East Coast Shark Diving-Nantucket Report

Got another update from our pal Bryce at Nantucket Shark Divers this evening. Seems the waters on his side of the continent are filled with our snappy friends as he carves out world class shark diving operation:

Hi Patric,

Epic day on the water today. With the waters chilling with fall season settling in the sharks are becoming very active. Water temps have dropped in the 60's and the big offshore pelagics are feeling the crunch. We are having to run a bit further offshore to find good water but overall productive water is all around us. Today was a classic late season day with huge amounts of action in the water. The small weather windows available during these stormy months mean less trips but big days when the weather breaks. Today we had packs of big blue sharks around the boat for hours along with several large bluefin tuna that were hyped up and in feeding mode. This time of year it is not uncommon to have several sharks and large tuna in one spot. We still consider ourselves very lucky to have seen these endagered and prized fish coming so close to us with little fear whatsoever. Amazing day on the water with a steady stream of 8+ bluesharks and 80 - 100 pound bluefins crashing the party, often chargeing sharks for baits.

Editors Note: Pretty much the way we like it mate!

Isla Guadalupe - Eco Tour "Bizzaro Land"

With the with the MX Navy at Isla Guadalupe now physically enforcing a ban on chumming at the islands North Bay, we're going take a moment to look at this situation in context.

One word comes to mind "unprecedented".

In the 25 year history of commercial shark diving worldwide no navy has ever effectively attempted to shut down sustainable shark diving operations.

Not in Australia, not in South Africa, not in the USA.

Simply put this is a first. The question that comes to mind is why?

Why would the MX Navy, PROFEPA, SEMERNAT and CONANP want to see chumming stopped, or do nothing to help, work with, or effectively direct a nascent $3.1 million dollar, multi vessel, cross border, eco tourism business within Mexico?

You might say "this is not their job", and you would be right. But these agencies all know that this Bio-Sphere is in desperate need of funding and infrastructure. They are also aware this site has a built in and thriving eco tour machine-based on sustainable shark diving.

Unprecedented yes, with worldwide implications as well. As we have been reporting there's a growing shift within the NGO community from World Wildlife Fund to Ocean Conservancy towards sustainable shark diving as a bridge solution to sustainable shark management. No where has this been demonstrated better than Guadalupe.

Isla Guadalupe, with it's extreme isolation from any human population, stable and seasonal white shark migrations, and ease of site shark research is a perfect test bed area to enable shark diving programs within Mexico. This site could, with some attention, proper management and funding become one of Mexico's undersea jewels.

One might argue this has happened already already.

Mexico, unfortunately, has a terrifically poor record of resource management as seen by a recent illegal 2.5 ton shark fin take at another Bio Sphere the Revillagigedos Archipelago. Anywhere you look Mexico's track record on the oceans shows a failure to support existing laws that quickly enable short term resource takes over the long term sustainable gain.

For Mexico to pull Navy vessels into Isla Guadalupe to essentially "guard" eco tour operators suggests that much larger forces are now involved at this site.

What their intentions are is anyone's guess at this time.

Isla Guadalupe Trip Update 9.2009

The situation at Isla Guadalupe remains unchanged at this time. As we have been reporting the chum ban for all fleet vessels is in effect. That's the latest news.

There are many efforts right now within Mexico to get clarification on this issue and to get it resolved and we may see a break as soon as next week.

We got a trip report from one of our divers yesterday. Steffen is from Europe and was literally "in the area" when he booked his trip with us on board the MV Horizon last month. This was his first encounter with the Great Whites so he had big expectations.

Regardless of the recent shark site politics this has been a great season down there as always:

Hey Patric

I't was a fantastic trip. We saw alot of sharks (on every dive, except one) and it was everything I had hoped it would be, and more. They are truly facinating animals. Also, everybody in the crew was both very proffessional and helpfull, and they were a big part of making this trip an unforgetable experience. Thinking back on this, one thing that really stands out, was the level of information we recieved about the sharks and the respect they were handeled with by the crew. All in all, it was truly an unforgettable trip, and I'm am certainly not done with shark diving. So I want to thank both you and the crew for making this happen.

Best regards
Steffen Nielsen

Editors Note: Happy to help Steffen-where are you this week?

Wales Great White Shark Hoax?

The most unlikely shark news this last week is from Wales-that's in the U.K.

Caught on a "camera phone" at 100 yards this image is meant to be a Great White shark breaching off the coast. Camera phone?

About as likely a shot as the Moon Landing...wait, they did land on the moon in 1969 right?

Fisherman David John saw the monster emerge 100 yards from his boat. He took the pic on his mobile — but only realised how close he could have been to a killer Great White when he examined it later.

Maneater ... beasts can grow to 20ft

David, 40, said: “At first I thought it was a seal. It wasn’t until I got home that I looked again and realised what I’d got. “You can’t mistake the shape of the head and can see an eye and the mouth. And from what I understand, Great Whites do break the water like this.

Editors Note: Yes they do. They also do not look as photoshopped as this image.

National Aquarium in D.C- New shark pups

From Andrew at the National Aquarium in D.C this morning:

Hey Shark Divers,

You have one of the most active blogs I have ever seen! How do you find the time for all those entries?

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that there are Swell Shark pups at the National Aquarium in DC, and we just wrote a blog entry about Cute Shark Pups

Thanks, talk to you soon!
Andrew

Editors Note: The joys of the PDA. Blogging can be done almost anywhere and at anytime. We are often out of the office with ten minutes to spare in between meetings and work related projects...as our shark fans have come to discover you can cover a lot of ground in just ten minutes.

Farallons White Shark Tours-Add One

On the subject of shark diving...looks like there's one more white shark watching tour option for thrills seekers here in Northern California, Silver Fox.

We got an email from a diver this week asking about these guys, our response was they are new to us. Great White Shark Expeditions have streamlined the experience and do not offer caged encounters, cutting the cost down to $275-125 for the day and relying on natural predations for the actual shark viewing. Other operations have cages, but they are not allowed to chum or tow decoys, so they too are relying on natural predations. We wish the new guys luck:

Witnessing a very large great white shark consume a 300 lb. sea lion can be a very dramatic experience. These particularly violent acts are as natural as the rising of the tide for the shark.During the Fall months (Sept – Nov), thousands of marine mammals migrate to the Farallon Islands, which are approximately 27 miles from the San Francisco Bay to breed and calve their young. This event attracts the largest great white sharks in the World. The Farallon Islands, located in the red triangle, are the known feeding ground for the great white sharks before their long Pacific Migration. We have had many dramatic encounters from great white attacks from the safety of the vessel. These events are purely natural and part of everyday life at these islands. This is an event that is truly unforgettable.

Oceana.org-Value of Sharks to Eco Tourism

From Oceana.org to a shark friend today. We have been covering the growing policy shift of NGO's worldwide toward commercial shark diving as a viable bridge solution to the protection of sharks.

Dear xxx,

As a scuba diver, I revel in the rare opportunity to see a shark swimming in the wild. In fact, according to our new report, most scuba divers are willing to pay additional money to dive with sharks and other marine life. Sea the Value: Quantifying the Value of Marine Life to Divers shows that shark conservation has economic value and that divers have a stake in conservation efforts. Fortunately, the Shark Conservation Act of 2008, a bill which would strengthen protections for sharks, recently passed the U.S. House, and is now awaiting action in the Senate. But we need your help to get it passed into law, so write to your senator today to protect sharks.

Our report reveals that shark conservation has economic value, with sharks being worth more through ecotourism ($212 million) than in fisheries ($19 million). But these top predators continue to be victims of shark finning, in which fishermen cut off their fins and discard the body at sea. This practice, as well as other unsustainable fishing practices, have decimated many shark populations, reducing some by as much as 99 percent. Smaller populations of sharks reduce the chance of seeing one in the wild, subtracting from scuba divers' experiences in the water.

Currently only sharks in the Atlantic Ocean are required to be landed with their fins attached. The good news is that recently more than 11,000 WaveMakers like you took the time to contact Congress, and as a result the House of Representatives passed the Shark Conservation Act of 2008, which requires U.S. fishermen to land sharks whole, with their fins naturally attached.

But the Shark Conservation Act of 2008 will not become law unless it is also passed in the Senate. Senator Kerry introduced the Senate companion to the House bill, S. 3231. This legislation will improve existing laws that were originally intended to prevent shark finning and will allow the United States to continue being an international leader in shark conservation.

So dive in and tell your senators to Sea the Value and support the Shark Conservation Act of 2008 today!

Isla Guadalupe Update-No Chumming

This morning the NEX arrived on site to discover a MX Navy frigate sitting in the North Bay with members of the MX government agency PROFEPA on board. This is the same frigate that boarded the Solmar V yesterday.

The NEX has been informed-by the navy-the 2008 no chumming ban is in full effect. The chum ban stems from a series of EIS (environmental impact studies) submitted by each vessel and now not recognised by the MX Navy.

As we have been reporting this situation is fluid and the NEX is the only vessel on station at this time.

There is some confusion between operations right now as to what the implications are for ongoing operations this year. That is to be expected. We are choosing to bring you updates as they come in from as many sources as we can so you can make informed decisions, and be aware.

The overall implications are very grim. If the MX Navy is successful in essentially banning chumming at this site, the eco tour vessels that act as "shark sentries" here will be gone-opening this robust population up to illegal fishermen who will come to this island for both it's proximity to the mainland of Mexico and ease of animal acquisitions. It is too much to hope that Mexico will leave a navy frigate on site for each season to protect these animals.

Right now hard decisions are being made by the various eco tour operators along with full court conversations within the various governing agencies inside Mexico. This is the latest news. It may change and we will keep you updated.

Dual Passports-NZ White Sharks are Aussies Too!

Recent exciting white shark news from tracking teams in the South Island of New Zealand. Much to the surprise of everyone sharks from NZ migrate to Australia and back each season to feed on young Humpback whales:

New Zealand's great white sharks migrate to tropical waters off Australia and islands in the Pacific to feed on baby humpback whales, scientists say.

After tracking tagged sharks using GPS, New Zealand fisheries scientists have concluded the giant ocean hunters appear to be regular winter visitors to tropical waters.

One of nine great white sharks to have GPS-linked tags attached this year, a 3.5m specimen nicknamed Thomas, migrated to Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

He turned up within 100km of where a 4.4m female great white, nicknamed Kerri, arrived last summer, setting a distance record for a New Zealand shark.

Both swam more than 3000km to the reef after being fitted with tags which record location, depth and temperatures.

The tags are set to pop off the shark and float to the surface to transmit data to a satellite linked to scientists' computers. Other tags have popped up in New Caledonia, Vanuatu, and halfway to Tonga and these trans-oceanic migrations to tropical waters have changed perceptions of the sharks as cold water, coastal creatures.

"We think they may be searching for newborn humpback whale calves, because all tags have surfaced in or near known humpback calving sites," National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research fisheries scientist Malcolm Francis said. Because sharks tagged in Australia have also turned up in New Zealand waters, scientists think that white sharks in the southwest Pacific may comprise a single population.

The shark tagging was started in 2005.

Free Tickets to Sea Fare-A.Q Pacific

Shark Diver is one of the proud primary sponsors of the Aquarium of the Pacific's annual Sea Fare event.

Sea Fare is an evening of culinary delights prepared by top local chefs accompanied by wines and incredible brews by local providers at the aquarium.

This fun filled evening also includes a silent and live auction and our popular “Go Fish” opportunity game, live music, dancing, and an open bar.

To view several of our hot auction items, click here. You can purchase tickets at our special 10th Anniversary price of $100 each by calling (562) 437-FISH(3474) (offer ends September 19).

Special Note: Shark Diver has been given 10 Sea Fare admission tickets to give out to our sharky friends. The event is in Long Beach, Ca October.18.2008. If you would like to go please email us for a free ticket to this exceptional black tie event.

Vote for Cocos Island-Wolfgang Leander

From Oceanic Dreams Blog today a reason to send in a few clicks:

Two weeks ago I was in Costa Rica – work related. As my father mentioned in a previous post, I work for Burson-Marsteller, and one of our clients in the Costa Rica Tourist Board. During my visit to San Jose I was introduced to Fundacion Amigos de La Isla del Coco and Sistema Nacional de Areas de Conservacion – Costa Rica (SINAC) which are responsible for the up keeping of 160 protected areas including the Island.

We spoke in length about the park and some of the problems it faces – the most obvious and personal to me: shark finning and overfishing. Then the conversation shifted to Cocos Island being one of the nominees for the New 7 Wonders of Nature and how we could generate more awareness and votes for Cocos Island.

The New7Wonders Foundation is behind the New 7 Wonders of Nature campaign which currently has over 200 nominations of natural wonders around the world.

People are asked to support and vote on various nominees until December 31, 2008 – at this point a total of 21 candidates will be shortlisted for the final voting stage which will run through autumn of 2010 when the winners will be officially declared.

Aside from Cocos Island, there are other locations that deserve our attention and our vote: The Galapagos Islands, Malpelo, Belize Barrier Reef, Great Barrier Reef among others.

Each email address (one person can vote multiple times) can select seven locations to vote for. While the vote does not have a direct impact on saving sharks – it will bring worldwide attention to these “Paradise Lost” places.

To vote, either click on the Cocos Island badge on the right or click here.

Isla Guadalupe 2008 chum ban update-Another vessel boarded

We have been keeping track of the chumming ban at Isla Guadalupe and as we have been reporting the situation this year is extremely fluid.

Recently one of the operations on site sent out an ill timed newsletter talking at great length about their continued chumming efforts at the island.

This came after the MX Navy had boarded all vessels on site in August and had clarified that "no chumming" was in effect. The L.A Times ran with that newsletter this weekend and this morning the Solmar V was boarded by a team from SEMARNAT "Mexico City" and the MX Navy.

Here is an except from an internal email we got this morning:

Note: Due to the volatility of the following email we have been asked to paraphrase it.

Sent: Sep 8, 2008 1:15 PM
Subject: guadalupe island boarding

Solmar V was boarded told not to chum by the MX Navy today. They pulled their cages and were doing island tours with their clients. The charter master has serious concerns about future operations at this site.

Editors Note: We'll keep you updated by the minute as things develop. All vessels are effected at this site at this time. Feel free to call us if you have any questions.

Shark Conspiracies-Rocking the boat in Sharky Waters

Shark Conspiracies’ host Kevin Harris is a 10 year veteran reporter who has jumped into the wild world of sharks, shark attacks and commercial shark diving with his monthly Pod Cast.

Depending on who you speak with Shark Conspiracies is alternately the work of the Devil himself, or a seasoned look into the soft underbelly of peoples shifting perception of sharks, shark diving, and shark attacks.

We're on the fence with Kevin Harris. He does take an unflinching look at our industry and often comes to conclusions that we agree with. We also disagree on many things. One thing is for sure-his voice-like it or not is needed as a counterpoint and topic starter for many of the debates that need to be had about humans and sharks.

An industry is only an industry when people discuss views, organize, and debate topics affecting that them. Kevin Harris provides the starting point for many of those debates for the commercial shark diving industry.

Click here for this months Pod Cast.

Hat Tip: Jessica J for the image.

Island of The Great White Shark Documentary

One of the most critically acclaimed new White Shark documentaries is Island of the Great White Shark an RTSea Production.

Shot entirely at famed white shark site Isla Guadalupe this film has been garnering rave reviews all summer long. It can also be purchased here:

"There are so many films about great white sharks that show the animal being aggressive and attacking its prey. As a shark enthusiast, I am tired of this type of portrayal. I want to see movies that show the great white in its natural behavior. I want to actually learn about the shark. This DVD does exactly that... it teaches me... about the shark, about the science being conducted, and about what it's like to actually be in the water with these magnificent creatures. Kudos to the filmmaker for taking a risk and making a movie about real research."

Challenger Banks Bermuda-Tiger Central?

It's no secret that Big Tigers can be found in Bermuda. In fact next to the Bahamas this site shows a lot of promise for a new commercial site application.

It's called Challenger Banks and unlike the Bahamas Tiger Beach, this site sits in about 400 feet of water making it similar to what you might find with Mark Addison's Blue Wilderness in South Africa.

Thus far this playground is one for just a few shark researchers and the odd filmmaker. Time and desire from shark divers will tell if it see's commercial development or not.

Click here for videos

MillionairesConcierge.com-Strategic partnership with SharkDiver.com

We got a call three weeks ago from adventure industry powerhouse and CEO of the Millionaires Concierge Doug Turner. He wanted to know if we could service high end yacht clients to the Bahamas to cage dive with Tigers and Lemon sharks...of course the answer was "yes".

Shark Diver has been providing cage systems and private yacht services to mega yachts worldwide since 2003.

The Millionaires Concierge is a unique site that covers almost every adventure imaginable from mega yacht charters to fighter jet experiences. These adventures are specially tailored to meet the growing demand for exceptional adventures for those who can afford it.

We're excited about the coming months with Millionaires Concierge and will keep you updated on the latest projects with them.

Guadalupe a gathering place for great white sharks-disconnected

L.A Times writer Peter Thomas came out with a blog post this week reviewing a recent newsletter from one of the operations on site who make no bones about their ability to conduct "shark chumming". The newsletter includes images of chumming and several references to sharks eating hang baits.

As we have been reporting according to the MX Navy who were at Isla Guadalupe at the start of the 2008 shark season, chumming has been banned:

1. Chumming banned 5.10.2008

2. Trip update 8.20.2008

This month Scuba Diving Magazine picked up the chum ban and went into some detail on this issue. So, the question is, what's the deal?

As we have been looking into this it seems there's the beginnings of a shift. Mexico's Navy says one thing and certain vessels that operate out of Mexico openly and blatantly do another. The vessel in question was boarded by the navy in August and according to the navy told the same thing as US vessels "no chumming". The implication here is that this vessel has acquired the sole permit to chum while the rest of the fleet has not. It's an interesting claim we would like to see that paperwork-and run it by the navy.

We wish we had some sort of definitive answer for you. We can say that according to the navy the chum ban is still in effect, no operation has received permits to discharge, although as this is Mexico, everything is just a signature away.

Hat Tip: Image Derek Heasley

Update from Nantucket Shark Diving

A while back we introduced you to Nantucket Shark Diving and owner Bryce Rohrer for those of you on the East coast with the shark diving itch.

Here's the latest site update from him. Summer's still here and the waters fine:

Hi Patric,

Been about a month and wanted to give you a report from the North
East. We've been capturing some great footage of mako sharks this
season. We have been averaging 2-5 makos a day and 1-3 blues.
Usually its the reverse, more blues than makos. With the water temps
falling a bit and fall right here the blues are coming back. We had a
large 300lb fish stick around the boat for about 3 hours last saturday
acting just like a big shark. Slow methodical passes once every 10-15
mintues, knowing exactly where to go.

Most of our makos have been in the 80 - 200 lb. range and have had a few buzz me pretty good while shooting, the fish out here are used to eating swords and tuna bigger than them so they can get pretty sporty. I am still on the hunt for Great Whites and will start making trips east of the island in the coming month to try and chum one up...Hope all is good on your end...Will keep you updated on a hopefull Sept. and Oct. with some big fall sharks.

RGRDS,
Bryce

Deepsea Expeditions-Needs Your Email Today

Eco Tourism Under Siege- Honduras

Friend and fellow eco-adventurer Karl Stanly reported some bad news this month. Seems the state of eco tourism in Roatan, Honduras has quite a long way to go with "small island politics".

The good news is that you can help with an email today:

I am sorry to report at this time I am not able to operate my submarine.

In a nutshell, the vice mayor of the island attempted to create a berth for her new yatch in front of my family's land. The situation escalated completely out of control to the point where my life was threatened by her husband, both verbally and by showing a gun. Despite doing everything required legally, I have been unable to obtain an operating permit and cannot get a straight answer out of anyone in government as to when (or why not) this may occur.

I want you to know that I am doing everything in my power (including hiring three lawyers and a massive PR campaign) to rectify this situation and am confident I will once again be able to provide affordable direct access to the deep ocean for all interested.

How can you help?

Wish you could book an expedition to explore the unknown? Don't want to see my mission to provide the public with cost-effective, direct access to the deep water environment come to premature end? Please contact the following departments of tourism and let them know. I greatly appreciate any help I can receive during this difficult time. Thank you.

Honduras
Col. San Carlos, Edificio Europa
Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Apodo. Postal No. 3261
PBX: (504) 222-2124 Ext 502, 503
FAX: (504) 222-2124 Ext 501
E-mail: tourisminfo@iht.hn

United States
Honduras Institute of Tourism
2828 Coral Way
Suite 305, Miami, Fl. 33145
Tel.: (305) 461-0601/02
Fax: (305) 461-0602
E-mail: hondurastourism@aol.com
Tel.: 1-800-410-9608 (USA/CANADA toll free)

Editors Note: As we have mentioned many times in the past this submarine is the only one of it's kind allowing everyday adventure seekers into the wild world of deepsea sharks. We urge you to send an email today to keep Karl in business. Thanks!

Underwater Photography-Capturing "The Moment"

The world of underwater digital photography is fast becoming an epic horse race. At the front of the pack you have several well known faces and shooters who make a living from the imagery they bring to the world.

For the most part it's stunning stuff. Case in point Ethan Gordons recent work in Scuba Diving Magazine on Chuuk Lagoon. Almost every month new images surface that take your breath away from the pack leaders.

Then there are guys like Derek Heasley who are less well known but shoot with a cool eye towards brilliance. It's not easy to "capture the moment" when it happen with wildlife. But rest assured when the "moment" happens-if Derek is within lens shot of it, he'll nail it.

Here's his website Sea Pixels

Shark Shield Announces New Strategic Partnership

In response to increased use of Shark Shield technology by film and television companies, Shark Shield Pty Ltd has appointed Shark Divers as its official regulatory authority for the Northern Hemisphere. Director of Operations, Luke Tipple, will oversee all production issues concerning Shark Shield while Ian (shark) Gordon will represent the Southern Hemisphere. Our mutual goal is to ensure safe and effective use of our product while ensuring our strict standards of use are maintained.

Northern Hemisphere contact: staff@sharkdivers.com
Southern Hemisphere contact: ote@ozemail.co.au

Shark Shield TM is a unique shark deterrent system utilizing a technologically advanced three-dimensional electronic wave form. Shark Shield units are designed for recreational users and water sports professionals alike and aim to help all people enjoy and work in the ocean with a new dimension of peace of mind for themselves, their families and employers.

Shark Shield provides proven protection against all predatory shark species including Great Whites, Tigers, Zambezi's (Bulls), Makos and Bronze Whalers, among others. The electronic pulse emitted repels the shark by inducing muscle spasms via stimulation of the Ampluae of Lorenzini, the sensory organs present on sharks' snouts. There is no permanent damage to the animal, or harm to the environment. Shark Shield products are proven to repel sharks.

Filming shark sequences for commercial use frequently requires manufacturing an unnatural environment to attract sharks which can change their behavior and create a heightened danger for humans. The incorrect deployment of a Shark Shield product either intentionally or unintentionally could reduce the effectiveness of our products. For both safety and legal reasons we cannot and will not permit this to occur and have implemented a film and television usage policy which is conditional.

Shark Shield products must only be used by film and television productions after written approval is obtained from either of our official authorities or Shark Shield Pty Ltd itself and Shark Shield products must only be used in accordance with the conditional terms provided by the authority. Both authorities are recognised authorities in the field of working with sharks and understand Shark Shield technology.

Legal action may be taken against film or television companies using a Shark Shield for shoots when approval has not been granted.

Important Note

No shark deterrent system should be a replacement for the understanding of sharks and the site you are operating in, as well as the safety crews you employ. Shark deterrent systems are and always will be a last line of defense for any shark shoot or shark site you have in place. Certain water activities inherently involve the danger of potential shark encounters or attacks. Shark Shield has proven effective in deterring said instances however, due to the variables present with ocean and animal behaviors it should not be considered a completely foolproof system.

Shark protestor hangs own skin on hooks-Tasteless

And THIS will save sharks?

No-it will not.

As the months grind on for the seemingly rudderless Sea Shepherd organization they continue to resort to more frantic, ill timed, ill advised "stunts" to raise awareness and ultimately collect money from donors.

The litany of outright fabricated news and bad eco theatre goes back a few years but the desperation in this latest stunt set in London is sadly almost palatable. This is an organization whose messaging has become more important than affecting actual change.

Darwin was right and Sea Shepherd is proving, in a most spectacular manner, that evolution is a fickle mistress. What you are seeing here is the death throes of an Eco Dinosaur who's time on this planet is coming to an inglorious end. Like the reign of the dinosaurs Sea Shepherds demise will be slow and sad to watch, but the first coughs, staggers and sputters are here.

Suffice to say the final days will not be pretty.

Story here

Devils Teeth-Ron Elliot-Who is He?

In the world of shark diving "originals" there's those who self-promote and then there's the true professionals.

Our world, that of commercial shark diving, rarely pays homage to those who make a living not from these animals but beside these animals. They are without a doubt pioneers in every sense and becoming rarer as each year passes.

We would like to introduce you to one-Ron Elliot, right about now you're saying Ron Who?

Off the coast of San Francisco the Farallon Islands holds one of the world's largest populations of Great Whites. By large we mean simply massive animals in the 18+ foot class. This site is also a commercial shark diving site with limited success rates. While the commercial shark diving efforts are relatively new-a solo urchin diver Ron Elliot has made these cold, low visibility, shark infested waters his home for the past 15 years.

Ron's been diving this treacherous site without any protection into waters that he can see only 20 feet on a "good day" with predators that the rest of us would never consider diving with...without a cage. Recently a short documentary was made of Ron at this site. The visuals are simply stunning. Almost unknown to anyone outside the diving community here in California, Ron and this new documentary features underwater footage of these massive sharks as they glide past him on a typical day harvesting the urchins he makes a living from.

All for about $10.00 a pound.

Hat Tip: Shark diver Sean Kendrick for sending this in.

Hawaii Shark Diving-Got Sharks?

There's actually two shark diving companies in Hawaii of note both operate to the same sites and both come loaded with sharks, and more sharks:

The tour leaves Haleiwa Small Boat Harbor starting at 7:00 a.m. and lasts two-hours. Tours are available throughout the day Shark Adventures uses a custom 32-foot Anderson boat with a swim step on the transom of the boat. Tours are limited to six persons so there is no overcrowding.

Safety of our passengers is our first priority. A safety briefing is given at the start of the tour. People may bring their own mask and snorkel, however, fins are not necessary. Masks and snorkels are also provided on the vessel "Kailolo II". "Kailolo" means water crazy. Once we get to the area, the shark cage is placed in the water. The cage floats on the surface of the water. The water is a cobalt blue and visibility is approximately 200 feet or more. You can actually see the sharks come up from the deep.

Editors Note: Count us in!

Action Labs, Inc. Conducts Recall of Shark Cartilage Capsules Because of Possible Health Risk

One more reason not to consume sharks in any form:

Contact:
Action Labs, Inc.
1-714-630-5941

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Anaheim, CA -- September 2, 2008-- Action Labs, Inc. of Anaheim, CA, is voluntarily recalling its Sentinel brand Shark Cartilage Capsules manufactured in 2005 because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

Routine testing performed recently at NBTY, Inc. (the manufacturer) shows that the recalled capsules have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Although multiple lot numbers may have been involved in the recall by NBTY, only NBTY lot number 64951 was purchased, repacked and distributed by Action Labs, Inc.

The Shark Cartilage Capsules were sold in bottles of 60 capsules and labeled as Sentinel Shark Cartilage 750mg. A sticker with lot number 064951 and expiration date 07 2009 is located on the bottom of the bottle. The Shark Cartilage Capsules were distributed to retail establishments in Southern California and internationally to Hong Kong.

Shark Research at Tiger Beach, Bahamas 2008

Recently Doc Grubers team from the Bimini Shark Lab went to Tiger Beach, Bahamas to conduct some "tagging and tracking"of the locals there.

Is it just us, or in a field of shark researchers, these guys seem to have more fun?

Here' the expedition report, it's a must read:

We anchored up and started to put chum in the water to attract the sharks. It didn't take long to get a good slick of menhaden oil and blood fanning out from the stern in the current. I went inside the boat to prepare my camera gear and wait for sharks to find their way to us. Steve had hung a huge snapper carcass off the back of the boat, so I was confident we would have some hungry customers showing up real soon. Within an hour we had six lemons circling the back of the boat. We started throwing bait in to them and drew them close to the boat with pieces of bait on lines. When they got within range we popped them with a pole spear to take a small skin sample for DNA analysis. More lemons joined the fray until we had approximately a dozen prowling off our stern. As we glanced around Steve and I saw a large dark shadow making a large arc about 100 meters behind the boat. We looked at each other and excitedly shouted "TIGER!!!"

Sharks in San Francisco Bay

We blogged about this weeks ago-10 foot "Monsters in the Bay" we tells ya!

While Great Whites may get all the attention off the coast of California-we can tell you where your dog "Scraps" disappeared to that day at the beach:

Growing number of aquariums open tanks to divers

We have been blogging about this ongoing debate for the past year. This morning the Associated Press has come out with an article that takes on the newest trend in scuba diving-Commercial Aquarium Diving:

1. Sharky Commercial Aquarium Trends

2. The futue of commercial shark diving?

3. Aquarium's Get Into The Action $$$ For Sharks

4. Georgia Aquarium-Calling Bullshit!

AP Report:
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Still enthralled, Debra Kurtz described how a 6-foot-long zebra shark, a predator that patrols the western Pacific and Indian oceans, swam around her head.

Then there was the playful 300-pound, green sea turtle, an endangered species from tropical waters, that kept trying to crawl underneath her as she knelt in the sand.

Her favorites, though, were the angelfish, which clustered around her to take sand showers, swimming through the grains of sand she let slip through her fingers.

Not bad for an hour's worth of scuba diving. The 44-year-old sales and marketing management consultant from Vernon Hills, Ill., was a guest diver at the National Aquarium in Baltimore while on a recent business trip. A growing number of aquariums across the country from Denver to Duluth, from Long Island to Tampa are opening their exhibit tanks to certified scuba divers.

220 million year old shrimp invasion!

We absolutely love stories like these. The reason?

220 million year old shrimp "invasions" remind us that "modern humans" have only been on the planet for a paltry 80,000 years or so....oh and these critters are tasty too!

Shrimp Invasion

Specimens of the tadpole shrimp date back to at least 220 million years ago. It is now almost extinct in the UK but recent heavy downpours have seen the creature flourish at the Caerlaverock reserve in Dumfries and Galloway.

Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust researcher Larry Griffin said that three-times the average rainfall for August created "ideal conditions" for the species. The creature had been thought to be extinct in Scotland until it was found at Caerlaverock on the Solway Firth four years ago. Mr Griffin, who spotted the tiny species in the same location in 2004, was "very excited" to see it return.

Swedish Sea Monster 'caught on film'

Bah!

Enough is enough. It's high time someone put a stop to the wild world of "Cryptophiles" and the media reports of even wilder critters spotted by these crazed believers in the unknown.

We hate to point this out but the following are myths and do not exist:

1. Chupacabra (Mexico)
2. Big Foot (USA, Tibet)
3. Moke Memble (Africa)
4. Swedish Sea Monsters (Sweden)

Try and tell this to these guys who have recently come up with this simply stunning image of...a cloud:

A group of filmmakers claim to have successfully captured Sweden’s legendary Great Lake Sea Monster (Storsjöodjuret), which is said to lurk in the waters of the Storsjön outside Östersund in northern Sweden.

SharkDivers.com: Consulting on the future of shark eco-tourism

Editors Note: From the RTSea Blog, what can we say Richard? When you're lucky enough to have talent like yours available on 10 digit speed dial-the future is very bright indeed:

"The times, they are a-changing." There seems to be a subtle but growing shift in strategy among many conservation organizations. In the face of past regulations/prohibitions or designated protected areas for endangered animals that have often proven less successful due to lack of resources for effective enforcement, greater attention is being turned towards eco-tourism as a means of increasing public support and providing a more attractive economic model for government and commercial entities to endorse.

I am on the consulting team of Shark Divers providing consulting expertise for shark tourism and the film/television industry. As a marketing communications and media production professional, I look forward to the opportunity to advance the cause of responsible shark eco-tourism as a means of providing effective support to shark conservation.

As new strategies emerge, there will be challenges to address - ecological impact, potential behavioral changes, shifts in third world economies, tourist/diver impact, safety issues for both people and animals, and more. But shark tourism - carefully planned - holds great promise. It can generate enlightenment in people, preserve marine ecosystems that depend on their predators as vital members of the aquatic community, and it can provide economic proof that a living shark is infinitely more valuable than a dead one.

Re-Casting Sharks-Suzannah Evans-Oceana.org

One of the strongest "winds of change" in the world of commercial shark diving has been the support and recognition of well respected NGO's for sustainable shark diving.

These "winds" have also been re-casting the image of the shark while highlighting the ongoing global slaughter.

What started as a whisper a few years ago in the lone pines of NGO forest has become a well rehearsed and continuing tornadic "Op-Ed of Pressure" to educate the public to the reality of sharks beyond the Jaws Mythos and foster commercial shark diving as a viable bridge solution to sustainable shark management.

Here's the latest example from Suzannah Evans from Oceana.org:

Every summer, familiar headlines creep into the news: stories of sharks terrorizing beaches around the world, sending swimmers racing for shore with the ominous display of a dorsal fin.

The shark's reputation as a killer was sealed in the public imagination with the 1975 release of Jaws, a movie with imagery so powerful that the original book's author devoted the rest of his life to dismantling the character he had helped create. The shark in Jaws was a brutal, instinctive killer with a dozen rows of jagged teeth and a taste for human flesh. The bloodthirsty great white has become an archetype so pervasive that even a news story reporting on a harmless two-foot sand shark can't resist recalling the Jaws mythos.

Isla Guadalupe Conservation Fund

We got a call this week from one of our divers wondering if he could donate to the Bio-Sphere at Isla Guadalupe.

Of course, we said, go the the Isla Guadalupe Conservation Fund a site Shark Diver created just for this purpose. The trick was the site has been down for the past three days while we moved servers.

The good news is the website is back up, educating divers and thrill seekers alike to I.G and the desperate need for funds to keep this newly formed Park, open, alive and well.

As we have been reporting things at I.G have taken "turn for the worse" as of late and how this plays out will have an effect on us all in the coming months.

Guadalupe Trip Report-Divers Perspective

Shark Diver Sean Kendrick and 14 other wide eyed adventure seekers joined us us this season at Isla Guadalupe for our first expedition aboard the MV Horizon last week. Here's his report and images:

August 17, 2008

I got off the airplane in San Diego and for the first time in my life I stepped foot onto California soil. I was quickly greeted by the blue waters of the Pacific Ocean and a mild ocean breeze. California was not my destination, but merely a stepping stone to a place I have dreamed about. A place that boasts of crystal clear water with 100 foot visibility, a place where great white sharks are known to congregate in the Fall. A place known as Isla Guadalupe (click link for full report)

Swim at Your Own Risk-Shark Attack Map

There's a great website that keeps us coming back month after month-it's called Swim at Your Own Risk. For those who keep track of the darker side of sharks and shark attacks this is your one stop shop for shark attack facts and real-time data:

Shark Diver Givaway-The Winner Is....

Last month Shark Diver in conjunction with the boys from 689Design Ocean Reef and Bathys dive watches offered the Trip of a Lifetime-an all inclusive 5 day adventure to Isla Guadalupe.

The numbers of entrants exceeded even our wildest calculations and after spending several weeks in Florida counting hanging chads, dimpled chads, and chaddy chads we said "Nuts to this" and picked someone at random out of a 1920's Top Hat found floating in the Atlantic after the sinking of the Titanic-true story.

O.K-The winner is....Jennifer McCormick

Congratulations we'll be calling you today to set up your next great adventure!

Isla Guadalupe Trip Report 8.26.2008

Another stellar week at Isla Guadalupe although our seasonal record was broken this week:

Hi All,

We didn't have the beautiful sunrises that we are accustomed to at Guadalupe the fog bank at the top of the 4000' island peak saw to that, but we had amazing weather to make up for it.

Glassy calm sea once again today with 80 degrees on the back deck under sunny skies once that fog broke. The water was a balmy 71 degrees, with vis in the 100 foot range. Sharking was slow this morning with deep passes being the norm. We broke our string of 44 straight cage rotations spanning two trips with at least one shark in play.

We had one rotation without a shark this morning...oh my! But we made up for it as the action got good this afternoon with 4 sharks arriving on scene by 1:30. The remainder of the afternoon was filled up with Mau and three others that we have not yet ID'd monopolizing the back deck and our divers attention.

We also had a 3 foot blue shark arrive on scene...it quickly left as it's larger cousins gave it a scare. Boy he walked off into the rough part of town!

We're now underway heading toward San Diego with 16 happy Shark Divers we'll update you if we see anything like last weeks Blue Whales and Hammerheads!

Adios,Captain Greg

Shark Marketing Hits 2 Million

An experiment in commercial shark diving marketing has just hit the 2 million plus mark and launched a career in television for Dive Operations Manager Luke Tipple. A huge Hat Tip to the guys at 689Design Adam and Zander-two L.A based marketing gurus who know what works.

Our main company and brand Shark Diver has recently split into it's Newco Shark Divers offering film and television shark diving support and consulting to the global shark diving industry. After many successful years in commercial shark diving and quite a few consulting and film projects behind us-we put together a great little team to offer a "one stop shop" at Shark Divers.

Don't take our word for it-we'll let these guys introduce us from our last project.

Stinkin' Dead Shark Award August 2008

At the end of this month we would like to present the SDS Award to those within the global community whose abjectly abhorrent behavior towards sharks and sustainable fisheries or shark conservation warrants a big black eye.

Translation-your treatment of sharks sucks!

This months award winner is:

Yahoo! Inc for continued support and investment in Alibaba.com and a one billion dollar shark fin portal that allows fishermen from all over the planet to pillage sharks just for their fins...and then hiding behind a press release that calls this issue a "Cultural Practices Issue".

McJaws-McMisquote

26th August 2008

No McJaws. Misquoted by The SUN (again).

Hi Shark Diver,

What a surprise!

For those of you who know me and think I have gone crazy, and those who do not and assume I must be some armchair “expert”, can I assure you that much of what I was supposed to have said came purely from the imagination of the journalist concerned. Sun Article. I would not claim to be a shark expert, but have caught a few in the course of fisheries research in the Arabian Gulf and Ecuadorian waters, and have for the last ten years taken an interest in their occurrence, identification and conservation in the North East Atlantic and particularly around Britain.

I was ‘phoned on Friday morning by the said journalist, and from his description immediately said that it sounded like one of the porbeagles that are regularly seen around North Sea oil rigs. They seem to take advantage of the fish that benefit from these effective “no-take zones” and feed on the sessile organisms and other found on these structures. These porbeagles are perfectly harmless and inquisitive, almost friendly, having given many divers a shock when they turn up to inspect them at work.

When the photo concerned was sent through to me, I immediately phoned him back and told him that as expected it was definitely a Porbeagle and went through the identifying features with him. I told him that though related to and similar to a white shark there was no possibility that this was one. I have since found out that this video footage was taken three years ago.

With regard to the possibility of a white shark turning up in British waters I said that they may well have been here in the past and there was absolutely no reason that they could not occur except the great rarity of the species in the North East Atlantic (4 records from Biscay in 19th century, one in 20th and a possible sighting in 21st). Unlike Richard Peirce, I doubt that they have occurred here in the recent past, but ready to consider any evidence, especially since Ramon Bonfil’s studies in the Indian Ocean have shown that they are quite capable of crossing from the North West Atlantic population.

I made no mention about waters around rigs being warmer; is it? And said that they can occur from 5° to 22°C, preferring 14° to 17°C, hence they would have no problem in North Sea waters.

I further pointed out that even if they were present in the North Sea, there was no serious danger as there was a known population in the Mediterranean, but no human fatalities in the last 30 years (unless Sharkman or Alessandro can correct me).

Subsequently on Monday (I was not in as it was a Bank Holiday in England) the Sun contacted my colleague the Curator, Steve Matchett, with regard to a shark tooth found on a beach at Menai Bridge in North Wales. From the photograph he was able to say that it was either a white shark tooth or a very good replica, but since it had a neat hole drilled at the centre of the base since being in a shark it had almost certainly been on a necklace. Article.

I have seriously considered refusing to give interviews to The Sun, as this is the second time they have claimed that I have certified a shark as the “First British Great White”. However, as a major part of my role is to TRY to get the media to cover the marine environment and the life in it in a positive way, and to increase media coverage of marine matters, I feel I must persist with what is the most-read paper in Britain, in the hope that one day they will publish a decent story highlighting the incredible wildlife in British seas and the need to conserve it.

Douglas Herdson
Information Officer
National Marine Aquarium
Rope Walk
Coxside
Plymouth PL4 0LF
UK

Telephone: (+44)01752 275216/01752 600301
Fax: (+44)01752 275217
Email: Douglas.Herdson@national-aquarium.co.uk
website www.national-aquarium.co.uk
To inspire everyone to enjoy, learn and care about our Oceans through amazing, memorable experiences.

Google Bans Shark Finning Ads

From the guys over at A Couple Dives this mornings blog post and simply stunning news. For search giant Google to take on such a critical issue opens the doors to others within the search industry-namely Yahoo! who have not only allowed fining ads on their sites but have directly invested in shark fining to the tune of a billion dollars via Alibaba.com.


Google is following suit as the world takes a stand against the brutal practice of shark finning.

Finning is the inhumane practice of hacking off the shark's fins and throwing its still living body back into the sea. Finning is illegal in America (and elsewhere) but the ban is difficult to enforce. Every year tens of millions of sharks die a slow death because of finning. Since the 1970s the populations of several species have been decimated by over 95%. Just a few months ago, the United States fisheries service ruled that fishermen must bring their shark catches to shore with fins still attached.

And now, since July, Google AdWords has taken the next step forward in ending this cruel practice by implementing a new policy regarding endangered or threatened species, including sharks. Google's advertising platform will no longer promote products obtained from endangered or threatened species. This includes, but is not limited to, the sale of products derived from elephants, sharks, tigers, whales, rhinoceroses, or dolphins.

The new policy comes after Coral Cay Conservation and supporter John Nunes from California wrote to Google urging them to change their policy on accepting paid advertising from shark fin product manufacturers.

Yahoo! and Alibaba.com continue to be the worlds largest online source for illegal shark products, who continue to enable the sales of thousands of tons of dried shark fin each and every month.

Hopefully this move by Google will force the hand of other companies such as Yahoo! and put an end to this barbaric practice.With a squelching of the demand for such products, fishermen will no longer profit from their sale and this kind of slaughter will be rendered obsolete.

Do you think Google should be doing more to lead the way in ending the cruel practice of shark finning? Should more action be taken against companies such as Yahoo! that condone such acts? Let us know in the comments! And make sure to check out Shark In The Pool!.

Albino Whale Shark-You Bet!

Nature has a way or surprising us and none more so then this unlikely critter a 30 foot albino Whale Shark:

It is one of the rarest sights of the ocean. A 30ft albino whale shark glides through the water with majestic grace.

It was captured by diver and naturalist Antonio Moreano off the coast of Darwin, the northern-most island of the Galapagos.

And this female is thought to be one of a kind.

Nor Cal White Sharks are Baaack!

It's a yearly ritual for our local beach here in Marin-Great Whites who come cruising down from Pt. Reyes looking for seals and end up making a scene at Stinson Beach:

Marin County's Stinson Beach was closed to swimmers and surfers after a great white shark was spotted Sunday night, according to national park officials.

The shark, which was eight to 10 feet long, was seen about 7 p.m. about 125 yards from shore.

"It was by a former lifeguard and fisherman; he knows what he saw, that is why we are confident it was a great white shark," said John Ralph, the lifeguard supervisor at Stinson, which is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

Ralph said he immediately got people out of the water at Stinson on Sunday night, and then went to the adjacent Sea Drift and Bolinas beaches to let surfers there know about the sighting.

Stinson and Bolinas are both popular surfing spots.

Ralph said the beach was open Monday, but the water beyond waist deep was closed.

"I have a lot of kids today, I let them go knee deep and let them play with their boogie boards," Ralph said. The National Park Service posted warnings at Marin County's Upton's Beach, which is adjacent to Stinson.