Definition... Shark : n.
- Primarily marine carnivorous fishes of the class Chondrichthyes (subclass Elasmobranchii), ranging from < 10 inches to > 40 feet in length, with five to seven gill openings, large oil-filled livers, a cartilaginous skeleton and dermal denticles serving to protect the skin and improve fluid dynamics.
Shark Encounters
Species: Galapagos and Sandbar
Location: Hawaii
December 2009 saw the undertaking of, well a pilgrimage, to the Pacific Islands of Hawaii. Steeped in sea faring history and the birthplace of surfing as we know it. It was a privilege to surf on the shores of Oahu and to witness a potentially once in a lifetime event “The Eddie” – a big wave event which took place at Waimea Bay a few days after I arrived. To add to this my excitement levels had reached fever pitch at the prospect of seeing sharks in warm water again, I arranged a trip with Hawaii Shark Encounters, a fantastic company whose founders place shark conservation at the forefront of their tours (no chum or food is used to attract the sharks). We headed out to a spot where Galapagos and Sandbar sharks congregate during dawn as a result of local fishermen reeling in their catches. It was great to be in the water with shark species I had not seen before, the downside for me was being in the cage, however it was a policy that needed to be abided by – enabling the business to operate within specific laws. An interesting perspective, responsible tour operators and I got my shark fix!
Species: Whale, Pelagic Thresher, White-tip Reef, Grey Reef
Location: Philippines
Looking back at my diary I kept whilst in the Philippines – not a day went by when I wasn’t describing my underwater encounters as “mind-blowing, phenomenal, stupidly amazing, out of this world... etc...” The truth is no words can describe the kick I was getting from swimming alongside the biggest fish in the Ocean – the Whale shark, I literally pinched myself several times just to make sure the encounters were real and then getting to dive with Pelagic Thresher sharks, on (usually) a daily basis as well as Reef sharks and other elasmobranchs including Pygmy Devil rays and Manta rays which became regular visitors to the areas I was diving. Whenever I thought it couldn’t get any better I would get 2 threshers and a manta on the same dive or an encounter for 10 minutes or more with a circling thresher making eye contact on each pass. I was living as close to an aquatic existence as I could manage even descending into yet more dives every time I fell asleep! To read more about my adventures in the Philippines, click on the LOL badge on the homepage.
Species: Grey Reef, Black-tip Reef, White-tip Reef, Great Hammerhead
Location: Palau
As if I hadn’t had my fill of shark diving – straight after the Philippines I headed over to Palau to indulge in some more! Technically speaking this was “out of season” for Palau, lucky for me it was as I am not sure I would have survived ‘in season’ my excitement levels were permanently off the scale because I was undoubtedly in my Nirvana with sharks on tap! Reef sharks cruising by sometimes solo, other times there would be 20 or more hanging around current rich areas. During one particular dive we got treated to a pass by a Great Hammerhead although they have been sighted occasionally we certainly weren’t expecting it, as my brain processed the image that my (saucer-like) eyes were seeing before me, the liquid world was timeless. If I have played that moment over once, I have played it a million times in my mind’s eye. That is the real beauty about diving, you never know what you may see and an unexpected treat is a true privilege. To read more about my adventures in Palau, click on the LOL badge on the homepage.
Species: Blacktip Reef
Location: KoTao, Thailand
My first wild shark encounter was memorable, but certainly not glamorous! Ko Tao is a small island in the Gulf of Thailand. Imagine a beautiful idyllic island bathed in sunshine and you’d be right for every other day except the day I went shark freediving. A low pressure system had hit the island overnight, the sea was grey and rough. When we reached the coastal reef area where the sharks could usually be found it was about 6:30 am and I realised I was in serious danger of losing my stomach! Excitement took over however and I was straight in the water.
My first glimpse of a 5ft Blacktip Reef shark was accompanied by heavy water chop, a wave flooded my snorkel. I swallowed what felt like a gallon of seawater, which pushed my sea sickness to the limit. I kept one eye on the shark, indicated to someone else I’d seen a shark and prevented myself from drowning as I was regurgitating my stomach contents (talk about multi-tasking!), as the retching subsided I was delighted by the benefits my stomach evacuation had bought – swarms of reef fish and with them roaming sharks! Perfect!
Species: Lemon, tiger, Bull, Nurse, Blacktip, Blacknose and Sharpnose
Location: South Bimini, Bahamas
As part of my field research for my PhD, I was fortunate enough to head out to the Bimini Islands in the Bahamas. Stationed at the shark lab on the South Island I was conducting tagging studies on juvenile Lemon sharks to determine their depths and temperatures of water they occupied.
Many volunteers and students have passed through the doors of the shark lab and I am sure all would agree with me when I say it is a truly incredible experience. To get the opportunity to work with sharks everyday was a dream realised. Handling, observing and freediving with all of these shark species, whilst being surrounded by the abundance of underwater fauna the Bimini Islands have to offer such as: Conch, Lobster, Rays, and entire Reef ecosystems teeming with life, was in short an unparalleled experience in paradise.
Species: Lesser Spotted Dogfish
Location: Aberdeen, UK
A short note on the lesser spotted dogfish (also known as the small spotted catshark). I remember being slightly unimpressed the first time I worked with this species. I’d seen them in various aquariums:, they had been the ones sat on the bottom not doing an awful lot. However after working with them in the aquarium environment for over 2 years, handling them, constructing suitable tanks, and feeding them squid, my appreciation has increased greatly.
They are individuals no doubt.Males are generally feistier than females, but then I have 1 female who is definitely the star of the show nicknamed (unimaginatively!) “Spot” for the large spot on the lower body region. She always comes to see what is going on and is invariably the chosen subject whose image is used for news reports and press releases.
Surprisingly the lesser spotted dogfish has also made it onto the shark attack file; recently an unfortunate fisherman had a dogfish clamp onto his nose whilst trying to de-hook the animal! So there we have it, inquisitive individuals with a danger factor also! In my opinion an impressive yet underrated and overlooked shark.