Trip report from a R S liveboard

[Ken Hawk]

Here are a few pics and a report of our trip on the Grand Sea Serpant.

I won't bother with the flight and stuff, it's being done to death, but the boat has had a coat of paint looks fresh and I enjoyed the food.

After the checkout dive on a reef somewere we set off for dive 2 on Elphinstone, no sharks but I did see a baby long nose hawkfish

Day 2 Daedelus
1st dive we swam against a bit of a current for most of the dive
We saw a Hammerhead & a Threasher, they were a bit far off for a photo

2nd dive lots of fish and stuff.
So on the 3rd dive I sugested that we hang onto the anchor line to try and get some closeup shark shots as we had seen a few Oceanic white tips circling the boat.
Jane Peter and I were the last group in, as planned we swam to the anchor line.
There were 4 Oceanics swimming around us for about 5mins, the odd on came close enought for the odd shot, but I wanted more pics to make sure,
so we waited and waited for 30mins, I am starting to feel a bit guilty as there is nothing much to see except a big barracuda under the boat.
Then the galley must have thrown out some leftovers and a big ball of fish went in for lunch.
Then the sharks came back!!!!!
There was a bit of a current so I had to let go of the line as I was getting bobbed up and down, making it impossible to get a decent shot, as I let go my weight belt came loose, so camera in one hand belt in the other I swam back still taking pics, handing the camera off I secured the weightbelt and back to taking pics.
After about 5mins of some very close encounters I noticed that the sharks attitude had changed and they became very aggresive, in my best sign language I gave the the lets get the F**K OUT OF HERE signal.
We had the full length of the boat to swim against a bit of a current, not that we could of outswam a shark anyway.
One of the sharks bumped into my leg so I hit it with the camera has hard as I could, it shuddered off a bit and came straight back, I wacked it again and it went to Jane who kicked it off with her fins.
I got inbetween the shark and Jane and tryed purging my reg which also made no difference. I tryed taking a few shots so that the strobe flash would scare it off, but it only dropped back a few feet then came back again.
Thinking that it was the electronics in the strobe I turned the camera off.
As we got to the stern of the boat the crew threw a line which Jane grabbed and was soon back on deck, as I got too the ladder I could here one of the guides shouting at Peter to go down 2 meters.
I climbed the ladder in record pace back onto the dive deck.
Jane and I said together ''WERE'S PETER!!!!!!!''
At this point Peter had grabbed a throw line and was dragged back to the ladder, any faster he would have being water skiing.
As Peter boarded the boat, he came out with the comment of the week

''DO THEY BITE''


So after shower and a change of underpants we opened a bottle of vodka.

So here are a few of the pics, may add more later.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d151/buchhawk/RezShark1.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d151/buchhawk/RezSharkhead.jpg

Note the lack of Pilot fish in the next photos
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d151/buchhawk/RezShark2.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d151/buchhawk/RezBestshark.jpg

And a cpl of fishy ones

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d151/buchhawk/RezJaneClown.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d151/buchhawk/RezJaneStoned.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d151/buchhawk/RezTurtle.jpg


http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d151/buchhawk/RezMorayDonald.jpg


Thanks Ken

[tarczy]

Ken . . .

Nice images . . . GREAT STORY!! :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

[Ken Hawk]

A cpl of pics of Peter on his Sentinal

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d151/buchhawk/RezPeterintrim.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d151/buchhawk/RezPeterloop.jpg

Thanks Ken

[Sharp]

Very good story Ken and excellent pictures!:)

I have been twice in elphinstone. First time I saw Oseanic white tips but second time I didn´t. Those really could can very close to divers.

I am goint there next may, perhaps I see those again?

[Ken Hawk]

Very good story Ken and excellent pictures!:)

I have been twice in elphinstone. First time I saw Oseanic white tips but second time I didn´t. Those really could can very close to divers.

I am goint there next may, perhaps I see those again?

Which boat are you going on?

Them shots were taken at Daedelus, I don't think it is that wise to do what we did there as they have tasted human blood after 2 Russia girls went snorkling when told not too by the dive guides.

I did get a few more shots from Elphinstone later in the week, that I will post after I proccess them, must say they were a lot more friendly for OWT's

Ken

[Daniel]

Interesting story for sure and wonderful photo's too!

[Sharp]

Which boat are you going on?

Them shots were taken at Daedelus, I don't think it is that wise to do what we did there as they have tasted human blood after 2 Russia girls went snorkling when told not too by the dive guides.

I did get a few more shots from Elphinstone later in the week, that I will post after I proccess them, must say they were a lot more friendly for OWT's

Ken

We are going with M/Y EMperor Elite (http://www.emperordivers.com/liveaboards_fleet_elite.php).

I am not sure that is the Daedalus on our route? I hope that it would be. It is quite far away from main land.

[scubagirl]

Nice shots, Ken, and great story. Glad to hear you all made it back all right.

[Jonathan Bird]

Cool shots and story. Anything with sharks is fun!!

What kind of rebreather is that last guy wearing?

Jonathan

[Ken Hawk]

Cool shots and story. Anything with sharks is fun!!

What kind of rebreather is that last guy wearing?

Jonathan

Here you go. http://www.technologyindepth.com/sentinel.html

[sorvju-f]

Here are a few pics and a report of our trip on the Grand Sea Serpant.

I won't bother with the flight and stuff, it's being done to death, but the boat has had a coat of paint looks fresh and I enjoyed the food.

After the checkout dive on a reef somewere we set off for dive 2 on Elphinstone, no sharks but I did see a baby long nose hawkfish

Day 2 Daedelus
1st dive we swam against a bit of a current for most of the dive
We saw a Hammerhead & a Threasher, they were a bit far off for a photo

2nd dive lots of fish and stuff.
So on the 3rd dive I sugested that we hang onto the anchor line to try and get some closeup shark shots as we had seen a few Oceanic white tips circling the boat.
Jane Peter and I were the last group in, as planned we swam to the anchor line.
There were 4 Oceanics swimming around us for about 5mins, the odd on came close enought for the odd shot, but I wanted more pics to make sure,
so we waited and waited for 30mins, I am starting to feel a bit guilty as there is nothing much to see except a big barracuda under the boat.
Then the galley must have thrown out some leftovers and a big ball of fish went in for lunch.
Then the sharks came back!!!!!
There was a bit of a current so I had to let go of the line as I was getting bobbed up and down, making it impossible to get a decent shot, as I let go my weight belt came loose, so camera in one hand belt in the other I swam back still taking pics, handing the camera off I secured the weightbelt and back to taking pics.
After about 5mins of some very close encounters I noticed that the sharks attitude had changed and they became very aggresive, in my best sign language I gave the the lets get the F**K OUT OF HERE signal.
We had the full length of the boat to swim against a bit of a current, not that we could of outswam a shark anyway.
One of the sharks bumped into my leg so I hit it with the camera has hard as I could, it shuddered off a bit and came straight back, I wacked it again and it went to Jane who kicked it off with her fins.
I got inbetween the shark and Jane and tryed purging my reg which also made no difference. I tryed taking a few shots so that the strobe flash would scare it off, but it only dropped back a few feet then came back again.
Thinking that it was the electronics in the strobe I turned the camera off.
As we got to the stern of the boat the crew threw a line which Jane grabbed and was soon back on deck, as I got too the ladder I could here one of the guides shouting at Peter to go down 2 meters.
I climbed the ladder in record pace back onto the dive deck.
Jane and I said together ''WERE'S PETER!!!!!!!''
At this point Peter had grabbed a throw line and was dragged back to the ladder, any faster he would have being water skiing.
As Peter boarded the boat, he came out with the comment of the week

''DO THEY BITE''


So after shower and a change of underpants we opened a bottle of vodka.

So here are a few of the pics, may add more later.


Thanks Ken

Short but good report, Ken!

I have heard also this aggressivity of these oceanic whitetip sharks in Red Sea. Not heard that someone have injured. Anyhow they are wild animals and we should respect them and be carefull.

I liked most one full body shark pic.

Thanks for sharing.

Jukka

[Ken Hawk]

A friend of mine has just got back from a simalar itinery, they had a go at him too.
I think it is only time until someone gets a nip.
So I would warn anyone going to Daedelus to be extra careful.
The ones at Elphinstone seem a bit more friendly, if you want photographs.

Take care Ken

[sorvju-f]

http://www.divernet.com/home_diving_news/261492/shark_kills_snorkeller_in_red_sea.html

Jukka

[Jonathan Bird]

What a bummer. Of course they are already blaming a shark feeding operation that they are not even sure exists, rather than just blaming the shark for being hungry.

I love sharks and want them protected, so I oppose the demonizing of sharks which has been so prevalent in the past. However, I also oppose the "gentrification" of sharks which is the rage in the diver world these days. They are not cuddly little bunny rabbits any more than they are bloodthirsty killers. They are wild animals with big teeth and appetites. Rarely will they attack people, but it does happen. People need to understand that going into the water with a shark can be dangerous. It usually is not harmful, just like flying on an airplane. But airplanes crash, and sharks bite.

However, snorkeling with sharks is downright stupid in my opinion and I have learned my lesson the hard way on that one. This woman was free diving with an Oceanic White tip. Not smart.

Jonathan

[tkelly]

I don't think the sharks prefer snorkelers. It's true that bubbles seem to make them nervous however, I find it easier to get closer when snorkeling. Also, I would rather have an aggressive confrontation, if at all, at the surface. At depth it is too easy for the shark to quickly get above you, turn and bite. At the surface you are restricted to a plane and it is easier to hold onto or hit them in nose to deter or avoid a bite.
I see a few common mistakes that people make when snorkeling or diving with sharks. The first is that people don't have something in their hands, like a camera or a simple stick, that they can keep between themselves and the sharks mouth. Granted sharks are not always expected on a dive, in which case the person should probably keep their fins between the shark and themselves, if there is nothing else and the shark is making an aggressive approach.
The second, and worse mistake is that people stop paying attention to where the sharks are. Once you lose sight, and the sharks are in the area, you have recipe for getting bit. The number one rule should be that you always know where all the sharks are. If there are two many to track, it may be a good time to get out of the water. My observation is that people forget about the sharks, or assume the current sharks are not aggressive; as they get near the boat ladder and assume that the dive is over the divers let their guard down. Which is a great biting opportunity for the sharks.
A third observation is that some people just don't know how to respond when the shark gets fearfully close. People respond to fear differently. Some people have a passive panic, and freeze up. Shark diving is probably not a good recreational activity if you are of that type.
When a shark comes at you, ideally you have a stick or a camera that you can keep between you and the shark. If you must bump the shark with some authority on the nose. Hard enough to let it know you are serious but not so hard as to scare it or piss it off. If you don't have a camera you should use your fist with a short jab. If it keeps coming grab and hold the nose at arms length to move the mouth away from a position where it can bite you.

As shark diving gains popularity, inevitably people will get bit. Biting will be more common. If you leave raw meat in the woods in hope of attracting bears, the bears show up, and people drop from the trees to take pictures, often the bear will take off. Sometimes the bear will stay around. Sometime a person will get mauled. You just aren't going to know what the bear has in mind.
There is no way stop a shark from biting if it wants to, but you can reduce the risk and take preventive measures such that successful attacks are a rarity.

[Jonathan Bird]

I don't think the sharks prefer snorkelers.


Todd, I respect your opinion on that but my experiences make me disagree. The only times I have feared for my life with sharks was when I was snorkeling. When you get into the water on snorkel with aggressive sharks that are hungry, they will chase you right out of the water. You get in with the same group on scuba, and they maintain a reasonable distance. I was so close to being eaten by a group of gray reef sharks (snorkeling) once that I still wonder how the heck I got out of it. I was once nearly bitten by a silvertip (a species that rarely approaches divers at all) while snorkeling. I have snorkeled with other sharks without harm (Blues, Oceanic White tips, even Tigers) but my experience says it's a bad idea. Things can go sour quickly. That plane of the surface doesn't make you safer...it gives the sharks something to push you up against, like a wall. If you can't get out, you get bitten.

If you are in the water with a Great white that seems interested in biting you...would you rather be on scuba or on a snorkel? I'll take scuba.

There is no way stop a shark from biting if it wants to, but you can reduce the risk and take preventive measures such that successful attacks are a rarity.

True, but if there are 30 gray reef sharks, you're toast.

[tkelly]

I agree with you that at the surface you can be trapped as if against a wall. That can work both ways because it allows you force the shark down and away. I was thinking of it as a one on one encounter.
When there are lots of sharks I would definitely choose scuba over snorkeling as a safer method. The most dangerous situation I can think of would be multiple sharks at the surface.

I think you are spot on in that there are species considerations. Which is a bit of a balance to consider. If you have a Mako around in the Northeast, the only way to keep them around for photos, in my experience, is by snorkeling. They tend not to stick around if there are scuba divers. Blue sharks don't care either way. Tiger's seem more aggressive to those on the surface than below the surface in my experience.

If a white sharks come at me, I would prefer a submarine. ;)

[tarczy]

Interesting discussion in the last few threads.

My comments, for what they are worth . . .

Sharks are apex predators, and like so many other apex predators, they like "easy" food (I'm speaking in generalities . . . some species of sharks feed in other ways). Sharks are lazy feeders. Hence, sharks generally go after things that are dead or dying because they pose little risk to the shark. Where do dead or dying things end up in the ocean? You're right! ON THE SURFACE. Hence, many species of sharks are constantly patrolling the ocean's surfaces for dead or dying food. If you're a snorkeler, from below you look like something dead or dying on the surface. You're just asking for trouble regardless of whether or not you are carrying something to put between you and the shark. In the case of a Great White, a snorkler flailing about on the surface looks a lot like a Sea Lion swimming about. The Sea Lion is the Great White's favorite food.

In the unfortunate event you are attacked by a shark, hitting the shark in the snout will probably yield little to no results. The Mythbusters (http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/mythbusters/video/central.html) did some real life research on this subject and found that the best place to hit a shark is in its gills or along the side of its body. A punch to the nose did nothing.

The Great White Shark is built like a bullet. Its attack behavior is such that it comes at its prey in a straight line, only being able to adjust its trajectory in small increments. In other words, the Great White can't turn in small circles. Hence, a good defense strategy against an attacking Great White is to hold your ground until the last possible moment, and then move quickly to the left or right of the Great White's line of attack. You need to picture yourself as a Bullfighter - brave enough to hold your ground in the face of a charging bull, only to move out of the way at the last second. That said, researchers in South Africa are finding that touching a Great White on its snout stops the beast in its tracks (http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/shark-week-shark-touch.html).

Bottom line . . . no snorkeling around sharks . . . and stay in the cage when Great Whites are around (unless you have huevos of steel . . . like Jonathan).

Just my 2 cents. :D

[Ken Hawk]

I have C&P this from another forum.


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Most of you are aware of the death of the snorkeler at St. Johns by an Oceanic WhiteTip Shark (Carcharhinus longimanus) earlier this month. The death was especially tragic because it could have been avoided if guests had been stopped from snorkelling. Allowing guests to snorkel at St. Johns and other Far Islands, especially when C. longimanus is presence, is highly unprofessional. Not only does it place guests at risk of injury, but such unprofessional action gives the whole Egyptian Red Sea dive industry a bad reputation. Since the death of the snorkeler, dive guides have reported to HEPCA that some C. longimanus at the Far Islands are displaying overly inquisitive or even aggressive behaviour towards them while diving. This included sharks near the surface moving rapidly towards divers at 30 m. Others have reported being bumped, tanks nudged and sharks swimming extremely close to them and their guests. There may be a number of reasons why these animals are behaving this way. It could be due to the illegal actions of some divers who have been feeding them in these areas or boat crews baiting them. Alternatively, or in combination with, it may be due to natural seasonal causes relating to reproduction or the presence of natural prey. Whatever the reason(s), we urge guides to be especially vigilant when diving in areas where C. longimanus is commonly encountered. In light of this recent information, we have expanded our earlier list of recommendations when taking guests to areas where this species is commonly encountered. The earlier and new recommendations are:
• No swimming and snorkelling in waters where this and other large species of sharks are known to frequent
• No deliberate feeding of this species or the dumping of waste from boats which may attract this and other potentially dangerous sharks (both activities are illegal in Egyptian waters)
• No SCUBA diving without an experienced dive guide in waters where this species is known to frequent
• In areas such as the Far Islands, where this species is frequently observed, it is advisable that divers enter (and are retrieved from) the water as close as possible to the reef.
• In areas such as the Far Islands it is illegal to be involved in any night diving activities.
• Dive in groups and keep close together.
• Two dive guides should accompany each group.
• Divers should leave the water immediately if sharks display signs of aggression such as nudging or circling divers, or moving rapidly towards them.
• Report to HEPCA any incidents of aggressive behaviour by these animals towards divers, and
• Report to HEPCA the names of vessels whose divers or crew are observed feeding or baiting sharks.
Until recently, the Egypt Red Sea diving industry had an impressive track record of safely introducing divers to one of the largest and wide-ranging predators on the planet. With your help we would like to rebuild that record. For more information of this species in the Egyptian Red Sea go to: http://www.longimanus.info/species-info.htm
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