tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36324352.post7770092663816705224..comments2024-03-25T12:38:37.998+12:00Comments on The Best Shark Dive in the World!: Bimini - here we go again!Andrew Cumminghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14675497080700112390noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36324352.post-39688122858922847642015-03-24T09:11:03.853+12:002015-03-24T09:11:03.853+12:00I spent two days diving with Grant 31st January an...I spent two days diving with Grant 31st January and 1st February this year with a group of my clients. We might have been lucky as we were the only boat there, but Grant's briefing was clear, he, Katy and Jack made divers stick to it (stay in a line, close up when someone inside you surfaces) and they work. 7 GHs both days. If Grant says he sees a difference in their behaviour with different Christopherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03824517286440847623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36324352.post-86490633279009679152014-12-30T13:43:28.404+13:002014-12-30T13:43:28.404+13:00Yup, that shark.
The one whose transmitter was ...Yup, that shark. <br /><br />The one whose transmitter was cut off on February 20th, 2014, right in the middle of the February 18-22 visit from her biggest fan (aboard the only non-local shark boat diving here during that time).<br /><br /> Grant Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11247789037954238769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36324352.post-71076692566262683972014-12-30T10:15:32.168+13:002014-12-30T10:15:32.168+13:00You mean, THAT Shark?
The one where somebody ripp...You mean, THAT Shark?<br /><br />The one where <i>somebody</i> ripped off a tag belonging to the Sharklab because she wasn't anymore pretty enough for her fan page?DaSharkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06787762757245289307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36324352.post-68050948658726271592014-12-30T03:07:37.176+13:002014-12-30T03:07:37.176+13:00Yeah, believe it or not we saw a fairly quick diff...Yeah, believe it or not we saw a fairly quick difference in behavior when we were 'hand-feeding' in the past. I don't think for a second that it made the sharks consider that divers WERE food, but I do think that it made the sharks consider that the divers might HAVE food (at least at that site, on that dive).<br /><br />And I totally agree about the "wildlife harassment" Grant Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11247789037954238769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36324352.post-6594074792053489142014-12-29T16:54:38.856+13:002014-12-29T16:54:38.856+13:00PS - totally agree about not posting everything on...PS - totally agree about not posting everything on social media.<br /><br />Obviously, from time to time, we have to push away a Shark - but contrary to the opinion of the punters, this is neither <i>wildlife harassment</i> nor <i>Shark whispering</i> but simply people doing their job. <br />And none of the Sharks are being harmed. <br /><br />Good talking BTW! :)DaSharkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06787762757245289307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36324352.post-17696054067063891092014-12-29T16:13:36.167+13:002014-12-29T16:13:36.167+13:00Our Bulls have been hand fed for 15 years now, and...Our Bulls have been hand fed for 15 years now, and clearly differentiate between the hand and the bait, and do not at all go harassing divers with no bait etc - so at least here we see zero evidence for the veracity of the infamous <i>associating divers with food</i> meme.<br /><br />But yes, we do wear chainmail gloves as mistakes happen, and so should you - gotta stack the cards in your favor, DaSharkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06787762757245289307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36324352.post-32591666435167102312014-12-29T16:04:02.829+13:002014-12-29T16:04:02.829+13:00Without being too wordy, by "direct hand feed...Without being too wordy, by "direct hand feeding" we meant the act of literally letting the shark take bait directly from our hands. We've done this in the past, and seen that the sharks quickly learn to look for food at the end of your arm. We don't want that obviously, as neither us nor our divers are wearing chainmail.<br /><br />We do use our hands though, pulling one Grant Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11247789037954238769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36324352.post-29434513142173332032014-12-29T15:34:10.570+13:002014-12-29T15:34:10.570+13:00Hahahaha - your ears must have been ringing, I jus...Hahahaha - your ears must have been ringing, I just found two of those pics in my in-box! :)<br /><br />The question I have is, <i>why no hand feeding?</i><br />We find it much more selective as we can control the behavior of the animals by extending or withholding food; also, we can then choose exactly who gets it, meaning that in your case, the Nurses wouldn't come steal it whilst provokingDaSharkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06787762757245289307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36324352.post-52152784999261900162014-12-29T11:02:57.808+13:002014-12-29T11:02:57.808+13:00Thanks for everyone's support. We're real...Thanks for everyone's support. We're really hoping that this years Hammerhead Season in Bimini will be the best yet.<br /><br />It's also worth admitting that I'm sure there will be photos posted online that show me and my colleagues touching the front of the "hammer" on some sharks. We are positioned behind (up-current) the bait boxes, and few individual hammerheads Grant Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11247789037954238769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36324352.post-61106067080690865492014-12-27T11:26:20.386+13:002014-12-27T11:26:20.386+13:00We are optimistic that changes will be made and pe...We are optimistic that changes will be made and people will be held accountable. I always encourage people to dive with Neal Watson's operation because<br />1. Grant & Katie are incredible dive guides with a genuine ( no hidden agenda)passion for these animals and safely sharing them with others.<br />2. Neal's operation also collaborates with the Sharklab and donates money to them Shark-Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11990345482236035890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36324352.post-6355510486967789062014-12-25T10:26:59.415+13:002014-12-25T10:26:59.415+13:00There is no better example of how to correctly con...There is no better example of how to correctly conduct oneself around those majestic hammerheads, than the work done by Grant and Katie (and other wonderful Biminites like Jillian and Dunc). Their beautiful photos, resulting from years of work with the hammerhead population, prove that these dives can be done without any harm or harassment to the sharks and should serve as a model to be Lindsay L. Graffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11746259516067277282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36324352.post-21627091667755363162014-12-25T08:27:47.816+13:002014-12-25T08:27:47.816+13:00Umm, the ONLY folks too stupid to see through that...Umm, the ONLY folks too stupid to see through that particular wild animal charade were the Backwards Baseball Cappys Facebook friends. The kind of people who regularly struggle with Velcro on tennis shoes each morning. Meh.Finger Bang That Shark!noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36324352.post-14274474916333838412014-12-24T23:03:01.461+13:002014-12-24T23:03:01.461+13:00'The backwards facing baseball caps of the wor...'The backwards facing baseball caps of the world and the insane shark interaction posse know one thing - once you sink your giant ego under the waves, anything goes.'<br />.<br />.<br />.<br />I took particular exception, last time the <b>backwards-facing-baseball-cap-midget-Napoleon-wannabe-shark-superhero-non-event-non-entity-nobody</b> was molesting the Bimini hammers, that he lied jsdnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36324352.post-33915611212757717362014-12-24T11:09:20.152+13:002014-12-24T11:09:20.152+13:00Under the thin guise of conservation aka "wha...Under the thin guise of conservation aka "what sharks can do for me this trip" little will change I am afraid.<br /><br />The backwards facing baseball caps of the world and the insane shark interaction posse know one thing - once you sink your giant ego under the waves, anything goes.<br /><br />Sadly, expect more of the arms race, Grant is a good man faced with a monumental task. You Finger Banging a Shark!noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36324352.post-58520491426601478952014-12-24T09:19:02.560+13:002014-12-24T09:19:02.560+13:00Indeed, we shall see!
Here in Fiji, both the mole...Indeed, we shall see!<br /><br />Here in Fiji, both the molesters and especially, the people barging in and setting up illegal businesses without work permits or business licenses etc would be immediately thrown out and declared <i>personae non gratae</i> = permanently black-listed.<br />Applied to the Bahamas, that would mean no more Bimini but also, no more TB or Cat Island etc etc.<br /><br />DaSharkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06787762757245289307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36324352.post-76251009226438088732014-12-24T05:36:19.677+13:002014-12-24T05:36:19.677+13:00This will be interesting to follow. Enforcement i...This will be interesting to follow. Enforcement in deed or only in theory? Time will tell.<br /><br />But always - and you know who you are out there --keep your filthy mitts off the marine life. They don't ask to be molested. Grabbing wildlife is beyond disrespectful of nature. It only demonstrates a monumental ignorance.<br /><br />Enough is enough of the "shark pedophilia", Douglas SEIFERT, DIVE Magazinenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36324352.post-44939650265599428972014-12-24T02:53:24.860+13:002014-12-24T02:53:24.860+13:00It is definitely a step into the right direction a...It is definitely a step into the right direction and I am happy to see Grant as the person in charge of this. From his experience he knows the different perspectives of the parties involved. Him and Katy are some of the most competent and dedicated guides I have met and are constantly putting in work to make this a sustainable win-win for everybody. Hats off to them and hopefully what we had to Lukas Müllerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07892568792658634544noreply@blogger.com