418 Dive Log Australasia JUNE 2026.pdf

Even subtle movements, a slow turn of the head or the raising of a hand, were often enough to alter their approach. As soon as I acknowledged their presence and turned towards them, the dynamic shifted immediately. It was as if they could detect the slightest change in awareness through the water. That reinforced an important point: their advantage lies in stealth, and once that advantage is gone, the interaction changes instantly. It is an incredible feeling to establish that connection, to make it clear that I am not prey. They recognise this, but that does not mean they lose interest. Their interactions are driven by constant assessment and competition, as they compete with each other for dominance within the hierarchy, and they continue to test boundaries again and again. I spent a week returning daily to Tiger Shark Point, with each trip revealing a little more of the site’s rhythm and the animals that define it, and I gradually began to recognise some of the individuals. Many of them carried clear signs of their encounters in the wild: fishing hooks lodged in their mouths, deep battle scars, and in some cases even broken jaws. It was a stark reminder that, despite the managed setting of these dives, these are truly wild animals living in a challenging

and unforgiving environment. One of the highlights was witnessing how the Tiger Sharks compete with each other for the tuna heads wedged under the rocks, and how the dominant individual ultimately claims the prize. Two large females would appear out of the blue, following the scent of tuna oils and blood dispersing through the water column. They made a few slow circles, clearly pinpointing the exact location. Just as one was about to go for it, a larger female would suddenly come in with speed, bulldozing the smaller shark aside and taking control. The competition was over in an instant. What followed was incredible. I watched as the shark used real force, its powerful jaws clamping down with a heavy, crunching pressure as it grabbed, shifting rocks and tearing through coral to get to the head. I could hear and feel the movement through the water as she worked. At one point, I found myself less than a metre away, holding position and trying not to move as this powerful animal worked relentlessly in front of me, throwing rocks aside until she finally reached the tuna head, swallowed it, and moved off, completely ignoring my presence. It is a moment I will remember for a long time.

I dived down to about 11 m to take this shot of a Tiger Shark cruising along the edge of the drop-off into the blue

57

DIVE LOG Australasia #418 JUNE ‘26

www.divelog.net.au