The shark diving industry blog covering sharks, shark cage diving, shark conservation and things we find "amusing" since 2008 www.sharkdiver.com, www.sharkdivers.com, www.divingwithsharks.com
Beqa Adventure Divers, known as BAD, is celebrating it's 15th anniversary. We want to congratulate BAD for being one of the most awesome dive companies in the world. Their moto, "We are a conservation group, masquerading as a dive shop" is more than a mere slogan. What they have accomplished in their 15 year history is simply amazing.
Bull Shark at the Shark Reef Marine Reserve
If you ever heard of what Valerie Taylor called the best shark dive in the world, she was referring to the dive at the Shark Reef Marine Reserve, operated by none other than BAD. And speaking of the Shark Reef Marine Reserve, it was created by BAD in 2004. Initial fish counts at the reef showed about 280 different species of fish, which is very bad for the south pacific. After 10 years of protecting the reef, the number of species increased to 480! As of November, 2014, Shark Reef Marine Reserve has been designated Fiji’s first National Marine Park and BAD was being entrusted with its day-to-day management. To my knowledge, this is the first national park in the world that was created due to the efforts of a single private entitiy.
There are a few sharks to be encountered
But creating a national park is not all that BAD has accomplished. They also partnered with Projects Abroad to create Mangroves for Fiji, a project designed to combat global warming and now their latest, My Fijishark a shark adoption program benefitting protection and conservation of the sharks in Fiji.
Congratulations to BAD for being the best conservation shark diving operation! Keep up the good work!
The BAD boys and girls, celebrating!
Shark Diver is proud to be using BAD for our Bull Shark diving expeditions to Fiji. We are heading there in May, and we can book a Bull Shark dive for you anytime of the year.
For more information on our Bull Shark diving adventures, call us at 619.887.4275 or email crew@sharkdiver.com for more information.
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 staff@sharkdiver.com.
Conservation and Shark Diving are often seen as opposites and not compatible. Let's look at some of the concerns raised and see how valid they are.
The biggest issue a lot of people have with shark diving and specifically feeding dives is that "It conditions sharks to associate people and divers with food!" While it does indeed condition sharks to associate divers with food, it definitely doesn't condition those sharks to associate divers AS food. The sharks at the Shark Reef Marine Reserve are being fed 5 days a week and I dove on a non feeding day. I got to about 45 ft when a few Bull Sharks sharks approached me, clearly looking for food. After they swam around me for a little bit, they realized that I didn't bring any food and they left. At no point did they show any indication that they looked at me as food or made any attempt to bite me. I actually think that being around divers at feeding sites makes the sharks less likely to attack. If I would be approached by a bunch of Bull Sharks at a non feeding site, I would be a lot more concerned, since it is unusual for them to approach divers without being attracted by some kind of food or chum source.
Another argument against feeding sharks is that it alters their feeding and migration behavior. Since I'm not a scientist that has studied this issue, my experience comes from observing and diving with sharks, I defer to those who actually studied this issue. There are a few good papers out that are addressing this.
Essentially they are saying that it has no real impact on their migration and hunting behavior. Click on the links above for more detailed information.
OK, so shark feeding is not as bad as people think, but is it actually good for conservation? While there are certainly some outfits that don't have conservation in mind when they do their shark dives, there are also responsible operators who care deeply about conservation and who have accomplished some amazing things.
We all know about the problem associated with the overfishing of sharks. If we want to protect sharks, we have to find a way for the shark fishermen to make a living doing something else.When we argue that a life sharks is worth hundreds of times the amount of a dead shark, we have to make sure that a life shark is worth more to the fishermen as well and not just to the tourism industry.
This is what Beqa Adventure Divers (BAD) has accomplished in Fiji. They
got a fishing village to agree to not fish on a reef in exchange for
a fee paid by all the divers. "They also hired people from
fishing villages and trained them to be Divemasters, Instructors and Boat
Captains. When they started diving at that reef, an initial fish count netted about 280 different species of fish, which for the south pacific is very dismal. Ten years later, another fish count showed over 480 different species. The number of sharks seen at the feeds also increased from a handful to sometimes over 100.
The efforts of BAD has resulted in the reef the shark dive takes place on being declared a national underwater marine park, the Shark Reef Marine Reserve. To my knowledge this is the first time a private entity managed to create a national park. Not only does the fishing village continue to receive money from the divers, which they use for educating their children, creating opportunities outside of fishing for them, but the ones who are still fishing now catch more fish outside of the reserve than they ever caught in and outside. This is clearly a win win situation, where the sharks, the divers and the fishermen all profit.
So clearly, operating a shark feeding dive has benefited not only the sharks, but the reef as a whole. Shark Diver is proud to support BAD by taking a group of divers to dive with them every year. This year we are heading there in May. Since we are based out of a hotel, the dates are flexible. Call Cindy at 619.887.4275 or email crew@sharkdiver.com for more info.
Here is a little video of what you can expect to see on your trip.
Let's go Shark Diving!
Cheers,
Martin Graf
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 staff@sharkdiver.com.
The shark dive at the Shark Reef Marine Reserve in Fiji has been dubbed "The best shark dive in the world" by none other than shark diving pioneers Ron and Valerie Taylor.
Now Beqa Adventure Divers, the "Conservation project masquerading as a dive shop" that was instrumental in the creation of the reserve has received another great award. They were honored with the ANZ Excellence in Tourism award for Tourism Sustainability! This is a very prestigious award, being recognize as the best of the thousands of tourism businesses in Fiji!
Congratulations to all the guys and gals at "BAD"You are truly awesome!
On a different note, I hope you guys are staying safe with Cyclone "Winston" heading your way. I'm looking forward to diving with you again in a couple of months.
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 staff@sharkdiver.com.
Bull Sharks in Fiji are calling you in May of 2016.
Experience
what many call the world's best shark dive. We are diving with big, really big bull sharks. The sharks at the Shark Reef Marine Reserve are up to 12 ft. long.
Beqa Adventure Divers will
take us out to shark reef, where we will be diving with as many as 70
bull sharks at a time, with the occasional tiger shark showing up for a
visit. If that is not enough, during our safety stop we will be
surrounded by scores of black- and white-tip reef-sharks, making for the
perfect end to an unforgettable dive. On our non shark diving days,
we'll go out and explore the soft corals and wrecks of Beqa Lagoon.
Discover what over a decade of conservation efforts have resulted in!
This May, Shark Diver's CEO Martin Graf is personally going to lead you on this shark lover's dream vacation!
We will be staying at the luxurious Pearl South Pacific Resort
in Pacific
Harbor, where we'll feast on a delicious breakfast buffet each day, to
prepare us for the exciting shark diving that lies ahead.
All taxes (tip for dive crew and hotel staff not included)
Our dates are:
May 2016, 6-15, 13-22, 20-29, 27- June 6 and June 3-12 (sold out) The trip dates are from the US. We are crossing the date line on our way to Fiji. When we leave on Friday night, we arrive in Fiji on Sunday morning. On our way back, we leave Fiji on Sunday night and arrive in Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon.
Above dates don't work for you? Call us and we can customize a trip for you.
Come join us on this incredible adventure!
Call 619.887.4275 or email staff@sharkdiver.com to book or get more information.
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 staff@sharkdiver.com.
Do you want to know what it is like to come to Guadalupe Island and meet the Great White Sharks? Read the following trip report and look at the pictures from John Gunn and Katrien De Maertelaere who joined us at Guadalupe Island back in August.
Island Of The White Sharks
As we boarded Horizon, the 80 foot long dive boat that would be our home for the next
week, we had no idea of the adventures that lay ahead. Fulfilling a life long dream to dive
with Great White Sharks, I was about to embark on a trip out to Guadalupe Island in
Mexico. A rocky desolate island 150 miles west of Baja California, which is now recognized as
the best place to dive with these wonderful creatures in crystal clear waters. Having recently
spent time out at the Farallon Islands (The west coast’s other hub of Great White activity) I
couldn’t wait to experience the magic of Guadalupe.
Shark Diver (www.sharkdiver.com) were our hosts and the crew of the Horizon greeted us warmly as we strolled past the monstrous steel shark cages out on deck and settled into our
cosy sleeping quarters. The trip out to Guadalupe isn’t for the light hearted, a 36 hour trek in
decent swells (and apparently we had it calm!) but the Horizon was a wonderful vessel and
once we’d past through immigration in Ensenada, Mexico we were out in the open ocean,
heading due west over some of the richest and biologically diverse stretches of water in the
world. Within a couple of hours of leaving the Mexican mainland we were accompanied by a
large group of Pilot Whales, who stayed with us for over an hour, breaching out of the water
just a few feet from the boat. It was a wonderful start to what we were all hoping would be the
adventure of a lifetime.
After a bumpy couple of nights sleep, we awoke on the second morning to the sounds of
clucking steel and rushed up on deck. The cages were slowly being lowered into the water,
overshadowed by the towering, volcanic rock face of Guadalupe Island. It was quite a sight
and it felt only right that one of the world’s largest congregations of Great White Sharks had
chosen this alien rocky outpost as their hunting ground. After a quick but delicious cooked
breakfast (the food on the entire trip was divine!) and an introduction to the cage rotations
(we’d be tag teaming one hour in and one hour out of the cage for the next 2 days!) it was
time to gear up and get diving!
I was part of the first rotation and with the bate lines floating next to the cages and
chum being poured over the side of the boat, we anxiously waited for our first glimpse of the
world’s oldest apex predator! The hour ticked by without an appearance and the next team of
divers jumped in to try their luck. Within minutes we were startled by the soon to be familiar
shout, ‘WHITE SHARK!’ as a huge dark shadow gracefully glided past the boat. I could only
imagine the sight from below the surface.
There had been no need to panic! Our second dive of the day turned out to be one of
the best dives of the entire trip. We were treated to 3 White Sharks, circling the cages for the
full hour. The opportunity to see these animals up close in clear water was truly special.
They’re both graceful and terrifying at the same time. A monster from your nightmares, that
you can’t take your eyes off. The 14 foot sharks glided inches from the cage, ominously
disappearing into the blue, before somehow re-appearing moments later from the completely
opposite direction. While at first glance their eyes are black and sinister, a closer look reveals a
soft light blue interior that focused in on the divers as the shark glides past. These guys were
definitely checking us out!
As rotations merged into each other, the action never stopped and as we experienced
more sharks, we were privileged to witness an array of different personalities that each gave a
unique interaction. Shark Diver keep a log of all the White Sharks they encounter and name
them, as a way of keeping track. Over time, we learned who was who; ‘Legend’ was a mid-
sized feisty shark that would charge and breach for the bait, giving the topside divers and crew
quite a show. ‘Johnny’ was a more relaxed but larger and proud shark and every now and then
we’d be lucky enough to look down into the depths and see the infamous ‘Bruce’, a monstrous
male White Shark circling below.
From the surface, the water was so clear it was like watching the sharks swimming in a
pool and from below, the 100+ foot visibility offered photo opportunities I’m yet to encounter
anywhere in the world. On our last night we were treated to a fantastic presentation from a
couple of local researchers (the only inhabitants on the island, with the exception of a small
fishing community) from Pelagios Kakunja Marine Conservation, educating us on the vital
science and research currently being done to understand more about the Guadalupe
ecosystem and the best ways to protect it in the future. As well as the informative talk, the two researchers showed us a ‘deep sea monster’ that they’d found floating on the surface, a bizarre
bottom dwelling creature that we figured out probably belonged to the ‘Frog Fish’ family.
Finally, we were treated to up close GoPro footage of a recent Great White predication
on an Elephant Seal at the island (only the third time such an attack had been caught on
camera), before we all slunked down to our cabins beneath the waves and looked forward to
the final morning of diving before our departure back to the mainland.
The final morning didn’t disappoint, as we were continuously circled by a large male
shark called ‘Biteface’. At nearly 16 feet in length, he dwarfed the cage as he glided inches
from the steel cage and our busy cameras! After lunch the cages were hoisted back onto the
Horizon and we set pace at a steady 10 knots, back to San Diego. Within a few hours, just as
the sun was setting, we were accompanied by a stunning group of breaching Dolphins, giving
the entire group a great opportunity to reflect on this wonderfully rich and wild stretch of
ocean and the trip of a lifetime.
Will I be returning to Guadalupe? Most certainly, but probably not before my passion
for Sharks and underwater photography takes me to the Tiger Sharks of the Bahamas and
the resident Bulls Sharks of Fiji. Take a bow Shark Diver, you well and truly delivered!
Thank you John and Katrien for coming out with us and writing this great report! It was a pleasure having you on board and we enjoyed introducing you to our "friends" at Guadalupe Island. We are looking forward to taking you to the Bahamas and Fiji for your next shark diving adventure!
Cheers,
Martin Graf
CEO Shark Diver
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 staff@sharkdiver.com.
I had the chance to watch David Diley's movie "Of Shark & Man" and absolutely loved it.
Here is how the filmmaker describes the movie.
David Diley is a thirty-two year old man, trapped in a dead end job
in England's industrial north and his life is going nowhere. He does
however, have a lifelong dream...
Should David follow the advice of everyone around him and forget
about it, or should he risk everything and against all the odds, take
his one chance to fulfill his greatest ambition, an ambition which finds
him in the middle of a feeding frenzy with sixty of the world's most
dangerous sharks?
“Of Shark and Man” is a ground breaking film about one man's journey
to get closer than anyone thought possible, to the world's biggest Bull
Sharks and tell the incredible untold story of Shark Reef in Fiji, one
of the greatest marine conservation successes of all time.
“Of Shark and Man” is an epic, incredibly ambitious and cinematic
love letter to the world's most feared predator, in which, for once, the
shark is the hero.
To me it is much more than just a movie about sharks and man, it is about following your dreams, overcoming obstacles and never giving up.
If you get inspired by the movie and want to go diving with these magnificent animals yourself, call us at 855.987.4275 or email staff@sharkdiver.com and we'll get you set up.
Cheers,
Martin Graf
CEO Shark Diver
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 staff@sharkdiver.com.
Once again I've been scooped by "DaShark", who beat me to the punch in pointing out Julie Andersen's hypocrisy in her latest post, telling us to "Do as I say and not as I do". I other words he pointed out what a complete hypocrite this "Shark Angel" and "shark expert" really is. She once again showed that she is much more interested in promoting herself, rather than shark conservation.
Back in 2013 Julie wrote an article for "SCUBA Diving" where she wrote. "The topic of touching sharks
can spark heated debates. It’s an inner turmoil I wrestle with often,
having spent hundreds of hours underwater with them. A quick Google
search reveals many images in which I am brazenly touching sharks. Yes,
it is something I did (and often still am tempted to do), but it is
something I don’t encourage. In fact, just the opposite."
I have to admit, that I did have a problem with her stand, because she gained her fame by touching and riding sharks and once she had that name recognition, she didn't want others to get in on the act and compete with her for sponsorships, money and fame. Ok, we all make mistakes and who hasn't done something we are not proud
of? I thought: "at least she admits that she did something that
wasn't good and is changing".
Skip a couple of years and here is her latest post on "Shark Angels"
It's time to change your perspective. Watch this stunning new video from Built By Wildman featuring founder Julie Andersen
showing the world sharks aren't what they seem. Give sharks a chance.
After all, it's about our oceans... and our collective futures.
What they really meant to say it this "It's time to change your perspective. Watch this stunning new video from Built By Wildman featuring founder Julie Andersen
touching sharks and showing the world she isn't what she seems. She says "Don't touch sharks!" while still doing it herself. Give Julie a chance.
After all, it's about her... and her future as a spokesperson and her ability to maintain her fame.
We at Shark Diver promote "Safe and sane" diving with sharks. We respect the sharks by not touching them and staying inside that cages at Guadalupe Island. We realize that is is all about the sharks. Protecting them and supporting conservation is our primary goal.
If you want to come and experience what it feels like to come face to face with these awesome predators in a safe and respectful way, give us a call. You can reach us at 855.987.4275 or via email at staff@sharkdiver.com
Cheers, Martin Graf CEO Shark Diver 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 staff@sharkdiver.com.
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 staff@sharkdiver.com.
Our friends at Projects Abroad have an opportunity to volunteer with their shark conservation program in Fiji. This is an awesome project and I can personally vouch for the fact that you will have the time of your life, doing something worthwhile. I had the privilege to go along on a tagging trip and it was a ton of fun.
This is their posting: This is truly the chance of a life time to work on pioneering shark
protection projects alongside respected scientists and shark research
experts.
This
project is perfect for anyone with a passion for marine wildlife and
the great outdoors. The Fiji Shark Conservation Project offers you the
chance to get up close to some of the most endangered and mis-understood
animals in the world. Volunteers are welcome on a gap year, a career
break, for university research, or even as an opportunity to experience a
very different way of life!
Working directly with the Fiji Shark
Conservation Project, conducting the work of internationally renowned
shark research scientists, volunteers will be directly involved in
scientific shark research work, as well as actively working within the
local community on mangrove reforestation, recycling and shark education
initiatives. The volunteers and the conservation work are supervised by
our resident marine biologist and local staff. We also work closely
with other local and international marine conservation organisations,
including the WWF Global Shark Programme.
The project is based in Pacific Harbour, on the south coast of Fiji’s main island of Viti Levu, just 3 hours from Nadi.
Volunteers
do not need any previous diving or shark research experience to take
part in the Fiji Conservation Project. However, volunteers need to be
able to swim, be medically fit to scuba dive and have a good command of
the English language to get the most out of the Shark Conservation
project. This project is not available for people who do not want to
take part in the diving. Volunteers who have not dived before
receive the PADI Open Water dive course during their first two weeks on
the project. Volunteers with an existing dive certification equivalent
to the PADI Open Water qualification receive the PADI Advanced course.
After the dive course, volunteers will also receive the Project Aware
Shark Conservation Diver Course. Those who already have the Advanced
certification or higher will receive the Project Aware Shark
Conservation Diver Course during their first week, and an extra Shark
Feed Dive during their project time.
This project is of course at the same location we go to dive with bull sharks in May. If you can't volunteer for this project, maybe you want to come out diving with us and support Beqa Adventure Divers, the outfit who was responsible for creating the first underwater national park in Fiji.
Our trips are from May 9-17, 15-24 and 22-31. For more information call 619.887.4275, email us at staff@sharkdiver.com or visit us on the web here.
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 staff@sharkdiver.com.
Mens Journal, in it's October issue has an article on "no cage shark diving". In that article, Shark Diver is mentioned as offering such dives.
"There is definitely a bucket list aspect," says Martin Graf, who
conducts trips in the Bahamas and Guadalupe through his company, Shark Diver, which began offering no-cage expeditions in 2012. "
I want to make sure that everyone understands that we do not offer cage free dives with Great White Sharksat Isla Guadalupe! Our cage free diving is only done, where it is both legal and safe to do so, with Tiger Sharks in the Bahamas and Bull Sharks in Fiji.
Our dives at Isla Guadalupe are exclusively in cages and are part of a 5 day live aboard trip, leaving from San Diego. You can find our schedule for these trips here.
In Fiji, we are not using cages and are diving with up to 70 Bull Sharks at a time. Our partners there, Beqa Adventure Divers have been safely operating these cage free dives for over 10 years. They are of course also the guys who were instrumental in the designation of their Shark Reef as a national park. We talked about their good work here. You can find more information on our Bull Shark trips to Fiji here.
In the Bahamas, we dive with Tiger Sharks. We do not use cages there and only attract the sharks to the dive site, but do not hand feed, or in any way handle the sharks. For more info on these trips, visit our website here.
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 staff@sharkdiver.com.
We just got back from 2 weeks in Fiji, diving with Beqa Adventure Divers. The shark dive is billed as the "Best shark dive in the world". Now that's quite a bold statement. ...... so did they deliver?
For me, to be great, a shark diving operation doesn't just have to deliver awesome shark action, but also provide education about the sharks they're diving with and be involved in conservation.
As for the shark action, did it live up to the billing? Look at these pictures and judge for yourself.
Did they come close? ...... well, there were still a couple of inches between the shark and my camera.
Too bad they didn't come close ;-)
Did we see a lot of sharks? ......well, there were a couple.
Can you spot the bull shark? ... can you?
Of course, after every dive, there is the boring safety stop. ...... well, maybe not so boring! There was some great action, with white- and black-tip reef sharks buzzing around us the entire time.
"World's best safety stop"
OK, so they delivered on the sharks, but what about the educational aspect and their involvement in conservation? During our surface interval, between shark dives, we had Ben, a marine biologist, tell us all we wanted to know about the bull sharks, their behavior and local migration. He counted the sharks on each dive and knows the sharks individually. They have a database with around 150 different sharks identified, very similar to our photo ID database of the great white sharks at Guadalupe Island.
Beqa Adventure Divers "BAD" bill themselves as a conservation company masquerading as a dive shop and they mean it. During our visit, Shark Diverhas seen Projects Abroad go out on "BAD's" boats to conduct various research projects on the reefs on a daily basis. I personally also had the opportunity to tag along (pun intended) on a trip, trying to tag juvenile bull sharks and will write about that experience in a different blog. You can read about all the other conservation projects that "BAD" is involved with here. It's an impressive list!
So is it the best shark dive in the world? I have to admit that I'm partial to "my" great white sharks at Guadalupe Island, but overall I have to say, not only did they meet my expectations, they far exceeded them! We will definitely be back. Stay tuned for details.
Cheers,
Martin Graf
CEO
Shark Diver
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 staff@sharkdiver.com.
The secret is "out of the cage" now! The news has traveled all the way to Fiji! "da shark", just wrote this blog on diving outside the cage and manhandling great white sharks at Isla Guadalupe.
It has gotten worse and worse over the last few years. What started out as going outside of the cage, has gone all the way to touching, riding and even trying to flip a great white shark. It seems like some unscrupulous operators are trying to "out-crazy" (if that is even a word) themselves, always looking to top what they did the last time.
Pictures like this and this (I removed the actual pictures by request of the photographer) are not what we want to see coming out of Guadalupe! They are nothing but self promoting, "Look at me!" kind of stunts, that do nothing to help shark conservation, but everything to hurt it.What's next? Do a dental exam with a cleaning?
Mike got it right when he says "Somebody commented on another post somewhere else,
Like a high stakes game of musical chairs,
(that person) is at the end of a long record that has been playing for
almost a decade. When the music runs out someone will find themselves
and the sharks in a completely untenable situation. There will be plenty
of blame to go around.
Could not agree more.
We at Shark Diver completely agree with Mike. We are diving with great white sharks at Isla Guadalupe and would never allow any of our divers to leave the cage, leave alone touch or handle the sharks.
We also dive with bull sharks in Fiji. We don't use cages there, but do absolutely not allow any of our divers to touch or handle the sharks.
In the Bahamas, we dive with tiger sharks. Again, we don't use cages, but would never allow any of our divers to touch, flip or harass those sharks.
Some people are skeptical of us in the shark diving industry and make wholesale accusations, that we are doing anything for money. Let me assure you. Shark Diver has turned down many individuals, as well as film companies, who wanted to do some of the stupid things we are talking about here.
If you are curious about sharks and want to experience what it is like to come face to face with them, if you want to learn more about the sharks and want to dive with a researcher, if you respect those sharks for the predators they are and don't feel the need to touch, ride, flip or harass them, then we are the company for you. If you want to do the things we are talking about here, go somewhere else! Actually, I take that back, I would prefer you'd stay out of the ocean!
Cheers,
Martin Graf
CEO
Shark Diver 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 staff@sharkdiver.com.
The crew is here in Bimini on a few projects this week. After a looong night last night of fresh conch and Kaliks we woke up this morning to perfect conditions at the shark diving site we call Bimini Bull Run.
It just does not get much better then 100 foot vis and lots of sharks.
We also have a bunch of soon-to-be shark divers lined up to meet the "resident sharks"of the Bimini Big Game Club at the worlds only dockside shark diving attraction.
The new cage we installed also has film and television capability and you'll be seeing a lot more of that in action in the coming months.
Let's go shark diving!
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.
Meanwhile the hard working crew over at Bimini Bull Run are spending the next few weeks getting to know the locals or Bull Sharks at their all new marina based cage dive operation.
It's a tough job but someone has to do it.
Fortunately they have Martin and Carson on site every day. Martin is none other than Martin Graf who has, for the past decade, been head of diver operations for Shark Diver, today he runs the whole company, that's when he's not at Bimini Bull Run in the Bahamas enjoying the sun, sand, sharks and locals.
These big animals have come to call the Bimini Big Game Club home for the past 60 years, eating fish scraps from fishermen as they return each day from offshore adventures. The team at BBR have created a 'locked down site' in ten feet of water where divers and animals can interact safely allowing even those with no dive certification a first hand glimps into the wonderful world of sharks.
Today's visibility was not the best, in fact this is about as bad as it gets, but it was some quality time taken to introduce the animals to the shark cage and cameras getting everyone into a routine that will remain the same for years to come which is the basis of any lasting shark program.
Welcome to the sharks of Bimini Bull Run video here.
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.
2. Safety Systems - Check
3. Sunset Bar at Sharky's - Check
4. Website - Coming Soon
5. Playboy Playmate and Wahoo Tournament - Check
In all we're excited about the new shark diving operation at Bimini Big Game Club, but is it for hardcore shark divers?
No, fortunately for them and just 30 minutes from the docks at Bimini Bull Run are more big sharks than you can shake a stick at - Tigers, Lemons, Reefs, "others."
This site is for non cert day divers who have never had a wild shark encounter, this will be their first, and just up the dock will be their first shark beer as well, it's nothing short of shark diving paradise.
See you in a few weeks!
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.
When you start blogging about the global commercial shark diving industry in 2008 you cover a lot of topics ranging from sharks, to conservation, to operations.
And after four years of blogging, 3800 posts, and over 1.5 million blog page views, we're running out of things to write about.
Well, let's qualify that to suggest we're starting to blog about the same issues over, and over, and over.
How many times can you talk about the shark nets in S.A?
Case in point, the ongoing shark slaughter (yes it is a slaughter) in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
We have been on this one since late 2009 and early 2010. It wasn't just us. Da Shark in Fiji has devoted many pages of good thoughts on the matter. He's the thing, there are good solutions being put forward by seasoned industry individuals in shark blogs and elsewhere.
Every commercial shark site is unique. Each site has its own mix of government regulation, or non regulation, dive site competition, outside pressures and in far too many cases - unwanted shark harvest.
While these mitigating factors may seem insurmountable they are all governed by basic conservation tenants and a plethora of tried and true conservation ideas and in place programs that work.
Getting back to Da Shark, once again he has proposed a number of these good ideas but will they be adopted? Probably not, and if anyone cares to note we're going into the third and fourth year of slaughter in Playa with no end in sight.
Yes, a number of good people have stepped up to help raise awareness and that is a good first start, but like all awareness programs the rubber meets the road when the slaughter ends or at least is curbed.
So for those wondering why we have been unusually quiet on the blog front? It's been covered.
It's up to the global shark diving industry now to innovate past what we have been talking about for many years. Up to individuals to create new tourism and conservation paradigms for sharks. It's not rocket science, it just takes time and energy and some thought. We're at the point now when it comes to shark conservation and commercial shark diving that many regional problems are in fact global problems being prosecuted elsewhere.
We'll stay active on the blog front, but just don't expect us to jump in on seemingly endless problems when real solutions, out of the box ideas, and innovation is as easy to access these days as a click of the mouse.
The commercial shark diving industry was born from the dive industry. It's time for those who dive with sharks to leave behind the stagnation and non innovative culture of diving and create something completely new and vibrant.
We know there are people out there ready to make this move. Make 2013 your year and maybe save some sharks along the way.
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.
Looks like the local kids will not be swimming at this dock anytime soon. Still, with all the prayers The Jesus get's each day this one probably caught his attention, that's if you believe in that sort of thing.
We're more "Jesus in The Pancakes" kind of folks. Hat Tip RtSea:
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.
