418 Dive Log Australasia JUNE 2026.pdf

on managing it. Clean, quiet duck dives are equally important, helping me enter the water smoothly with minimal surface disturbance. Freediving with sharks is an intense experience, but it only works if I stay disciplined. Preparation and awareness are non-negotiable. I kept my movements slow and deliberate and maintained a calm, confident posture in the water. Sharks are highly perceptive, and erratic movement or tension stands out immediately. Before initiating a duck dive, I assessed my surroundings, tracked the sharks, noted the position of other divers, and understood the overall flow of the environment. Bright or reflective gear can draw unnecessary attention, and diving with a competent buddy is essential, particularly in deeper water. With multiple Tiger Sharks around, the standards become stricter. I learned to maintain direct eye contact at all times and to never turn my back on the animal; this is not the time for selfies! I minimised surface splashing, stayed streamlined, and remained composed. I did not attempt to outmanoeuvre or compete for position. I gave the shark space, did not block its path, and let it dictate the interaction. In the rare event that a

redirection is required, the dive guide handles it. They are trained to do so and are constantly monitoring guest safety. Under no circumstances did I try to touch the shark. Regardless of proximity, my role was to observe, not engage. The objective was to remain a neutral presence in the water, never something that resembles prey or a competitor. Tiger Sharks are highly efficient, stealth-driven predators. Rather than wasting energy chasing alerted targets, they rely on approaching unnoticed and closing distance on unaware prey. I could see how that behaviour translated directly into the way they interacted with divers. They would often try to come in from behind or outside my immediate field of view, using that element of surprise. They also tended to approach from the sunlit side of the water. For freedivers and underwater photographers, that is a natural blind spot. We usually position ourselves with the sun behind us, which means we are looking away from the brightest part of the water column. Looking into the sun is uncomfortable, reduces visibility, and makes it harder to detect movement. These sharks take advantage of that, using the glare and reduced contrast to close distance unnoticed. For that reason, constant

Another very close encounter with “Josephine”. I had to really hold onto the rocks

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DIVE LOG Australasia #418 JUNE ‘26

www.divelog.net.au