Blog about "The World's best Shark Dive" by Beqa Adventure Divers.
Featuring up to eight regular species of Sharks and over 400 different species of fish, Shark diving doesn't get any better!
Showing posts with label French Polynesia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label French Polynesia. Show all posts
I was staying at Sané and Annabelle's epic Tetamanu Village and was fortunate to catch the magic moment when the sun reflects off the Sharks on an early morning incoming tide - and for you insiders, the first two clips are from the challenging trou aux requins in Apataki.
Notice how the Sharks are barely moving?
They are literally surfing the current - and here's the according paper courtesy of Yannis, Johann, Serge, Charlieet al, inclusive of how they use a conveyor-belt positioning system to ensure that the groups remain stationary over the most advantageous spots.
Same-same but different: this is a huge GHH nailing a Grey Reefie in French Polynesia - source. Remember the paper? Click for detail!
Check this out, amazing.
But, the predation at the end?
Why is that Blacktip so lethargic - maybe because that shoot is staged = because that Shark had been caught and was being used as bait, which would also explain why the drone operator was able to conveniently zoom in before the action unfolded?
Honi qui mal y pense!
Anyway.
Incidentally, note how the Blacktips use the shallow water to escape - paper here, synopsis here.
This is the infamous, highly ritualized agonistic display specific to the Grey Reefies.
And incidentally, other Shark species feature other agonistic behaviors that are quite different. And for you Shark whisperers out there, yes pectoral fin depression does play a role - but only when it is sustained and bilateral, and coupled with other agonistic elements: in the overwhelming majority of cases, a Shark depressing one or both pecs is in fact either braking or making a tight turn!
Just saying!
But back to that attack.
It was totally preventable and the divers should have heeded the obvious warning and turned around as soon as they saw the Shark's behavior - but it appears that they just didn't understand, and I must say that I'm deeply impressed by the sang froid of the victim who despite being bitten, losing his mask and losing his main gas supply in 80 meters managed to complete his 2 hour decompression!
Yeah that would be the absolute genius I referenced here.
And like all those other self promoting media whores in Ramsey's pathetic Ohana, or whatever, he is obviously a Shark whisperer. And he is obviously not molesting those perplexed Tigers for personal vanity and for camera = $$$. Instead he is, reluctantly, literally putting his life on the line for conservation, in order to dispel the myth! And to calm them down because that's obviously necessary! For the Sharks!
And incidentally, all this invaluable whispering, Shark conserving and myth-dispelling is
happening smack in the middle of one of the few well enforced Shark sanctuaries where all Sharks are already fully protected!
And incidentally, where Shark feeding is currently banned.
And yes once again this umpteenth Shark stupidity would really be nothing new - or do you believe that those Tigers would approach the dude sans bait in the water?
I mean, seriously!
But worry not, it is merely a continuation of the same old tired and disrespectful shenanigans, and there really is no need to elaborate - just follow the link at the very top and for the record, for once I agree with David 1000%!
And how about the following.
It looks like shortly after my recent post on the subject, the victim of that Tiger Shark bite has posted a third and much more graphic video of the incident.
Before the usual couch farting apologists start boring everybody with their interpretations and excuses: this is bad bad bad, and the dude is incredibly lucky that the tank took the brunt of the abuse and that he got away with only minor lacerations.
And because people don't stop asking - no it was most definitely not us, nor was it the guys down the road!
Really - what a fucking disaster.
And to think that for years, everyone there has been personally Schooled in ADORE-SANE!
Eric keeps cranking therm out, and I am irritated.
This time it's about those Lemon Shark feeds in Bora Bora, and several Shark bites that ensued, which is incidentally much like what happened with those Lemons in Moorea.
The description of the events is probably correct and like I said back here, much if not all is a direct consequence of those being multi-user sites with poor and/or not commonly observed feeding protocols, and with competitive pressure and bravado leading to unsustainable practices.
Once again it's same old same old and as such, really quite boring - the more as barring a miracle, those French Polynesian dives are very likely a thing of the past anyway!
But I remain irritated.
This is because Table 1 appears to want to expand those species-, location- and context-specific observations to Shark diving in general, and appears to suggest that especially hand feeding will inevitably lead to bites as per the annoying depiction at the top - click for detail.
No don't worry I'm not going to unleash.
In their generalization, those assertions are simply not correct - and I will gladly leave it at that as we Shark divers know better, and as the naysayers cannot been swayed anyway.
Just this.
Despite of all the breathy punditry, ranging from frankly idiotic to simply frustrating, Shark diving remains orders of magnitude safer than SCUBA - and from a human safety perspective, that is really all one has to know. Choose a responsible operator with good safety protocols both in the water and especially also when it comes to managing potential accidents (= first aid gear and training? Evacuation procedure? Ask!!!), and you should be just fine.
And when it comes to the other real and perceived potential effects of Shark diving, you may want to re-read e.g. this or any other post I've written on the topic.
According to this piece, the new Environmental Law of French Polynesia is targeting both Elasmobranch feeding and Whale watching, see page 2416ff. The law has been published without any proper scientific backing and zero consultations with the concerned stakeholders, and the operators are said to be in a state of shock. Both activities have been a mainstay of French Polynesia's tourism industry for many decades, and in the case of Shark diving both in baited and unbaited conditions, many constant refinements that have taken place of the years make this one of the most sustainable, exhilarating and safe such activities anywhere.
The rules are still to be translated into specific regulations.
So here's to cooler heads prevailing, and that this will merely result in better management and supervision, which is probably a good thing - this NOT because of the infamous Tiger Shark dives at the Vallée Blanche that are actually extremely well conducted and very safe indeed, but because of the many unregulated snorkeling tours with Reefies and Stingrays in baited conditions, see e.g. here that are definitely a cause for concern.
So I remain hopeful - for now!
French Polynesia is awash with excellent Shark researchers who have collected a plethora of data and can easily inform the authorities. Right now as a friend remarks c'est bien n'importe
quoi- and one can most certainly do better.
To be continued no doubt - keep watching this space!
I've witnessed the Grouper spawning aggregation in Tetamanu ages ago and it remains one of the highlights of my diving career. Last year, a group of French and Swiss researchers and cinematographers did embark on a major mission to document the event, and this is finally the program depicting that expedition. Featuring renown marine biologist and adventurer Laurent Ballesta, it will also document a 24-hour rebreather dive at the height of the spawning cycle when the local Grey Reefies go on a rampage (and here!) among the Groupers.
This being Arte, I expect nothing short of epic - so make sure you don't miss it!
Finally protected - Shortfin Mako, stellar pic by Ozzie Sam!
Bloody excellent news!
After protecting all Sharks but the Shortfin (not the Longfin) Mako in 2006, French Polynesia has just abolished that exception. Not that it really matters: but with slightly less than 5million square kilometers, this may well be the world's largest Shark sanctuary.
Turns out that contrary to being strictly confined within rather limited reef habitats, (some) Blacktip Reefs in Moorea are embarking on a rather perilous inter-island crossing to Brando's Tetiaroa in order to give birth in the nursery there - and vice versa! Is that because they were born there? Very possibly, the more as it appears that the females always visit the same nursery!
I'm literally off to DEMA so this will have to be short.
Like I hinted then, the scavenging scene was staged.
The pictures above, likely screen grabs, are however most probably genuine. Johann is a very serious researcher and I am sure that he has done all the required due diligence before publishing his take.
I’ve done quite a few dives in Tiputa Pass on Rangiroa but never witnessed this, the more as I usually dive there in January when the Great Hammerheads stalk the mating Eagle Rays. Very deep diving, but extremely exciting and rewarding, too – check out the end of the video, those are real submarines!
If I remember correctly, this usually happens in March/April – but Tiputa is a very serious dive in up to 4 knots of current and in order to capture those spectacular images of mating Grey Reefs, one really needs to sit down with a rebreather and have lots of time at one’s disposal. If you are a tech guy, talk to veteran and still gung-ho (and you’ve been warned!) pioneer Yves Lefèvre of Raie Manta Club and possibly, if he buys it, to Denis of Blue Dolphins who has been using rebreathers there forever, and they may be able to help you out.
Tourist SCUBA divers are advised to rather try their luck in Tetamanu, or Fakarava South at the same time of the year.
Tetamanu is, by far, my favorite pass in the Tuamotus as the current is always manageable and there is a profusion of coral and fishes as a consequence – plus, there’s a resident group of Grey Reefs that are easy to approach and can number in the hundreds. And if you stay with Sané and the formidable Annabelle you can get out right out in front of the restaurant and play games with Calin Calin, the giant and very tame Napoleon Wrasse!
And talking of pets: take along heaps of DEET!
As to the subsequent natural predation by the Great Hammerhead, hmmm.
Anyway, great footage!
