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
If you happen to live in Minneapolis, first of all, our condolences to you. Second thing we wanted to say was, "Stay out of Minnehaha Creek, it's teeeming with Bull Sharks!"
No kidding, and you can file this one under WTF!?. According to this article we found on the Internet (and you have to believe everything you read on the Internet) there's something really sharky about this spring fed creek.
"After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, a report by Gulf marine scientists had warned that the enormous amount of pollution back-flushed into the Gulf of Mexico would cause many species of marine animals to either relocate or perish."
So a team of divers goes down and discovers this female Bull Shark under the ice, and still alive.
This, hands down, wins the "bizzare shark story of the week"...of course this could also be a very amusing Underwater Onion-MinnehahaCreek?
Let us be the first of what will probably be many people, eco-groups, and divers to call "Bull-Shit" when we see it.
Recently, the Georgia Aquarium announced to one and all-real live scuba diving experiences and snorkeling experiences with their much coveted Whale Sharks...part two.
You see, the first set of Whale Sharks they had in captivity died mysteriously and they just Fed Ex'ed in another set a few months ago.
Look, this is not the way to run an aquarium, and the good folks in Georgia should know this. Whale Sharks are a unique and amazing shark species. While we are all for wild encounters with these critters, aquarium dives are just plain wrong.
Fact: If you cannot even keep the Whale Sharks you have alive for more than a year, then you absolutely shouldn't be charging "Scuba Yabbo's" to go dive with them.
We had a feeling that something like this was going to happen, after all this corporate aquarium is sponsored by the Home Depot, and what do they know about sharks?
Karl Stanley, owner of the private deepwater submarine in Honduras sent us a link to a new reality movie he's just completed. We have a feeling it's going to be a very popular movie. Before you watch this let us explain Karl to you.
He can be summed up in three words:
1. Genius 2. Real 3. Adventurer
In the end this is what life is all about. One man, one submarine, and a whole undersea world that no one has ever seen before. Think of him as the Columbus of his time...with a crazy sense of humor:
Who didn't like Roy Scheider, the geeky tough guy town sheriff from Jaws?
In a movie that had more eco-blow back for sharks than any single movie on the planet, his was a legacy that no one could have imagined.
From the LA Times: He probably will be best remembered for his role as Martin Brody, the water-shy police chief in "Jaws" (1975) who uttered the immortal line: "You're gonna need a bigger boat," after seeing the size of the shark. He once lamented that the role "will be on my tombstone.
To his tribute, and as a reminder of how far we have come in the understanding of Great Whites here is that fateful scene from 1975 that sent us and 25 million others out of their pools, lakes, ponds and oceans for an entire summer:
Suffering from one of it's worst budget shortfalls in years, Florida has come up with a novel way to recoup falling tax revenues from crumbling home sales.
"State regulators offered a voice of support this week to West Florida's boutique shark (fishing) industry, which has all but shut down after federal scientists declared several key species dangerously overfished."
"St. Petersburg attorney G. Michael Mastry, who represents the shark (fishing) industry, estimated that about 75 fishermen and a dozen seafood processors would split up about $6-million to $8-million if the request is granted."
So once again sharks are going to the front lines of the continuing eco-slaughter. This time for the sake of 25% of the projected revenues going back into state coffers. As an eco tour company that champions all sharks we would just like to point out one thing:
Florida is the same state that banned sustainable shark diving eco tours off it's shores. To be replaced,not 4 years later, with state sponsored shark killing...all for 25%.
The Bible, that dusty old tome from times past has a lot to say about Virgin Births.
The Koran, an equally dusty old tome from times past has a lot to say about Virgin Births as well.
We're curious, what would the Bible and the Koran say about the latest virgin shark birth?
"Imprisoned in a tank hundreds of miles from a mate, Ibolya the female shark resorted to desperate measures. To the astonishment of her keepers, she spontaneously produced a perfectly healthy pup.The virgin birth is making biologists think again about one of the oldest and - in evolutionary terms - most successful creatures."
With the eco-wolves of both Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd out of the Southern Ocean, Japan has begun its "Scientific" whale slaughter in earnest this week.
"Exhausted and disoriented after a ruthless pursuit from high speed chaser ships, the whales caught on film this week were then shot with pointed harpoons, packed with explosives, to cause maximum damage".
Without any anti-whaling groups in the area to keep Japans fleet on the run-images like these featuring a mother Minkeand her calf will continue to surface.
As an eco minded shark diving company we would like to point out that these whales are being harvested as premium food source. It's just plain wrong anyway you slice it.
According to Ze German News, a 500 kilo (small) great white shark jumped into a tourist boat in South Africa (where else) and the whole thing was caught on tape. Three things come to mind when you watch this video:
1. German newscasters are hot 2. These tourists all look like they are ready to come home 3. Where's the crew?
If this had been our crew they would have grabbed the shark, tossed it back in, and then jumped in with the shark...hey, it's a living:
It's not all fun and games when you're a Shark Diver.
Case in point this slightly disgusting video from 2004.
Let us "set the scene". It's late November and we have three big white sharks swinging at the hang baits at the back deck- complete with two jam packed dive cages full of otherwise excited divers....that's when all hell broke loose.
Suddenly, this large 15 foot male lets loose an incredible stream of shark excrement out his tail end. Up until that exact point in time no one in the history of shark diving had ever filmed a white shark doing something like this.
Anyway, the story ending is the best part. Diver Jason Sullivan who shot the whole thing stays in the cage as the current moves this yellow "ort-cloud" of poo all over the guy. He comes up to the surface with with worlds biggest grin and says this "Dude, a white shark just crapped all over me, and I got it on film...cool", he then proceeds to get back in the cage and does not come out for the rest of the day:
O.K, you're probably wondering why in Neptunes Great Sea we would ever feature a T-shirt company here at Underwater Thrills: Diving With Sharks.
They're cool, we said it first. If you're not sporting a Dive Ninja T after your next shark encounter you ain't no kind of diver. And do not let the the £20 price tag sway you from owning a piece of dive history.
When you do buy one, and you will, tell 'em, Shark Diver sent you.
It's February, 2008. For divers who absolutely need to see sharks this time of year the big question is where to go in February?
Fortunately for you, Shark Diver, there's a small island chain in Mexico (where else) called the Revillagigedos-(just try saying this name correctly, we dare you)that is stuffed with more Shark, Ray, and Manta encounters than you can shake a regulator at. The crew of the long range expedition dive vessel Nautilus Explorer can take you there.
Dubai (CMN)- As conspiracy theories build over the sudden and "mysterious"disconnect of 5 intercontinental data cables connecting large areas of Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. A small team of specialized "cable divers" went down to investigate the reason for the sudden destruction.
What they discovered this week has shocked the world and answered the nagging question "Where did 5 Billion Dollars earmarked for Iraq's reconstruction go?".
Dive team leader John Magor from Dubai Salvage and Tow came right to the point, "We discovered an entire underwater city, complete with working tram lines (click image) that had inadvertently cut these cables when they ran over them". "This city is brand new, with hundreds buildings...even a Starbucks!".
The US State Department put out the following press release this afternoon, " Yes, dammit, we did build an entire city for 800,000 underwater. Everything we built above water in Iraq was being blown up, so we thought this was a good use of the Taxpayers money".
You gotta hand it to the kayak guy in this next video. Not sure if we would have the right "metal state" to wave to the crowd after getting smashed and rolled by 4 tons of frisky whale. Then again this could just be a Korean commercial with great CGI:
Score one for for the science guys this week. A video surfaced of one of our all time favorite underwater "denzines of the deep" the Six Gill Shark.
What makes this critter interesting is it's ability to flourish in water temps hovering in the 40's and less, and at a depth of over 5000'. This one was filmed at 3300' and with his 18 foot profile we were not surprised to hear the normally laid back deep water guys saying "Holy Crap!".
The fine, but concerned, beach-goers of Norfolk have discovered another dead Cetation (whale) off their shores this week.
Prompting calls from the media of a Great White shark off their beaches-locals are in a disagreement of exactly what left this rather sizeable chunk missing from this animals head.
From this image it's hard to tell what actually made this bite. Here's three things it was not:
The crew here at Shark Diver have seen a few attacks over the years and Great Whites tend to either decapitate, or sever the ability of their prey to move with a huge strike to the tail section.
This does look like the work of a Killer Whale, which not surprisingly is found more commonly in the waters off of Norfolk this time of year...of course you're entitled to disagree.
Over the years we have had many memorable moments at our Isla Guadalupe dive site.
When you are fortunate enough to have had as many years of Great White shark encounters as we have had-things just have a way of happening.
Take Sterling Wilson and crew here. They joined us from Texas (the cool part) and like so many divers were hoping to just "see a great white shark".
By day two of their dive adventure our crew had personally introduced them to well over 20 different animals and they were beginning to run out of film. That's when they said they wanted to get a group picture.
All four intrepid divers decided to siton top of the shark cages with Cuban Cigars to get this memorable shot. It was the last dive of the day, and the sharks had disappeared for an hour-"Let's go!".
It's moments like these that make a shark diving adventure. Good friends, great sharkin', and a Cubano. Does it get any better?
Nicole Teutschel is with the TOPP's team at Ano Nuevo Island just a few short miles down the coast from the Bay Area in Northern California.
The site of an abundant Elephant Seal colony, she and her team have been tagging these simply huge pinnipeds with long range sat tags in the hopes of learning more about these amazing critters.
Oh, and Ano Nuevo is also home to more Great White sharks per square inch than almost any other site on the planet as well.
If you have some time to rip through some cool tracking data today have a look at the latest in Hard Science.
We're pretty sure these 2000lb seals just don't roll over to get sat tags placed on them:
What can we say about Marine biologist Tierney Thys?
One of the leading researchers of her time and one of the most engaging presenters of the 2003 Monterey Bay TED gathering.
Thys and her team are tagging and tracking Mola-Mola worldwide to learn about how they live, and how climate change may be affecting all ocean life. She's also director of research at the Sea Studios Foundation, producing targeted eco videos that influence policymakers and businesspeople. Sea Studios was also instrumental in helping eBay stop the trading of invasive species:
We love John West Tuna commercials. O.k, so the actual tuna is pretty basic, comes in a can, and tastes like...tuna.
But their commercials continue to set the bar for shark cool. First we had the guy inside the Mako, then the crazy Alaskan Bear. Here's the latest installment with a focus on what else? South Africa's-Flying Sharks.
In case you were wondering, there's really no tuna in the world that will make Great Whites sit up and act like this. If there was-the crew here at Shark Diver would have bought into this company a looong time ago!
Shark-Based Emollients Being Removed from Skincare Products- That's the great news coming from one of the worlds top skin care companies this week.
Turns out for the past 30 years or so many of these companies have been quietly harvesting millions of shark livers for the raw productSqualene.
This gooey shark moisturizer penetrates the skin quickly, making perfect for womens skin care products. Unfortunately, once the women of the world found out they were rubbing dead sharks on their bodies a mini riot broke out. L’Oreal announced this week that it is moving towards getting this ingredient from plants in an effort to help save the ecosystem and save some deep sea sharks whose existence is threatened. Squalene can be found in olives and wheat germ.
Score one for the good guys, the corporate world just saved 10 million sharks from the chopping block.
Now, if we could only get Alibaba.com to understand this.
You know, we spend a fair amount of time here reviewing our dive industry and roaming through the various websites out there.
Most often we come across dive companies that are at the forefront of web tech. Their stunning underwater imagery compels you to click through page after page-while their online content weaves fantastic and "vivid" tales of dazzling dive sites and excitement that you just have to experience...and then tell your friends about.
Baja California, January, 2008 – Isla Guadalupe, Mexico has become the internationally recognized destination for divers seeking unprecedented encounters with Great White sharks (Carcharodon carcharias.) The 90 square mile island located in the Pacific is also home to many rare endemic species of animals and plants.
In 2005 Mexico declared the island a Bio-Sphere Reserve under the watchful eye of CONANP the Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas.
As is the case with many watch dog and eco enforcement organizations world wide, long term funding for actual on site protections of this resource and the Great Whites that seasonally inhabit these pristine waters do not exist at this time.
Globally, shark aggregation sites like Isla Guadalupe have been decimated in the past few years by poaching, over fishing, and an uncontrolled trade in shark fins that takes an estimated 70 million sharks a year.Recently a concerned group of shark diving operators, vessel owners and researchers stepped in to create and launch the Guadalupe Fund 501(c)3.
Its stated goal is to move much needed cash and donated equipment into the Bio-Sphere for park staff and continued funding for long term white shark science/monitoring.
Nicole Nasby Lucas from the Marine Conservation Science Institute has been involved in ongoing white shark tagging and photo identification research at this site for the past six years. "Our tagging and photo-ID research have shown that the Guadalupe Island white sharks aggregate here in large numbers during the fall and winter, leave the island and travel as far as Hawaii and then come back to the same spot. This makes Guadalupe Island a critical habitat for the white shark in this region and demonstrates the importance of protecting the island and its sharks”.
The Guadalupe Fund is being managed by Marinebio.org with assistance from shark diving operator SharkDiver.Com and hopes to generate a minimum of $100,000 a year from concerned divers and shark lover’s world wide. All donations to this fund are tax deductible and gifts ranging from free trips to the island and the opportunity to name a Great White shark after donors exist for interested parties:
China Daily, Shengzuo--As The Peoples Republic of China prepares to host the 2008 Olympics,China's Demonstration Sports Committee invited the International press corps to preview it's latest team sport-"Competitive Speed Whale Shark".
With it's early roots in logging this latest demonstration sport will be included in this years 2008 Olympic Games to promote the local sport and to gauge interest and support.
Speed, accuracy and safety are hallmarks of these three day medal events that include the complete disassembly of 60 foot Whale Sharks by sweaty teams of "Sawyers".
"It is our hope the world will adopt this sport for future Olympic Games before we run out of sharks" said Liu bo Xiang, Team Captain Alibaba.com, recent medalist, and three time "Sawyer Champion".
The following Underwater Onion was brought to you by Shark Diver.
Seriously, the Olympics would be a great place to highlight the fact that 80% of the worlds 100 million shark fins go to China.
Update: Since this blog post the publisher of Fathoms Magazine "took over" the magazine and killed it leaving behind many unfulfilled subscribers.
Cancel your Nat Geo membership...lock your kids and your wife in the car, and get ready to have your entire underwater world rocked.
This is Fathoms Magazine and they are on a mission to change the way you look at underwater images and dive adventures...forever.
We just got our latest installment this week. This underwater mag's hallmarks are big juicy images paired with great writing. Under the guidance of Ethan Gordon (editor) Fathoms has blossomed into the leading underwater magazine of our time.
Oh, and he's one of the industries nicest guys as well. Enjoy!
In a world filled with "broken promises" it's nice to know you can absolutely rely on some things.
Case in point Shark Diver shark cages. Used on more private yachts worldwide than any other shark cages, in fact, we're pretty sure we're the only company on the planet who furnishes shark cages on an industrial scale.
To date none of the shark cages provided by Shark Diver have failed the test of weather, water, or sharks.
Ever.
After all, our cages are designed to tackle 16 foot-2300 pound Great Whites in every condition imaginable. Keeping divers safe, while providing them with comfort, and thrills, since 2002.
If you were curious about "other" shark cages, let us introduce you to the competition at Isla Guadalupe, Mexico.
They maintain the following claim on their website:
"Our cages have set the industry standard for excellence. Our design and application is the envy of all other operators ".
Here's the video from their operation in 2007 to prove that claim:
Mexican shark researcher Mauricio Hoyos is in the eco news-this time with the internationally recognized Adopt a Shark Program.
Adopt a Shark is a unique way for the public to support shark andray conservation primarily in Mexico, but they are branching out worldwide.
You literally Adopt a Shark that get's tagged and tracked. Your donation pays for the tracking tags-and for guys like Mauricio to stay in the field for months on end.
Research dollars for shark conservation are at all time lows in Mexico. We would know. Without serious researchers like Mauricio with the backing of CICIMAR and U.C Davis the future of shark conservation in Mexico is pretty bleak. To enact any rules and regulations protecting wild animals-all governments demand solid research data.
Here's the recorded shark catchjust in the Sea of Cortez:
1994-10,000 sharks 2004-300,000 sharks (Asian Fin Market)
Adopt a Shark today, it really is a race against time:
As you know we have been following the 2008 Southern Sea whale hunt this year with keen interest.
First there was the Sea Shepherd vs Greenpeacewar of words. The "who was more green" eco-ocean smackdown.
Then, three weeks ago, we covered the ongoing Sea Shepherdstink bomb throwing hippie hostage standoff with the Nisshin Maru.
We also covered Yokozuna Asashoryu, Tokyo's top Sumo wrestler's open wrestling challenge to Sea Shepherds captain-Paul Watson. Man, what a season!
And now, after two full months of chasing the bad guys and world attention, sadly, Greenpeace is withdrawing their vessel from the hunt due to lack of fuel.
This leaves the anti-whaling eco ball squarely in the "Jesters Court" with Sea Shepherd and their somewhat crazed crew of die hards. If we were betting folks (and we are) this is how we think the 2008 Southern Seas whale hunt is going to end:
1. Japan will start killing whales again 2. Watson's Vessel "Steve Irwin" will ram and sink the Nisshin Maru 3. Huge media frenzy
As we gear up for another month in the Bahamas to go play with Tigers this year-we just can't help pointing out other dive sites for your review.
A lot of shark divers think that you have to "go with the pro's" and that's just not the case. For example, this video was sent in to us today by Jillian and Tom. Apparently, this is Kuramathi Island in the Maldives- and from the looks of things we'll be diving here soon.
Not all sharks will allow divers to just jump in with them, but if this was us, at this site, we would be in there with those critters faster than Jimmie Johnson at NASCAR.
Grab a tank, snorkle, mask, and get in the water. The shark diving is fine:
It's not easy maintaining all that diverse underwater wildlife inside 300,000 gallons of saltwater.
Ever tried to maintain a goldfish?
Then again, you'll have have to shake your head harder than a Sand Tiger with a fresh kill in it's mouth when you see this next video.
Yesterday at the Mall of America in the World's Largest Underground Aquarium a Sand Tiger took out a perfectly good White Tip.
We called Steve Blair assistant curator of the Aquarium of the Pacific for clarification, "These guys are known in aquariums as reactive hunters, they bite other animals quite frequently. The good news is they do not have tearing and ripping teeth, otherwise that white tip would have been a goner".
Which reminds us to remind you. Never trust a Sand Tiger. Here's the story and here's the video:
Oct. 1-5 2007: Great White Shark Diving with Shark Diver.com
Let me start off by saying that this is the third trip I have taken with Shark Diver.com to Isla Guadalupe. My first trip in Oct. of 2005 was so amazing that I immediately started counting down the days until I could return again and signed up for the following year. My Oct. 2006 trip was even better and, once again, I signed up for another tour at Guadalupe. I thought I knew what to expect this third time around and was even worried that I might not have as good of a time going back again. I was WRONG!!!
The first difference on this trip was plan for departure. Due to the new passports requirements, instead of boarding the boat in San Diego, we took a bus down to Ensenada and boarded the boat there. The bus ride went by pretty quickly as I took the time to get to know some of the people I would be sharing small spaces with for the next week. We also had a little sight-seeing along the way including a great view of one of the largest's tuna fisheries around.
Once all the gear was loaded and we were assigned our cabins, the boat headed out for the long ride across the Pacific. I had my first inclination that this trip might be a little special when we had the pleasure of cruising with a huge pod of pilot whales. I had only seen one in the wild before and there must have been 50 in this pod. They actually swam with us for a while and seemed to be playing with the wake of the boat.
After a nice day of getting to know my shipmates and watching the pilot whales, we sat down to our first dinner on board. The meal was the equivalent of anything served at some of the finer restaurants in the Bay area – a far cry from the greasy burgers one might expect to eat on a typical fishing vessel. With a fantastic meal and some red wine performing an elegant dance in my belly, I descended down into my bunk to let the boat gently rock me into my oceanic slumber.
The next morning, we arrived at the island, anchored and the crews immediately began to prepare for three days of diving. The first shark showed up before the cages were even completely setup - yet another sign that we could be in for an unbelievable week!
There are two cages that comfortably hold four divers each so there are hourly rotations with eight divers. With only 16 divers max, that means you are in the cage for an hour and topside for the next hour all day - plenty of dive time for everyone! I ended up in the second rotation which gave me time to get my camera gear setup and let my breakfast settle a bit. That was the start of three solid days of non-stop action and excitement!
There were sharks on every single rotation and when I say sharks plural, I mean it! There were multiple sharks each time and several times, I counted five different sharks circling the cage during one rotation. Sometimes they took turns coming up for a close look at us in the cages. Other times they ambushed us in pairs. The "slow" times were when sharks just circled the cages below - still in sight, but not close enough to see the pupils of their eyes!
As if multiple Great Whites on the cage at a time wasn't enough, the next thing that happened caused my jaw to drop to the bottom of the cage. I was watching one large female (named Chica) slowly cruising around with an entourage of three smaller males following her around. They were swimming faster, circling each other, facing off, darting up to the cages and then back down to follow her again. That is when the unexpected happened. One of the young males abruptly turned his head up, got completely vertical and then put on the speed - straight up and OUT - he just DISAPPEARED! We had just witnessed a Great White breach and we had a front row, underwater seat to that amazing spectacle! I couldn't believe my eyes!!
And that was STILL not all that was going to make this the most amazing trip I have been on to date! Not only did we witness more breaches, but my cabin-mate actually caught the first one on camera!! She was supposed to be in the cage with me and would have seen it from underneath, but she had been feeling ill that morning and was sitting on the top deck trying to get some fresh air. She had her camera in her lap, heard the splash, looked up and raised the camera just in time to snap the shot! I have to admit that I was a little (ok, maybe a LOT) jealous that she was able to get the shot, but I was more excited than "green" .
You think I'm done, right?? Well, not quite yet!! On the third day of diving, I dropped in the cage for another rotation and still hoping to get "the shot". About 10 mins. into the rotation, there was a strange "vibe" in the water and I saw tons of bubbles from the panga boat circling above. I wasn't sure what was going on, but I knew it was BIG. Then the cage was pulled over to the boat and the divemaster was knocking rapidly on the cage. I looked over and my cagemates were starting to exit. All kinds of reasons started going through my head about why we had to be pulled out of the cage so rapidly. However, NONE of them were correct!!
It was a predation!!! The topside group had actually witnessed a Great White kill a seal and they were pulling us all out of the cages so we could join in and watch the feeding. I had never seen so much bright red blood in the water. I was mesmerized by the scene that was unfolding in front of us. The video was posted on YouTube, but if you haven't seen it yet - you should definitely check it out!! Here is the video:
Talk about ending the trip with an exclamation point!!! WOW! It just can't get better than that...or CAN it? Well, for me, there was one more event that was the icing on the cake. It was the final rotation of the final day and I was still snapping off pictures of the sharks who had been visiting all week long. There were only about 15 or 20 minutes left before we would have to return to our normal lives when my favorite shark of all time decided to pay us a visit - the infamous SHREDDER!!! I was so excited, that I actually screamed out his name through my regulator and tried telling all my cagemates that THIS was the shark I had been talking about all week. He came at the bait on my side of the cage and opened wide so I could get the shot I had been waiting for - mouth open wide with gill slits showing!
If you are looking for a trip to take or are one of those people who have always wanted to see a Great White, but just haven't made it happen, I would highly suggest you put this trip on the list. It is truly an amazing adventure!!
DanielBotelho is from Rio de Janeiro "Land of the Carnival".
It's also the land of truly vibrant colors, which would explain the images in Daniels website all of which you'll probably need a pair of old school Ray-Bans to look at.
If you're like us you measure your time underwater in glorious weeks spent in exotic locals with dollar beers and lot's of sharks. If you're not perhaps these images will lead you there.
Welcome to your Underwater Moment of Zen..Rio Style!
Shark Trust Wines just emailed us their 2007 synopsis...and business is good. You may want to check these guys out for your 2008 Shark Week B.B.Q.
Best of all 10% of all wine sales go back to shark research. Shark Trust has been a huge supporter of the Isla Guadalupe Fund. Shark Trust Highlights of 2007:
Customer Base: Currently distributed in 19 states and growing.
Aquarium Relationships: Now actively working with several well-respected aquariums in the US to increase brand awareness and support ocean conservation. Donations made to Florida Aquarium, Mote Marine Labs, Birch Aquarium, Seattle Aquarium, Shedd Aquarium, Aquarium of the Pacific - Long Beach, UC Davis research team, Coast Keepers.
Press Coverage: Fox News, Dive News magazine, AOL,Good Morning America, CNN, Washington Post and Wine Enthusiast magazine.
Every once in a while along comes an underwater movie that you just have to buy...and then covet like that little grey critter from the Lord of the Rings. This is one of those movies, and this is one of this moments-check out the crew member "looking busy" in the background:
There are several reasons you might consider notpissing off a Mako Shark.
Number One: These critters are less than forgiving when it comes to those who add baits to hooks for the express purpose of killing them.
Enter a young fisherman from Australia this week (where else). Seems that he, along with his jolly crew of fellow beer fueled miscreants, failed the "How to Handle a Pissed-Off Mako 101 Class".
Shark Attacks Australian Fisherman on Boat Deck
BRISBANE, Australia – A 200 pound 10 foot- mako shark attacked a fisherman on his boat deck, biting him on the leg after the man reeled it in while fishing off Australia's east coast Sunday, an official said.
Witnesses say the shark immediately "whipped around" and bit into his right calf after he stepped on its tail. "They could not release the shark from the leg at all until they had cut the shark's head off".
As huge shark fans ourselves we cannot help but point out the obvious here. For those of you who need it spelled out here's the 1-2-3:
1. Don't fish for sharks 2. Don't drink beer and fish for sharks 3. Never step on a 10 foot Mako
It's not every day you happen to be walking along the beach and discover a Six Gill Shark. Normally you find these critters at depths up to 1500' and greater.
The Six Gills we have encountered were typically shy, rare, and amazing animals to see in person. These ancient sharks have spiked and serrated teeth that rip and tear the meat off of whatever dead animal drifts down to the cold dark depths.
You can only imagine this guys surprise when a 9 foot beast washed up on his local beach this week:
"Poulsbo resident Andy Woodford was combing the beach for shells when he made the unusual find. The shark is an immature sixgill female, found with no signs of trauma or obvious cause of death."
A somewhat dis-gusting warning today about a parasitic worm that causes big problems in humans. You get these nasty critters from eating Salmon.
According to this diagram put out by the CDC-dolphins are in on it too. You should never trust a dolphin, dammit.
Anisakis simplex-In North America, anisakiasis is most frequently diagnosed when the affected individual feels a tingling or tickling sensation in the throat and coughs up or manually extracts a nematode (that's a live worm people).
In more severe cases there is acute abdominal pain, much like acute appendicitis accompanied by a nauseous feeling. Symptoms occur from as little as an hour to about 2 weeks after consumption of raw or undercooked seafood.
Here's the gross part:
"With their anterior ends, these larval nematodes from fish or shellfish usually burrow into the wall of the digestive tract occasionally they penetrate the intestinal wall completely".
What can you do to protect yourself?
1. Always cook your fish 2. Never buy fish on sale 3. Eat Kobe Beef
We know deepwater adventures like few others out there. When it comes to deepwater exploration legends like David Gallo and his talk about Celaphopods-who doesn't have 3 minutes to watch this:
As the old saying goes, "It ain't over till the fat lady sings"...the same is true apparently for this seasons Southern Ocean whale hunt.
As reported this week by Shu-Ching Jean Chen the Hong Kong-based staff writer atForbes.com it looked like all was over with the factory ship NisshinMaru leaving the operations area. In fact Japan officially announced to the entire world last week that they had stopped whaling.
Turns out that's just a ploy, you know, for the major media folks, bloggers, and others. Sneaky whalers indeed!
So, what's the real deal in the Southern Ocean these days?
If you can push past the non profit war mongering between Sea Shepherd and Greenpeace- here's their blogs from the front lines. When you cannot rely on the major media to give you the scoop go to the source, just be prepared to donate to the cause.
Tokyo (CMN)- Fashion editors from "The Tokyo Look Book"have declared a nationwide fashion emergency on the heels of Japans announcement and early recall of the entire southern whale hunting fleet.
"In an effort to increase sales of canned whale meat the government issued 4.2 million See No Evil-Double Happiness whale eating masks this winter" said Editor in Chief-Tomohiko Taniguchi, during a rushed press conference held at the Four Seasons Chinzanso Hotel.
"With the unexpected end to this seasons whale hunt, these whale eating masks will now sit idle in peoples kitchens. Already we are seeing inappropriate use of these masks with small children in playgrounds and in gyms nationwide".
Japans Prime Minister Fukuda issued the following statement, "The government is asking people to stay calm at this time. While our whaling fleet was unable to harvest enough whale meat this season-remain assured that our whaling fleet will continue it's hunt next year and you'll all get to use your whale eating masks".
The following underwater Onion was brought to you by Shark Diver. Whale Meat-the other, other, other red meat.
Japan conceded a rare defeat today and pulled it's processing ship Nisshin Maru out of the Southern Ocean whale hunt operations area.
Without a high tech factory ship to process whales from majestic sea born animals into fancy little cans- the ships that hunt them are next to useless.
"The Japanese government said Monday that its state-sponsored whaling fleet had stopped hunting after 10 days of harassment by the environmental activist groups Greenpeace and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary near Australia."
That's the good news.
The bad news is the Japan does not look like it will be giving up it's "Love of the Whale" anytime soon. So, we'll all be forced to watch the southern spring drama unfold again next year as whalers and the anti-whaling activists clash again over government-sponsored "scientific" whaling expeditions.
IRVINE, CA- A precarious population of great white sharks and the ongoing scientific research intended to secure their survival is the subject of Island of the Great White Shark, a just completed documentary film by RTSea Productions. The high definition video production will receive an exclusive V.I.P. premiere on January 22nd at the Aquarium of the Pacific, located in Long Beach, California.
The event highlights a three-year effort by filmmaker Richard Theiss to provide the first comprehensive look at the great white sharks found at the remote Mexican island of Isla Guadalupe, Baja. The film explores many of the issues surrounding these highly misunderstood animals, the efforts of dedicated shark researchers to study and protect them, and the unique cooperative relationship that exists between the researchers and eco-tourism operations.
"These are absolutely magnificent creatures living on a razor's edge of possible extinction. And there are some very dedicated people working tirelessly to prevent that. This is a story that needed to be told," says Richard Theiss, RTSea Productions, executive producer and cinematographer.
Theiss came to see Isla Guadalupe's great white sharks three years ago as a passenger aboard a shark diving expedition led by Shark Diver.com, a leading eco-tourism operator that charters boats from San Diego, California to make the 210-mile journey south to Isla Guadalupe. What started out as an exciting adventure turned into a passion to document the work of Mauricio Hoyos Padilla, a young Mexican shark researcher, working under the supervision of leading shark experts in the United States and Mexico and aided by the support of eco-tourism operators, like Shark Diver.com, that frequent the island in the fall months when migrating great white sharks arrive to feed on seals and tuna that inhabit the island's waters.
Island of the Great White Shark, featuring dramatic underwater close-ups of great white sharks and exclusive footage of various research techniques, paints a portrait of the great white shark as a vital but cautious ocean predator - in contrast to its more public image as a malevolent man-eater. The film also illustrates the destructive and inhumane practices imposed upon sharks by the commercial shark fishing industry. Estimates run from 40 million to as high as 100 million sharks being killed each year either for their fins or as accidental by-catch. "Sharks populations are being decimated - all for a bowl of soup or a supposed homeopathic cure. For great whites, like those at Isla Guadalupe, you have to add the threat of poachers seeking souvenir jaws and teeth from one of nature's top predators. It's insanity and emblematic of what's wrong with our environmental priorities," says Theiss.
About RTSea Productions RTSea Productions, based in Irvine, California, is dedicated to capturing nature and underwater images that will impress and move viewers to preserve and protect our precious natural resources - above and below the waves. RTSea has provided video and still production services for National Geographic, PBS, InMER, Aquarium of the Pacific, and others.
An emaciated seal pup named "Brian" by his care givers washed up on the shores of Gleelong, Australia (where else?) this week. The pup was attacked by a shark and starved for three days on the beach while his wounds became infected.
Luckily, plucky "Brian" was discovered on Indented Head beach and concerned beach-goers contacted Leopold Wildlife Shelter and Wildlife Rescue Service. Think Steve Irwin in even tighter shorts.
Wildlife angels David and Helen Burrell swooped in and picked up the emaciated seal a week ago and have given him around-the-clock care since. Mr Burrell said the seal, which they christened "Brian", was "very lucky''.
Here's the whole story and a bonus video from Monty Pythons "Life of Brian":
Japan (CMN) Yokozuna Asashoryu, Tokyo's top Sumo wrestler, issued a wrestling challenge to Captain Paul Watson of Sea Shepherd today.
Known in Japan as the "Can Crusher" Mr. Asashoryu is currently defending himself on two charges of child endangerment after issuing a similar challenge to Tokyo's Boy Scouts Troop No.14 for the right to sell cookies door to door. He went undefeated in 16 matches against the troop leaving some with broken bones.
Paul Watson is currently chasing elements of Japans whaling fleet in the waters of Antarctica, where two of his crew members are being held as "hostages" on board Japanese vessel Yushin Maru No. 2.
"We will decide the fate of these two crew members and the future of Japans whale hunt in the ring of honor" Yokozuna shouted to a sold out crowd of fans at Tokyo's Staples Arena.
Japans Foreign Minister, Masahiko Kōmura, has agreed with the challenge saying "Mr.Watson should join us here in Tokyo rather than attempt to interrupt our Glorious Imperial...ahem...peaceful whaling fleet in Antarctica".
Sea Shepherd has been unavailable for comment.
This current underwater Onion was brought to you by Shark Diver. The news just keeps getting stranger.
Turns out they do and today they sent the good ship Oceanic Viking to the rescue of two protesters from Sea Shepherd who are being "held hostage" on board a Japanese whale ship.
CNN--Australia has sent a customs ship to retrieve two activists who were seized by a Japanese whaling vessel, the country's foreign minister said. The transfer, if successful, would end a tense two-day standoff in Antarctic waters.The Australian ship, the Oceanic Viking, was within sighting distance of the Japanese whaler Thursday.
So that just leaves us with one question: What Now?
Japans whaling fleet is on target to harvest 1000 whales this year, thus far they have only taken an estimated 300. Regardless of this "hostage drama" side event which has all the earmarks of a classic "don't taze me bro" moment, the question remains, how to stop another 700 whales from being slaughtered this year?
Every once in a long while along comes a commercial that rips through conventional shark wisdom like a hot knife through buttah. This video was no exception to that fine rule.
Featuring the on screen talents of Chris Fallows from South Africa (Air Jaws) and the now deceased Aidan Martin (ReefQuest).
As we feared the high seas drama that is Japans 2008 Southern Seas Whaling Expedition has taken a turn for the bizarre today.
Crews from the Steve Irwin-the all black Vader-esque anti-whaling chase boat owned by Paul Watson from Sea Shepherd has made contact with Japans whaling fleet and the Yushin Maru.
What has transpired is something right out of Moby Dick. Turns out members of the Steve Irwins crew have been lashed to the main mast of the Yushin Maru in "freezing conditions" and not even allowed the basic rights to a hot chocolate with marshmallows on top- a time honored right granted to them under theThird Geneva Convention of 1949.
Naturally, this event has caused a minor international incident and the news media is running like a panicked herd of Wildebeast with this "high seas drama" story. In our book anything that causes even the casual media reader to stop and say "wait a minute" is good media. As far as the anti-whalers are concerned their position can be summed up with the following quote from good old Captain Ahab and Khan from Star Trek:
"No. No, you can't get away. 'From Hell's heart... I stab at thee. For hate's sake I spit my last breath... at thee'."
The fine whaling folks in Japan should reconsider whaling as a vocation and also reconsider the taking of hostages-that's so 1980's.
It must be a slow summer in Australia this year as shark stories have all but infested the front pages of the media down in the land of sun and surf.
At hand this week a small Hammerhead Shark washed up on a local beach and was quickly nabbed by a vacationing performer from Cirque du Soleil.
Actually that's not a member of Cirque. But that really is the official dress code for the Surf Lifesavers in Australia. The huge crowd of onlookers and laughing children were not there because of the shark.
Which brings us to the main point here. Sharks-especially small ones like these-are not dangerous to swimmers. Media hysteria and world opinion continues to demonize these magnificent predators and allow the slaughter of millions each year for just their fins.
Something to think about the next time you hear someone yell "shark!" at the beach.
If it was us we would be in the water faster than an Australian Surf Lifesaver could strap on his cool looking Beenie-Cap.
If you happen to live in Minneapolis, first of all, our condolences to you. Second thing we wanted to say was, "Stay out of Minnehaha Creek, it's teeeming with Bull Sharks!"
