DIVE LOG AUSTRALASIA FEB 2026

Shark Feeding Photography.

During your travels to dive destinations Worldwide you will find dive operators providing shark feeding experiences. The fact remains that sharks are wary creatures and the only way photographers can create images of them is by attracting them close with bait. This does involve some risk so it’s very important to arm yourself with as much knowledge as possible to reduce the risks. 1: Wear a full length suit, do not have any garments or gear that is white and wear black gloves to disguise your white hands. White resembles the white carcass of fish bait. 2: Be alert to the direction of current flow or water movement to ensure you are up current from the bait odour or small particles of bait in the water column. Otherwise you will get lots more unwanted attention from the sharks. 3: Stay close to the seafloor so the sharks have more room to avoid you. 4: Ensure the operators are very experienced and respected for their expertise in shark feeding management.

5: Reduce movement, stay calm and stay close to the dive guide. 6: Listen very carefully to the pre dive instructions and follow the instructions. Location: Gardens of the Queen, Cuba. Genre: Wide Angle With Strobes. Photo Data: Nikon D800, Nikkor 16-35 mm Zoom Lens. ISO 200, F8 @ 1/80 th second. Seacam Housing & Strobes. Photo Hints: The action can be fast and furious, especially with Reef Sharks, they have been described as `Being In A Room Full Of Flying Razorblades’! Ensure you have all your camera & strobe settings programmed before the feeding starts. Use long strobe arms to reduce backscatter from particles of fish bait in the water column. Interesting Facts: It is very rare for participants to be bitten. And on the rare occasion it has happened, the victim was not following the rules. To be fair, some of those accidents pre date all the rules we learnt the `Hard Way’ Species Name: Caribbean Reef Sharks

Kevin Deacon is a pioneer of Underwater Photography. His images have been published World Wide in prestigious books, magazines and advertising media. Kevin & Cherie Deacon operate DIVE 2000 based at Sydney's, Northern Beaches providing Photo Guided Marinelife & Photo Guided Africa Wildlife Safaris. Sales of Seacam Underwater Photographic Equipment & Photography Training.

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Dive Log Australasia #416 February ‘26

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