Hi all
Day before yesterday, I posted a short piece under 'Meeting with Royalty', about what I was hoping would be a potential first ever 'meeting' with a great white.
Yesterday, about 45 minutes after leaving Gansbaai harbour, we arrived in 'shark alley', a channel between the point and Dyer island. Rozzier, our skipper, placed a small amount of fish oil in the water, and threw out a piece of rope with a yellowfin Tuna carcass tied on, we threw anchor...and waited. Unlike Africa's Lion or elephant, we cannot look for the great White...he must come to look for us. In the silence, with just a rythmic slap-slap of the swell against the hull, we lay back and waited. At this time of year, moving toward summer, the peak season has gone, and the chances are we will see nothing all day. The sun gets hotter by the minute, and as I stare outwards over the emerald blue towards the tiny houses dotted on land, I cannot help to feel that I may go home dissapointed today, for after all, I do want this so badly.
Then it happens, Rozziers voice, quietly and calmly, .." Here she comes people...here she comes..." I lept up from my daydream, just in time to see an enourmous black shadow sliding towards us, approaching from our port side, about 2 meters below the surface. My mind screamed to find a word, a description, for what I was seeing. I have seen many movies and countless pictures, and am aware of her size. ( This one was in the region of 5 meters.) But nothing could have prepared me for the moment of witnessing the oceans prime predator 'in the flesh'. It was quite simply a combination of Awe, and total admiration.
The following minutes moved in a blur, clambering into my wetsuit, whilst trying to absorb every second of the sharks visit from the boat. Soon, I was in the cage, suspended alonside under water, just my head above the surface. ( i was on breath-hold', as the sharks do not particularly enjoy the bubbles.) Around me, the water was quiet again, the great white had dissapeared, tormenting me, and I saw a million sharks in a million different shadows around the cage...
Just as I began to fear the worst, Rozzier's shouts from above had me sucking in a frantic lungful of air,.." Here she comes, from behind you..go down..go down.." The chaos and noise dissapeared as I hauled myself under and fell to the base of the cage at about 3 meters. The silence and feel of the ocean was familiar, I turned smoothly, and there she was. This ENOURMOUS black and white shape, an unmistakeble profile, came gliding out of the gloom and passed within a few feet of me. I actually gasped at what I saw. No amount of preparation will get you ready for 2 things...the grace of her movement...and the sheer size, mass and power in front of you. Here was a great white with a girth almost as large as a motor car, this was her world...and I was an honoured guest. I snapped off a picture in the bad viz, then climbed back to the surface, back to my world, but completely unable to describe what I had just seen.
Soon, I was under again, this time she rolled up past the cage, and slowely opened her mouth to make contact with the the yellowfin carcass off to my right. The size of her mouth, and the teeth, I will not describe, because here, in words, it's futile and meaningless.
For those captured minutes under water, where for a short time I was given the chance by the oceans most feared predator to get eye to eye with her, on her terms and in her world, I will treasure for always. At the same time however, it's a sight that I truly hope I never see away from the confines of a boat or cage.
I have sent a few pics, excuse the poor quality.
Best regards
Jeff.
Day before yesterday, I posted a short piece under 'Meeting with Royalty', about what I was hoping would be a potential first ever 'meeting' with a great white.
Yesterday, about 45 minutes after leaving Gansbaai harbour, we arrived in 'shark alley', a channel between the point and Dyer island. Rozzier, our skipper, placed a small amount of fish oil in the water, and threw out a piece of rope with a yellowfin Tuna carcass tied on, we threw anchor...and waited. Unlike Africa's Lion or elephant, we cannot look for the great White...he must come to look for us. In the silence, with just a rythmic slap-slap of the swell against the hull, we lay back and waited. At this time of year, moving toward summer, the peak season has gone, and the chances are we will see nothing all day. The sun gets hotter by the minute, and as I stare outwards over the emerald blue towards the tiny houses dotted on land, I cannot help to feel that I may go home dissapointed today, for after all, I do want this so badly.
Then it happens, Rozziers voice, quietly and calmly, .." Here she comes people...here she comes..." I lept up from my daydream, just in time to see an enourmous black shadow sliding towards us, approaching from our port side, about 2 meters below the surface. My mind screamed to find a word, a description, for what I was seeing. I have seen many movies and countless pictures, and am aware of her size. ( This one was in the region of 5 meters.) But nothing could have prepared me for the moment of witnessing the oceans prime predator 'in the flesh'. It was quite simply a combination of Awe, and total admiration.
The following minutes moved in a blur, clambering into my wetsuit, whilst trying to absorb every second of the sharks visit from the boat. Soon, I was in the cage, suspended alonside under water, just my head above the surface. ( i was on breath-hold', as the sharks do not particularly enjoy the bubbles.) Around me, the water was quiet again, the great white had dissapeared, tormenting me, and I saw a million sharks in a million different shadows around the cage...
Just as I began to fear the worst, Rozzier's shouts from above had me sucking in a frantic lungful of air,.." Here she comes, from behind you..go down..go down.." The chaos and noise dissapeared as I hauled myself under and fell to the base of the cage at about 3 meters. The silence and feel of the ocean was familiar, I turned smoothly, and there she was. This ENOURMOUS black and white shape, an unmistakeble profile, came gliding out of the gloom and passed within a few feet of me. I actually gasped at what I saw. No amount of preparation will get you ready for 2 things...the grace of her movement...and the sheer size, mass and power in front of you. Here was a great white with a girth almost as large as a motor car, this was her world...and I was an honoured guest. I snapped off a picture in the bad viz, then climbed back to the surface, back to my world, but completely unable to describe what I had just seen.
Soon, I was under again, this time she rolled up past the cage, and slowely opened her mouth to make contact with the the yellowfin carcass off to my right. The size of her mouth, and the teeth, I will not describe, because here, in words, it's futile and meaningless.
For those captured minutes under water, where for a short time I was given the chance by the oceans most feared predator to get eye to eye with her, on her terms and in her world, I will treasure for always. At the same time however, it's a sight that I truly hope I never see away from the confines of a boat or cage.
I have sent a few pics, excuse the poor quality.
Best regards
Jeff.
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