Shark Photography

[ce4jesus 1]

After seeing Doug's excellent shot of an Oceanic White Tip the other day I wondered how I'd react to such a large shark being that close. My thoughts are that it comes with experience. As I'm growing with my photography, sharks are something I've always wanted to photograph but need some advice. I've encountered small solitary sharks on dives but as you know they are quite shy of humans and usually stay well out of the range of your camera. My brief encounters left me excited to try and take a photo, but not scared by any means. However, these were small 5-7ft, solitary sharks. I've never encountered more than 1 and I've never encountered a large shark. Where would you start to get yourself used to, more comfortable, around multiple large sharks? Would you start with a Bahamas Wetpixel experience or something a little less intimidating? I've loved sharks my entire life and watch or read anything that comes out and taking one of those closes ups would be the thrill of a lifetime.

[loftus 42]

After seeing Doug's excellent shot of an Oceanic White Tip the other day I wondered how I'd react to such a large shark being that close. My thoughts are that it comes with experience. As I'm growing with my photography, sharks are something I've always wanted to photograph but need some advice. I've encountered small solitary sharks on dives but as you know they are quite shy of humans and usually stay well out of the range of your camera. My brief encounters left me excited to try and take a photo, but not scared by any means. However, these were small 5-7ft, solitary sharks. I've never encountered more than 1 and I've never encountered a large shark. Where would you start to get yourself used to, more comfortable, around multiple large sharks? Would you start with a Bahamas Wetpixel experience or something a little less intimidating? I've loved sharks my entire life and watch or read anything that comes out and taking one of those closes ups would be the thrill of a lifetime.

I think a great place to start is a Bahamas Shark dive like those offered by Stuart Cove's. I took my wife there with this objective before our Galapagos trip. I think Stuart Cove's does a great job with neophytes with an initial dive in the feeding area where the sharks are generally milling about, and then the second actual feeding dive where things get a little more frenzied and chaotic. The take home message for most people after that dive is that sharks are interested in the bait, not in people. Once people realize that, the rest is a breeze. Depending on your comfort level, starting out with a dive like Tiger Beach could be intimidating.

[stewsmith 14]

i wouldnt know where to suggest to start, obviously one of the JASA trips would get you want you want. close up and personal. i have dived Galapagos, Cocos and just returned from a trip out with oceanic whitetips in egypt and can honestly say that when you are inches from any shark it is exciting. i have never felt too threatend by them and always keep an eye out as to their positions when in blue water. the galapagos and cocos are a good place as you have the reef on one side of you for most of the dive so you only have to look in a few positions for incoming sharks. i got bumped a couple of days ago by an oceanic whitetip. i had one in my view finder and another come from behind hitting my neck with its left pectoral fin. where ever you decide to dive with them dont give up your life long love of the shark. the are amazing animals only portraid as different.

 

safe diving, stew

[PRC 2]

The JASA trips are very well controlled events and Jim is very good in the water.

 

Having said that you need to expect to be up close to the wildlife day one - first dive

(well maybe second - depending on you doing a shakedown dive close to port).

 

One good thing with the Wetpixel trips will be that there others there who will have done the trip before,

this does not mean that they are 'experienced' as Jim will always have a wild card or two to spring.

 

Paul C

Edited October 24, 2008 by PRC

[loftus 42]

The JASA trips are very well controlled events and Jim is very good in the water.

 

Having said that you need to expect to be up close to the wildlife day one - first dive

(well maybe second - depending on you doing a shakedown dive close to port).

 

One good thing with the Wetpixel trips will be that there others there who will have done the trip before,

this does not mean that they are 'experienced' as Jim will always have a wild card or two to spring.

 

Paul C

As much as I am a big fan of JASA trips, I think if someone wants a much more mellow first introduction to up close shark encounters, they are better off starting with Carribean Reef Sharks like the Stuart Cove experience than having their first up close experience with anywhere from 1-12 Tigers in the water. Really just depends how anxious you are getting started.