DIVE LOG AUSTRALASIA FEB 2025 ISSUE 410

The best thing to do is to get your back to a rock or coral head and maintain that deep fixated stare on the shark as you slowly and deliberately swim back to your boat or the safety of the shore. They simply cannot handle confidence and self-assurance from prey! Perhaps, they will accept you as a power figure and give you the deference you command. It is more likely that they will decide that you are not on the menu. Unfortunately, all of the above information may be rendered totally irrelevant if a very large Tiger, Great White shark, Dusky or Bronze Whaler is close by and is hungry. The bigger they are, the less time that they need to overcome their natural sense of self preservation and caution. After all, a four to five metre giant shark has little to fear from a 1.8 metre ‘tidbit’ that is making a lot of noise and swimming in a clumsy manner. Occasionally, a deranged, starving or “rogue” shark will attack without provocation or warning. A few general points might help here. Solo diving will attract more interest from predators but it is extremely rare that they will do more than check you out. I absolutely never dive alone at night. Stay calm and never turn your back on a shark. Always eyeball sharks constantly. They will usually remain calm and curious. One thing is certain. Once you have seen a few sharks up close and personal you will admire how magnificent and well-designed they are. They are most certainly and perfect marine machine.

A large male Grey Nurse swims a few inches over my head to announce its territory.

Sharks have the ability to learn and adapt. The Fijian shark wranglers at Beqa Lagoon say that the Tigers are indiscrimminate feeders at first but take five or six feeding sessions to learn what to eat and what not to eat. That is: the free Tuna Heads.

49

DIVE LOG Australasia #410 February‘25

www.divelog.net.au