SHEAR WATER SHARK SAFARI

Diving adventures in 'shark infested' water

Thursday 13th January - Saturday 22nd January 2005 (10 days)

Leader: John Boyle

Group size limit: 8 divers plus leader

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.

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.

Now that Walker's Cay's new management has decided to close its Bull Shark experience to divers, our well-appreciated 'Shark Week Specials' are perforce no more. Luckily, there is a liveaboard which can re-create a Shark Week Special alternative, and indeed add some exciting extras. Jim and Anna Abernethy, who operate their boat Shear Water , have been exploring some of the most remote Bahamian areas in search of first class shark action. By 'chumming' in a variety of secret locations they now have 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, hefty Bull Sharks and sleek Lemon Sharks glide below as massive Great Hammerheads circle on the surface. 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!

Divers who know their sharks will appreciate how rare it is to encounter that magnificent, solitary, sickle-finned leviathan, the Great Hammerhead. This massive and spectacular tropical shark is only rarely encountered by divers and the chance to witness at first-hand these magnificent creatures is an opportunity that comes to very few of us. The Great Hammerhead is very different from, and considerably more impressive than, the Scalloped Hammerhead which tropical divers regularly come across cruising in small to large schools. Normally solitary, Great Hammerheads grow to a colossal 6 metres in length, are hugely bulky and are adorned with a gigantic sickle-shaped first dorsal fin. An encounter with this rare super-predator must rank as one of the most awe-inspiring of wilderness diving experiences! Add a good possibility of similarly sized Tiger Sharks to the equation, as well as the typical suite of tropical Atlantic reef sharks, and you know that this Shark Safari has the potential to rank as 'The Ultimate Shark Quest'.

The main aim of our Shear Water Shark Safari is to dive with, photograph, video or catalogue as many shark species as possible, hopefully including Great Hammerhead, Bull Shark, Caribbean Reef Shark, Lemon Shark, Tiger Shark and Black-tipped Reef Shark.

Shark Trust trustee and award-winning underwater film maker John Boyle will be leading this trip. John, of Shark Bay Films, has made over 20 underwater documentary films for television worldwide and has previously worked with sharks in the Bahamas.

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 while divers are in the water. Please be aware that this is not a cage diving trip and that it is an open water experience.

Shear Water can sleep 12 clients in comfort, but to increase the quality of the diving and the shark experiences, we intend to limit the trip to only 8 divers plus leader.

Itinerary

Thursday 13th January: Continental Airlines morning flight from London (Gatwick) to West Palm Beach, via Newark, arriving in the early evening. Transfer to Shear Water for 8 nights. Shear Water heads out to its secret location in Bahamian waters around 2130.

Friday 14th January - Thursday 20th January: Seven days of diving at every opportunity.

Friday 21st January: Breakfast on board, followed by transfer to West Palm Beach Airport. Continental Airlines afternoon flight bound for London via Newark.

Saturday 22nd January: Morning arrival at London (Gatwick).

£2702 London/London

Includes:

" Scheduled flights London (Gatwick)/Newark/London (Gatwick) with Continental Airlines.

" Transfers between West Palm Beach Airport and Shear Water .

" 8 nights full board accommodation on Shear Water including soft drinks, fruit and snacks. Wine is served with dinner each evening.

" 7 days diving.

" Services of John Boyle as leader.

Important: Accommodation on the boat is in 3 cabins with 2 bunk beds and one cabin with 6 bunk beds (with privacy curtains'). Single occupancy is not available. Furthermore, we are unable to guarantee separate sex accommodation, although we will do our best within the obvious constraints. There are two full bathrooms with shower. Soap and shampoo is supplied. Cabins are air-conditioned.

Please note : A departure and usage tax of US$50 is payable in cash on the boat.

Deposit: £900