Has someone given the sharks caffeine?! They''ve really been keeping us on our toes this week (early August) and I have noticed a distinct shift in both the sharks’ behaviours around the boat and also the predation activity at Seal Island recently. Something changed as we approached the end of July and it has been fascinating to observe.
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We have had incredibly playful and mischievous sharks around our boat on both the morning and afternoon trips, including Deux Rossi and one of our new sharks Charlotte. Charlotte is a very beautiful shark with a distinctive white spot on her upper caudal lobe and a naughty streak when she wants to play. She can be relaxed and calm when passing the bait and our divers, yet I have also seen her use the cage and boat as shelter whilst she sneaked up quickly on the top bait hoping to catch our skipper out. On all of the occasions we have seen Charlotte so far she has been with Deux Rossi and they make an interesting pair; what with Charlotte’s preference for the top bait and Deux Rossi’s constant fascination with our bottom bait. I had the pleasure of diving with both of these sharks a week ago and it was a revelation for me as a crew member. I finally saw that yes Deux Rossi does spend her time circling under the boat whilst waiting for just the right moment to lunge at the bottom bait when we least expect her. I have always wondered what she is doing as we wait, full of tension, staring at the bait from topside. Meanwhile Charlotte circles close by Deux Rossi and uses her leisurely approaches from near the cage and under the boat to ‘fool’ us into thinking she is passing by without interest. With a swish of her powerful tail she then attempts to steal the bait very quickly. These two ladies are quite the tag team and are keeping us very busy.
We have also been visited for two days now by a young male shark with distinctive scuff markings on his side. He is, without a doubt, the fastest and naughtiest shark I have seen around the boat in my time here. He leaves us all smiling and incredulous at his acrobatics. He seems to enjoy spending his time chasing the baits and performs horizontal lunges, vertical launches and leaps partially out of the water in pursuit of his bait prey. He turns on a dime, he swims fast and is an absolute pleasure to watch. This shark is yet to be named but I am sure it won’t be long before he acquires a name that reflects his personality. As I write I can still picture him from yesterday, swimming away from the boat at high speed as he flicked his tail in what appeared to be excitement and banked towards us again for his next approach. What a character.
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The predation activity has also picked up pace at the island in recent weeks and it has been incredible. We have regularly observed in excess of 20 predation events per trip and there have been times when we didn’t know which way to turn. The sharks were hunting all around us both near and far from Seal Island. Our guests have witnessed some truly spectacular hunting behaviour during the Predation Specialty trips and we have thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere on our boat, as both crew and guests have worked as one big team to locate each event. The courage and resilience of the seals never ceases to amaze us as they work to outsmart the sharks and I am always glad when they make it back to the island unscathed. Whilst it is indeed nature, it only takes a moment to put ourselves in the place of the seal and understand what they go through each day to live their lives.
With the increase in both predation activity and playful sharks around our boat, it has been fascinating to be a part of the crew and watch how we have responded. One of the challenges for the crew during predations is trying to juggle ensuring our guests see the events, observing the sharks to make sure we don''t get too close to them, calling out other predations and also keeping a close eye on, and shouting out, the locations of any surrounding seal groups as they move around us. Again, this it to make sure we don''t get too close and the seals are not accidentally injured by our motors. The seals do try to use our boat for shelter at times and it is extremely important we don''t interfere with their natural behaviour. We also watch the birds as an indicator of other ongoing hunting activity whilst recording data and ensuring our guests have the best possible view and lighting for their photography. Likewise, with numerous playful sharks around our boat on anchor recently we have been working hard to spot the sharks as they approach the different baits and decoy seal at speed and from all directions. The crew handling the bait lines remind me of puppeteers as they lift and move each line to attract and manage the sharks as they approach. Meanwhile on top deck the spotters shout out as the sharks’ surface or pass by at depth.
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Both aspects of our work are quite an art form. They certainly require quick reflexes and team work and communication is everything. Well, communication and a strong set of lungs to be able to shout as needed. I think someone has certainly given the sharks caffeine this month and they are leaving us needing caffeine as well after our action packed days at sea together. I can’t wait to see what this coming month brings.
Stay in False Bay
Across the Bay from Simon''s Town, Pringle Bay is a small, charming village tucked away between Gordon''s Bay and Betty''s Bay (that''s a lot of bays!) on the Cape Whale Coast. It has a lovely wide beach, a smattering of interesting stores & galleries. and good restaurants, and is the favourite getaway spot of former Cape Town Tourism CEO Mariette Du-Toit Helmbold (if her twitter stream is anything to go by).
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326@Pringle is a spacious modern beach house with a relaxed, elegant ambience. Guests enjoy delicious breakfast feasts and sundowners on the deck with views of the ocean. Not in the mood for the beach? Relax at the heated salt water swimming pool.
About Chris & Monique Fallows and Apex Shark Expeditions
Established for 16 years, Apex Shark Expeditions is a licensed shark cage diving operator. Just 45 minutes from Cape Town, they operate shark tours to Seal Island, False Bay.
Chris and Monique Fallows own Apex Shark Expeditions based in Simon’s Town, Cape Town. They are wildlife naturalists and are absolutely passionate about sharks, spending at least 150 days at sea every year working with a variety of shark species. Their aim is to provide the most natural encounter with sharks, and the environment. In addition to being one of the leading authorities on Great White shark behaviour, Chris is a professional wildlife photographer and many of his breaching Great White Shark images have been seen worldwide in newspapers, magazines and television documentaries. Chris and Monique aim to promote the positive awareness of sharks through their company and these captivating images.
Visit http://www.apexpredators.comand find them on Facebook athttps://www.facebook.com/ApexSharks