Sharks, Sharks and More Shark Encounters!

Few words strike such fear in the subconscious of many humans like the word "shark!" The first thought that usually comes to mind when they hear this word is of a ferocious predator that will instantly devour any one or any thing it comes in contact with. With a mouthful of razor-sharp teeth and senses built to detect a drop of blood in a million parts of sea water or the faintest heartbeat of a fish, it is with little surprise that they are considered the Earth's ultimate predator.

Here I was on a twelve day expedition in hopes of encountering many different species of sharks — face to face. Without the safety of a cage or some exaggerated-sized weapon to fend them off, I was to enter their environment and come up close — really close! My choice of defense? Knowledge - nothing more, nothing less. Many swore that I was deranged when I mentioned what I would be doing on my trip. A few friends encouraged me to leave them some of my photos for their value was sure to increase once I departed on my way down to Davy Jones Locker; the typical story of a starving artist.

No amount of explanation would suffice. No photograph would prove them wrong. Sure, I wasn't foolish to realize these sharks, some much larger than me, had the potential of being life threatening. There was an inkling feeling that I wasn't in control; that I was at the mercy of these powerful creatures. Like the many foolish things I've done before, there was a certain amount of relief knowing that what I was doing had been done safely hundreds of times before. Still I was scared, but my curiosity and instinctive nature demanded that I go through with it.

And so it began on the first day of the expedition. Anchored on El Dorado reef, I anxiously don my dive gear. With my camera in hand, I enter the crystal clear emerald water and begin to slowly descend. Sleek, gray silhouettes contrast upon the porcelain white sand below. As these shadows approach the reef line they seem to disappear. It isn't until I reach the bottom at approximately 60 feet that their appearance is made apparent. All along I knew what those discernible shapes meant - sharks and a lot of them too! My heart races in excitement. My mind instantly recalls the fact that they can sense the slightest heart beat of a fish; much more that of a diver's heart racing at a thousand beats per minute. I can't help it though; adrenaline rushes through my body as they approach. Instinctively I retract my flailing arms and legs and hover motionless near the reef.

A large Caribbean reef shark heads directly towards me in a slow deliberate manner. Meanwhile other sharks circle around me like a notorious biker gang. With my eyes deadlocked on the approaching reef shark, I watch as its sleek, two-toned colored body arches from side to side. Cutting through the water like a torpedo, but much slower, its well defined fins maneuver it closer and closer to me. Only a few feet away, my body ceases to function in defense. At almost arm's length, the shark suddenly twitches its body ever so slightly and turnes parallel to me. As he circles, our eyes lock in a stare. Through its bronze, cat-like eye I can almost tell that it is investigating this odd creature that had descended upon its reef. Meanwhile, a smile slowly creeps onto my face in wonder. Either these sharks aren't the blood-hungry creatures they are depicted out to be by the media or I wasn't man enough for these man-eaters, I thought. Whatever the case, I am thankful of their choice.

All around me about twenty Caribbean reef sharks circle the reef. What keeps their interest is a plastic milk crate with yummy morsels of fresh fish Jimmy and Capt. Mike had caught earlier in the day. The scent of these fish intrigues them enough to stick around. With it safely tucked inside the milk crate the sharks would not be able to feed on it. This keeps their behavior slow and nonthreatening. Jimmy and Mike both knew that as long as the sharks would not go into a feeding frenzy, the dive could be done safely. They have done this dive hundreds of times before without any problems. If the sharks would feed there would be little incentive for them to stay close to the noisy divers that swam nearby.

Spending over 40 minutes swimming alongside these reef sharks, some larger than me, turns out to be a dive full of adrenaline rushes, wonder, and awe. For a close encounter with the ocean's apex predator complimented by the beautiful backdrop of a kaleidoscope-colored reef and crystal-clear water makes for a fantastic beginning. Excitement fills my mind in hopes of experiencing many dives like this during my trip. While still some apprehension remains knowing that the best is yet to come.

For the next couple of days we occasionally return to El Dorado to dive with the local group of Caribbean reef sharks. All the while two more bait crates dangle on the surface in hopes of attracting others sharks - preferably a hammerhead or tiger shark.

On the third day of the trip, Capt. Mike anchors the Shear Water on a different reef - Triggerfish reef. This low-profile reef has little coral definition in comparison with El Dorado but what we were to hopeful to find would make it all worth while. Sure enough they were down there - Lemon sharks - big ones too!

My nervousness grows in anticipation of this new encounter. From the surface approximately 80 ft. above I can tell that these sharks weren't as small as the Caribbean's I had been diving with the last couple of days. Their bulkiness is apparent. With a girth easily three times that of a reef shark, large defined fins, an extruding set of dentures, and a wicked-looking smile, these sharks definitely caught my attention. Cautiously descending to the bottom near the bait crate, I nervously look around me in all directions to see from where they are approaching. A few minutes later in the distance I can see one of them approaching the bait crate. Flailing my camera around spooks the shark enough that it turned away.

For its menacing looks and aggressive reputation these sharks were acting completely different, I thought to myself. Calmly settling on the sandy bottom, I did my best impression of a soft coral in the strong current in hopes of having a repeat performance. A few minutes later the 8 foot lemon shark obliges with a closer approach.

Holding my breath as it approaches and sitting perfectly still allows me to get a real close look at this amazing creature. Looking at it face-on, the evil-looking smirk instills a sense of comical relief. It was hard to take this impressive creature seriously with a face like that and after spending some time in the water with them it was apparent that these sharks seemed more afraid of me than I was of them and that's to say a lot. Doing a couple of dives at this reef during the trip allowed me to experience closer encounters with these enormous and majestic-looking sharks. Thrilled to watch them swim inches above me added to the excitement of an amazing adventure. Little by little my subconscious grew less afraid of these so-called dangerous predators of the world's oceans.

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