Bahamas Shark Dive

[bobby_hirst]

My wife and I are going on a cruise for Christmas to the Bahamas and I was thinking of doing the Shark Adventure dive from Stuart Cove's. Anybody done this? How is the experience?

[Rileybri]

Originally Posted by bobby_hirst

My wife and I are going on a cruise for Christmas to the Bahamas and I was thinking of doing the Shark Adventure dive from Stuart Cove's. Anybody done this? How is the experience?

I suppose it would depend on weather you are the diver or the shark! lol

[bobby_hirst]

Ok, I guess I'll need to be more specific. Obviously I am the diver. What I meant was is the experience worth the price? I've always been fascinated with sharks and I have always wanted to see them in their own environment instead of a tank. My wife doesn't want me to do this dive because she feels it's too dangerous, but this is one time where I feel I need to override her decision. She's not a diver, and wants to go along on the boat with me. This has been something I've always wanted to do, but just want to make sure it's worth the price of admission.

[Miked]

Hi Bobby,
(Please note- While I have dove with Stuart Cove's operation, I have not done the SC shark dive. I have done 3 "shark dives" at the same location, with other ops, and have swam past the SC groups during their shark dives. The following description is based on those experiences, and conversationswith staff at SC.

The "Shark Dive" consists of 2 dives (at least it did in Aug.2008). The first dive is a "regular "dive, in the area where the feeding is done. The purpose of this dive, I think, is to get the divers used to seeing the sharks, and vice versa-although the sharks seem indifferent to the divers.
On the second dive-the "feeding dive"- the divers [each with a few extra pounds of weight] are placed kneeling on the bottom, in a circular or semicircular grouping.{They are also cautioned to not try to touch the sharks, and to keep their hands close to their bodies. }
After the divers are set, the feeders descend with their feeding crate/box/ stand. The sharks are already there and ready to "participate".
The feeders are in the center of the circle, the sharks-2 dozen plus when I saw/did the dive- are all over the place-between, behind, next to the divers.
The action can get quite exciting and frantic-but generally, the sharks seem disinterested in the divers..

When the feeding is over,(i.e. the food is gone) the sharks go about there business, and the divers can, if time permits, sift through the sandy bottom to look for shark teeth.

Is it fun, exciting, worth the price-IMO, YES!

Hope you enjoy your trip.
Mike

[bobby_hirst]

Thanks Miked. That is exactly what I was looking for. I think I'm definitely going to give it a try.

[wgt]

Originally Posted by Miked

Is it fun, exciting, worth the price-IMO, YES!

While I am not familiar with this specific program, I would like to comment on encounter programs that bait the fish. I apologize if my comments do not precisely apply to the program in question.

I would unequivocally agree that it is fun and exciting to be amidst great predators in action. At the same time, however, I now willfully avoid such spectacles, whether small- or large-scale.

First, in my mind, these spectacles really serve no purpose other than to masquerade as an awareness program. In fact, I do not, off the top of my head, know of any legitimate conservation group that endorses these enterprises. Arguments against include the pairing of humans and food, thus reducing innate fear and potentially increasing aggression. In addition, there is the potential of harm to the animals.

From my own experience while on a live-aboard, all divers entering the water on certain dives were obliged to sign a waiver, as a bait box was tied to the reef and encounters with the sharks were unavoidable. The spectacle itself was amazing, as sharks and other fish jockeyed for position. What finally made up my mind on the issue was when a large frustrated reef shark bit into the head of a small white-tip shark. That something like this might happen without human intervention is obviously acceptable. However, for me to endorse the sacrifice a wild animal as friendly-fire during staged thrill-seeking is now unthinkable.

I hope that others will allow the wild creatures to dictate the terms of encounters with humans. I now equate shark-feeding to hanging out at the dump to watch the bears. I did not mean to rain on anybody's parade, but I hope that divers will give consideration beyond the thrill of the action.

[bobby_hirst]

I understand what you're saying wgt. I, personally, have never seen a shark in the wild and I am thinking that it will be very exciting. That's not to say I have no compassion for these beautiful creatures. I understand that humans can be very cruel and I hope that this isn't one of the cases of that. I don't think it will be. That being said, I truly believe that this is something that I would probably only do once in my life and then the thrill will be gone until I encounter one unexpectedly, which will no doubt be much more exciting than any shark feeding dive could be.

[wgt]

Originally Posted by bobby_hirst

I understand what you're saying wgt. I, personally, have never seen a shark in the wild and I am thinking that it will be very exciting. That's not to say I have no compassion for these beautiful creatures. I understand that humans can be very cruel and I hope that this isn't one of the cases of that. I don't think it will be. That being said, I truly believe that this is something that I would probably only do once in my life and then the thrill will be gone until I encounter one unexpectedly, which will no doubt be much more exciting than any shark feeding dive could be.

Thanks for reading, understanding, and considering what I had to say. I have seen about 10 different varieties of shark in my limited experience. I have gone nose to nose with the largest, another almost never seen by divers, and a great variety in between. On any given weekend of late, I have had the luxury of an almost certain encounter. Every single wild encounter is a true thrill that simply does not get old. I look forward to your getting that same thrill.

[bobby_hirst]

I surely hope to be fascinated and thrilled at the same time. I'm sure I'll post my true reactions upon my return.

[heydn62]

Originally Posted by Miked

Hi Bobby,
(Please note- While I have dove with Stuart Cove's operation, I have not done the SC shark dive. I have done 3 "shark dives" at the same location, with other ops, and have swam past the SC groups during their shark dives. The following description is based on those experiences, and conversationswith staff at SC.

The "Shark Dive" consists of 2 dives (at least it did in Aug.2008). The first dive is a "regular "dive, in the area where the feeding is done. The purpose of this dive, I think, is to get the divers used to seeing the sharks, and vice versa-although the sharks seem indifferent to the divers.
On the second dive-the "feeding dive"- the divers [each with a few extra pounds of weight] are placed kneeling on the bottom, in a circular or semicircular grouping.{They are also cautioned to not try to touch the sharks, and to keep their hands close to their bodies. }
After the divers are set, the feeders descend with their feeding crate/box/ stand. The sharks are already there and ready to "participate".
The feeders are in the center of the circle, the sharks-2 dozen plus when I saw/did the dive- are all over the place-between, behind, next to the divers.
The action can get quite exciting and frantic-but generally, the sharks seem disinterested in the divers..

When the feeding is over,(i.e. the food is gone) the sharks go about there business, and the divers can, if time permits, sift through the sandy bottom to look for shark teeth.

Is it fun, exciting, worth the price-IMO, YES!

Hope you enjoy your trip.
Mike

What's their policy on photography? I know they sell photos, so I wondered if they allowed you to take your own.