Shark Diving
 

I am not really sure where to post this, so if it should go somewhere else, mods please move it.

I would like to dive with great white sharks without a cage, if it is offered by a reputable operator.

Has anyone here on FT done that? If so where did you do it?

I'm not sure an operator will do this yet. As far as I know, cageless diving with Whites is a fairly new thing over the past decade? I would almost doubt any US company would do this considering the ramifications if something goes wrong.

But you got more balls than me. If i was in the water and I saw a shark within any distance, I'd be the 2nd coming of Jesus running across water to get back on land.

Unless you were in Belize!! ;) :D

Dave

Very Funny! But why go to Belize when you can just dive Atlanta!:p

true true, as long as u don't get swallowed, lol.

Fair point, with one MINOR exception:

A Whale Sharks esophagus is approximately 3" across.

Now, while I'm very short for my weight, I have to believe that everyone ELSE would also be safe !! ;) :D

Dave

Those are whale sharks though - majestic, but harmless. I dove with bull sharks in Mexico (off Playa del Carmen), no cages or anything, and it was a amazing experience (talk about an adrenaline rush!).

That's very true!! Which, in point of fact, was my point in my OP here!! hahah :D

Dave

unless you are as skinny as me (5'9, 110lb), lol..

but in all seriousness, whale shark diving does sound like fun. I have already added it to me list of things to do/travel :D

Florin, that adrenaline would kill me, lol. I'm not sure I would be around the bull shark, even over a great white? I've always thought they were more ferocious in general.

I am a certified diver and have always wanted to do a cage dive. I saw a rerun of a 60 Minutes special and Anderson Cooper was taken on a dive in South Africa cageless.

I figure if he can do it I can.

He did it in South Africa, I called a few dive shops there and was told that it is illegal to offer as a commercial service.

Maybe I am just crazy for wanting to do it, but I would like to learn more about it.

Also certified and it is something on my bucket list although I haven't really researched it a whole lot. Yes, I've dove with Nurse sharks in Belize and Leopard sharks in Thailand but those don't count as far as I'm concerned. Completely harmless.

For me, I'd like to dive off the western coast of Costa Rica where the Hammerheads are plentiful. Yeah, I'd probably crap my wetsuit upon hitting the water, but oh well, what a rush that would be. Would also love to dive with the harmless Whale Shark too. Wasn't in Belize at the right time of year to do that.

it interests me in a way, just not enough to do it. I would have a heart attack just getting in the water.

But as far as I know, it would seem the great white isn't as ferocious as people would think. I think I read that as long as they know you are there, and you are at the same level as they are, it would seem safe. But if they are below you, then you are more likely to be attacked, since it has been thought that they like to sneak up on you, then get at you from below (thus why they breach the water, etc).

maybe you could just book a cage dive, then when you are supposed to get in the cage, just jump out into the open ocean??? :D

you probably would want to wear some shark suit ? (reading about the first people that did it cageless, they were testing some suit that would repell sharks or something like that?)

a couple of bull sharks showed up while we were boat diving in the middle of nowhere belize. right under the boat, maybe 30' of water. we ran out of air and adrenalin, so did a big exhale and bolt to the surface. told the rest of the kiddies about our find. they all piled in, and lasted about five minutes til their tank ran out. these guys were a bit bigger than me, so they were probably 7-8' long. that was 30 years ago. still remember every second of the ride.

I have only heard of it with a cage.. I am sure you can look around though. I've done it with black tips and lemons in Bora Bora, but those guys are harmless.
I did it with a cage in South Africa, but man... I wouldn't want to be out of the cage!! Those things are literally as big as a bus!

Good luck! That is scary!!

I snorkeled with whale sharks in Cancun - not scary but pretty fun.

Yes, you are crazy, if you are just the typical Open Water certified, occasional diver. No shark diving, wreck penetration diving or cave diving unless you have adequate training. Besides, everyone knows nuclear missle silo diving is really where it is at.:cool:

Maybe try Isla del Coco - Costa Rica? - well known for shark dives.

OMG, I have had a couple of instances where I was snorkeling and saw sand sharks. I started hyperventilating so hard, I nearly passed out.:eek:

I am AOW, that said, i figure it something goes wrong and the shark wants to eat you it is over anyway regardless of your trianing

I remember a guy a couple of years ago promoting photos of an illegal (commercial) cage-less great white dive at Guadalupe, but I believe he stopped shortly afterwards after bad press.

I'm sure you could find an unscrupulous boat operator or two that will take you out to the great whites in Australia/S.Africa/Mexico for a cage-less dive. I'm certain they wouldn't want to be responsible for what happens next though, or be around to pick up the pieces!

Get this book

Shark Watchers Handbook

http://www.amazon.com/Shark-Watchers.../dp/0691096384


It functions as a quasi worldwide guidebook...and identifies the best locations (As of writing - shark finning notwithstanding) to see particular kinds of sharks.
Also plenty of info on the various shark species.

It is VERY thorough, and has tons of dive operators listed too.

cageless with great whites... wow that is too much for me. sounds like going on safari to pet some lion cubs. i'd be fine with cage diving.

however i do have a huge desire to dive (rather than snorkel, have done that) with whale sharks and also want to do hammerhead point in the maldives. i think that hh point is reasonably accessible from one of the hilton properties in the maldives. hammerheads are one of the most intriguing looking beasts in the water imho

take a look at this: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6554450n


Anderson Cooper dives at about 8:50, I don't know of Cooper as being some sort of dive pro, so i figure I can do it too.

I don't think I want to go with some sort of underground operation, maybe it just can't be done as a member of the public.

I'm a qualified diver too. Cageless diving with a great white......not a chance in hell. Any shark would probably smell my fear before I even got in the water!