And none is more hard core than Jim Miller who penned this trip report for us at the start of the 2012 white shark season at Isla Guadalupe.
Thanks Jim, see you in a few weeks:
Sunday, July 29th, 2012
An open letter to potential shark divers from a two time
shark diver (third trip coming up in September 2012).
When I landed back home in Boston with all the stories,
pictures, and video, I asked myself, do I really need to go back? The answer
comes quickly and easily. Absolutely, yes! I relive one of the most intense
experiences of my life every night as I sleep, and I’ve done it twice! How many
people can say that they’ve been close enough to touch a Great White Shark? That
they’ve been in the water with one of the world’s most perfect predators? What
possible reason could I have for going back?
I am not an adrenaline junkie nor do I have a death wish. Honestly,
there are a lot of reasons. First and foremost is my new found love for the
animal. I had an intense fear based on an experience from childhood. I wanted
to beat it and it only took me 40 years to muster the courage. Being in such
close proximity to these enormous, powerful, and graceful creatures is just
unbelievable. There are no words to properly describe the experience. The only
way to understand is to be there. You can watch Shark Week all you want, but
frankly, it’s the difference between a riding a skateboard and driving a
Lamborghini Diablo.
We all work hard and deserve to take time away from the chaos
of daily existence. I had been
considering shark diving for several years, my fear getting the better of me
every time. In 2010, I resolved to at least take the first steps to making the
trip a reality. I decided to contact Patric Douglas, CEO of Shark Divers, with
my concerns. Truthfully, I figured that being the CEO, he would either blow me
off or just tell me what I wanted to hear in order to make the sale.
I could
not have been more wrong.
During our first exchange, I spent approximately 45
minutes on the phone with this guy who I had never spoken with before. Within
the first five minutes of the conversation, we were on a first name basis and
it felt like I had known Patric for years. However, I am still a skeptic, and
that mandates that I do my due diligence, salesmen be damned. My search turned
up several stories from happy shark divers. My decision was made, but still, I decided
that I would reserve judgment until the trip had concluded. My conclusion is
that Patric Douglas is not a salesman. He is someone who cares deeply about the
environment and the preservation of the wildlife that lives in it. The same can
be said for the crew M/V Horizon.
When I first boarded the Horizon back in August 2010 for my
first trip, I was treated like royalty, which is a bit much for me to take.
Honestly, I was more than a little wound up and scared. In other words, I was
as ready for this trip as I would ever be. Being from Boston means being a bit
more intense, so when someone tried to take my luggage out my hands, I thought
I was going to have to get mean. I just was not used to being treated so well!
It wouldn’t have mattered much, because Mark would have kicked my butt anyway,
just sayin’. I said to him, “I can carry my own luggage, buddy”. He responded
with “this is your vacation”.
With that, it began and I let him have my
suitcase. This brings me to Captain Spencer Salmon, who never ceases to crack
me up. Captain Spencer is all business, but one would be hard pressed to see him
being anything other than relaxed. He is a very unique character to say the
least. Then there’s dive master Martin Graf, who briefs and instructs the
divers on policy, procedures and dive safety. Martin provides a wealth of
knowledge on Guadalupe White Sharks and all dive related information one would
need to have a great trip. He knows the sharks by name and in some instances, does
not need to be in the water to identify them. Martin is an important resource
for the divers and a critical part of the Horizon crew. I can’t forget Captain
Kyle, who I believe is a New York Giants fan… Can’t be perfect I guess, but
still, another reason for me to be a repeat customer… I just can’t say enough nice things about the crew.
They are a huge part of the reason why I want to go back.
Oh, and did I mention
Chef Mark? How could I possibly forget Mark?
The man who keeps us well fed and fueled up for diving! Chef Mark
prepared the best steak I ever had. You read correctly. The best steak I ever
had was on the MV Horizon. I don’t know what magic he used to prepare that
steak; I just hope he uses it again in September!
Yet another reason for returning has to do with the people
you will meet and the friends that you will make during this adventure. I’ve
made some pretty good friends on both trips that I am still in touch with. In
fact, I know of two people that I dove with last year who will be returning
this year. On my 2011 trip, after a hard day of diving, I can remember sitting
down with my friends, Julie, Sean, James, Jack, Pierre, and Janice and talking
about the day’s adventure over cocktails.
If you are the type of person who has
a hard time changing gears from work to vacation, you’ll be happy to know that
it’s pretty easy to do on this trip. There is so much to take in, that it’s
almost over-whelming. I can remember Captain Spencer cutting the engines on the
way to Guadalupe and informing everyone over the P.A. system that there was a
pod of Blue Whales just yards away from the ship. You almost expect a “Jurassic
Park”-like experience. You have to have
your camera ready at all times. For example, during my first trip, we had a
white shark perform a full breach, just feet away from the ship. No one saw
that coming… And no one captured that on film, but I will remember it forever.
So with that said, I am 49 days away from my third trip with
Sharkdiver.com and the MV Horizon to Isla Guadalupe and I am going crazy… The
anticipation is tangible. I’ve watched the film I’ve taken from my previous
trips countless times. There is nothing that I can do to appease the ache. I
have an intense longing to be back in the water with Shredder, Bruce, and the
rest of the Guadalupe White Sharks. As far as I am concerned, this is no longer
just a vacation for me. I have found a cause that I love and can get behind in
such a way that affords me the opportunity to actually have a positive impact. This
is an opportunity to make a difference.
After this experience, you will have no
choice but to talk about the adventure with people close to you about the
plight of sharks as a species. Your words will travel. The act of you telling
your stories will spread awareness. Not to mention that
you will have the time of your life. So I’m carefully planning what gear I’ll
be taking with me this year so that I can better communicate what I
experience.
Tonight, I’ll be dreaming of September 15th, 2012 and the start of another
adventure that I will never forget.
Shark Diver,
Jim Miller
About Shark Diver. As a global leader in commercial shark diving and conservation initiatives Shark Diver has spent the past decade engaged for sharks around the world. Our blog highlights all aspects of both of these dynamic and shifting worlds. You can reach us directly at sharkcrew@gmail.com.
