Group Adventures

THE ULTIMATE SHARKQUEST

Diving adventures in 'shark infested' waters

Around the world the story is depressingly similar: divers are finding encounters with sharks ever more rare. Think of a famous shark site and ask the locals if the sharks are there in anything like the numbers they were a decade before. You will probably be told that the numbers have fallen or worse still, that the ‘finners’ have been through the area and the population has crashed.

There are two ways to see sharks in the Bahamas. One is to take part in what is sometimes referred to as a ‘shark rodeo’, where a groups of divers are lined up on the seabed and a dive guide attracts the sharks by feeding them from a bag or by means of a frozen block of fish known as a ‘chumsicle’. These nearly always guarantee close encounters with reef sharks for around 20 minutes. The second way is to join a dedicated shark safari. These safaris are rare, difficult to set up and can be unpredictable, but offer the potential for real encounters with many different species of shark. They require the skill of an expert: someone who knows the waters in which he operates like the back of his hand and has perfected his shark chumming methods. It helps if that person is totally dedicated to pleasing his clients and has a contagious enthusiasm for sharks and diving. The legendary Jim Abernethy of Florida is just such a person!

Some of the most far-flung reaches of the Bahamas still meet, in spectacular fashion, the requirements for outstanding shark diving: healthy reefs, an absence of commercial fishermen (thanks to remoteness and a ban on long-lining) and therefore a superb array of sharks. Fortunately for both sharks and divers, these areas are way off the beaten track and can only be reached by liveaboard boat.

Jim Abernethy, who operates the liveaboard Shear Water, has been exploring some of the most remote Bahamian areas in search of first class shark action. By ‘chumming’ in a variety of secret locations he now has several sites where a fine variety of sharks can be expected to appear in dramatic fashion. There are reefs where, figuratively speaking, you can hardly get in the water for the number of Caribbean Reef Sharks gliding around you! On other reefs, sleek Lemon Sharks glide below. Tiger Sharks – normally timid background ghosts – can also be chummed in right up to the boat above the sand flats, offering divers a unique experience!

Just to make sure you understand these sharks will be close, so close that Jim carries special polish to grind out the odd scratch you may get on your camera housing lens! These encounters are not like a Red Sea safari, hanging around in the blue for hours. On more than one occasion you will undoubtedly have to wait to get into the water only because too many sharks are around the entry platform! However, safety is paramount and every precaution is taken to maintain Jim’s 100 percent incident-free reputation.

The main aim of our Shear Water shark safari is to dive with, photograph, video or catalogue as many shark species as possible, particularly Bull Shark, Silky Shark, Lemon Shark, Tiger Shark, Caribbean Reef Shark and Black-tipped Reef Shark. This is a unique trip and designed to maximise time in the water and in front of big sharks, as close as you want and as often as you want. Unlike other trips, this week will be non-stop action the only limiting factor being daylight, memory card capacity or changing cylinders. The most likely encounters are Lemon Sharks (the puppy dogs), reef sharks (the terriers) and of course the super apex predator the Tiger Shark. Meeting Emma, a 4 metre, fat female Tiger Shark that recognizes Jim is always a great experience.

Should we have had our fill of sharks and if time and conditions allow, we will head off to some areas where we can snorkel with Atlantic Spotted Dolphins. Encounters can last anywhere from five minutes to five hours it purely depends upon the particular pod we find. Charles will be on board to help with any photographic requirements ranging from setting up your camera, choice of lenses, suggestions on the best way to get some good images to maintenance and problem solving with both hardware and software.

This will be Charles Hood’s fourth shark safari with Jim Abernethy. Charles will be on board to coordinate a packed agenda to get the most out of the encounters. Each day will be meticulously planned according to what has already been seen and what weather condition will allow. Charles will be available to help with any photographic questions and will advise on camera settings, lens choices, lighting techniques and your positioning underwater to get the best results possible.

Such is the uniqueness of this trip that the potential to take prize winning photographs is high. From his last two trips Charles has been awarded both ‘Highly Commended’ and ‘Specially Commended’ certificates in the Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. We challenge you to beat him next time!

This is pioneering diving at its most adventurous, so we can only offer places on this expedition to fit and experienced divers who have worked in currents and are familiar with shark diving. Advanced or higher diving qualifications are required.

To ensure the best results, the crew will be ‘chumming’ the water with fish and fish parts. Consequently, there will be food in the water at the same time as the divers. Please be aware that this is not a cage diving trip and that it is an open water experience.

Shear Water can sleep 11 clients plus accompanying leader in comfort, but to increase the quality of the diving and the shark experiences, we intend to limit the trip to only 9 divers plus Charles Hood.