23 December 2014 ~ Great White Sharks

Listening to: Taj Mahal & Doc Watson ~ My Creole Belle (8/9/1986, World Theatre, St. Paul, MN)


Everyone made it back from the shark adventure. I did not go into the cage; nor did CJ nor Robert. We sat on top of the boat and Robert earned his nickname for the trip "Scout". (The nickname actually started because I was reading a book I picked up from the Virgin Atlantic Club Lounge called "The Indian and Scout" about the Gold Rush to California.)

I was applauded for not choosing to go in the cage. For one, the water was a cool 52 degrees and although they had a wet suit, they did not have any coverings for face or hands. The spent about 20 minutes in the water, just waiting until a shark sighting, when they were told to go "down". Lisa did get a video of the shark underwater, but I have few from the top I'd like to share.

First off, we didn't see anything nearly as dramatic as these pictures from the lodge implied. Not one shark came out of the water, and it wasn't seal season, so feeding wasn't in progress.

In order to entice the sharks to the boat, they throw in tuna heads on a rope over and over, as well as a constant stream of chum (fish guts). This is a controversial practice, for although the operators are not technically "feeding" the sharks, some say it increases the way sharks relate to food and increases human contact if not actual attacks.

But it works.

http://youtu.be/m_bZYhMGMnE

It wasn't always to track the sharks, and the water got very rocky towards the end. It felt like a roller coaster at times.

http://youtu.be/CFnoDxuwV18

A few of the sharks were as long as the cage, so estimating about 14 feet.

http://youtu.be/hCyXJIfYQqA