13, 2005
Shark Cage Diving - Sketchy?
A couple of years ago, I went cage-diving with Great White Sharks in South Africa. At the time, I thought it a pinnacle of my short but exciting diving career. I have mixed feelings about repeating the whole experience - not that it wasn't fantastic. I want my fiance to experience being in the water with the apex predator, and I wouldn't mind taking some more pictures and video. [Read more about my shark diving: Great White Sharks - The Chance in a Lifetime]
Now, however, I am growing increasingly concerned about how easy access to these wonderful creatures is becoming. I guess this is really a concern with "eco-tourism" in general - by providing access to these fragile environments, we introduce the very corruption that causes damage.
Also, I'm concerned with the safety aspects of it. Getting in and out of a shark cage is not a particularly easy or safe endeavor. I ended up with bruises all over my legs from clamboring in and out of the cage, which basically involves climbing over the side of a boat, and sliding/jumping into a small metal cage that bobs along side the boat, whilest large predators swim about you. You don't want to miss. Getting out of the cage is another lesson in bravery - you climb up the side of the cage like a ladder, and hoist yourself up to fall back into the boat. You do not want to fall backward by accident, or you're in trouble. As if this isn't enough of a problem, lately the shark diving industry has heated up, and more people than ever are going. The quality of services provided varies greatly - and safety concerns may come second to the tips garnered by maximizing the thrill.
And now, what with monstrous great whites attacking cages literally a handful of miles from where I did my diving...
Mark Currie, 32, from Barrow-in-Furness, was inside a metal viewing cage in the water when the 18ft Great White suddenly attacked the cage.
As the shark began tearing at the cage, Mr Currie managed to scramble on board the tour boat while the captain beat the shark on the head.
The expedition took place off the port of Hermanus, near Cape Town.
More at: BBC News: Man relives shark attack escape
Tag cloud
Posted by sorsha at May 13, 2005 3:33 PM
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.perlgurl.org/mt/mt-tb.cgi/162
Comments
I would have to agree with this take on the world of shark diving and shark diving adventures.
The points made here are in fact very good.
As the CEO of a shark diving company I often look with a critical eye towards operations worldwide who see sharks more as a Biological ATM Machine and less of an eco-resource.
Fact is in South Africa they tend to use "shark livers" as chum. Recently a NY Times travel article glossed over this. Killing a shark to see a shark seems a bit counter productive.
The other issue is the Internet. Back in the day (pre-net) travel companies were started and run by industry professionals who had been working in the industry for a mimimum of 5-10 years. Today with the rise of the web page anyone-from a bus driver to an underwater welder-can call themselves a shark diving company and do really awful things with sharks...all in the name of eco-tourism.
Cage breaches, shark entanglements, hard shark interactions,the list is a testament to shark based eco tour operations run amok.
The good news is these operations are for the most part, limited in scope. The vast majority of shark diving tours are in fact very good.
In the end I fully support the concept that divers who encounter sharks in a safe and sane manner come away with a deeper understanding of these animals-which beats finning them by the millions and serving them up at $75.00 USD a bowl.
Cheers,
Patric Douglas CEO
www.sharkdiver.com
www.sharkdivers.com
www.guadalupefund.org
415.235.9410
Posted by: Patric Douglas | June 21, 2007 2:16 PM
Just wanted to warn people about the cage diving in San Francisco Bay. There is no chumming of the waters there(which I'm ok with) But,the likely of seeing a shark was a very low percentage. No sightings all day. A huge waste of $ and disappointment. I would have to say it was false advertisement...
Posted by: Melissa Mcgann | June 22, 2007 8:56 AM
Wildlife sightings are always hit or miss. You have to go in the right season, with the right company, and be patient. Each time we have done this kind of diving, we have schedule for multiple days just in case, but each time we saw multiple sharks. Sometimes we saw them after only a few moments, and other times it was a matter of waiting a few hours.
I can tell you for sure, that the Red Triangle - the waters between Monterey, San Francisco and the Farallones are prime great white shark territory.
Sorry you didn't get to see them, Melissa.
Posted by: Lauren Darcey | June 24, 2007 5:41 PM
well i am going cage shark diving next year,and sharks hardly ever attack unless provoked or mistaken identity and i think your statement is falsified you make it seem as though all sharks are going to attack the cages i do however agree with the fact that it is very common now but the project i am doing is to protect these animals.
Posted by: sarah burgess | September 20, 2007 3:27 AM
Hey Sarah,
I've never said that all sharks are going to attack the cages. This is just the latest in a series of postings on cage diving and how there are more and more negative encounters with sharks.
As to provoking a shark, many cage diving companies do just that - they bait the shark and chum to get them to visit the tourists.
I certainly don't blame the SHARKS for any of these problems.
Just make sure you use a reputable company that respects the sharks and their clients.
Posted by: Lauren Darcey | September 20, 2007 9:05 AM
What month of the year did you go to South Africa as I am hoping to go to see the great whites next year
Posted by: Ian Moore | August 13, 2008 7:56 AM
I've gone in September and October - one of the best times to see wildlife on safari in South Africa and also to see sharks...
White Shark EcoVentures also has a nice listing on their website of best times to see the great white sharks: peak season being April to October.
Posted by: Lauren Darcey | August 13, 2008 3:42 PM