Shark Dive Comparisons

[CaribbeanDiver]

Have you done a shark dive? How would you rate it? I did the Blackbeard shark dive twice and thought it was great both times. I also did a shark dive in Roatan and thought it sucked.

And please let's not count shark encounters while diving, I am limiting my question to intentional shark feeding type dives.

[gtjason2000]

The bahamas unesco shark dive seemed cool when I was doing it but in retrospect it wasn't that great. We basically kneeled on the bottom and watched a chainmailed diver feed the sharks. They said they would back a shark into us to pet its tail but I think because there was a group from some other scuba place there as well they didn't want to do it. Unpredictability of sharks and what not. Also they said they had seen a hammerhead earlier that week and another diver was like that's cool and the dm said no it wasn't because if there was a hammerhead we had to get out of the water.

[Splitlip]

Shark feeding excursions are wrong IMO on a couple of levels.

You want sharks, come to Jupiter between November and March to swim with the Lemons. Or come any time of year and "rattle" a speargun.

[chinacat46]

I agree that feeding sharks is wrong. I dove in the coral sea off Australia at Holmes Reef and they do shark feeds there regualarly. When diving the sharks followed us around cause they knew since we were there that were gonna get fed. It changed their natural behavior. It was the only time I did a shark feed and was very early in my diving career. Since then I skip them and protest to the captain. One captain told me the sharks like it. I told him to go to Glacier National Park and feed the Grizzly Bears they like it. He had no reply to that. I've skipped dives in Fiji, Truk and Yap cause they were doing shark feeds. If enough people protest and skip the dives maybe they will realize it's wrong but to many of you seem to think it's okay. It's not! Okay I'm getting off my soapbox now.

[Splitlip]

Originally Posted by chinacat46

I agree that feeding sharks is wrong. I dove in the coral sea off Australia at Holmes Reef and they do shark feeds there regualarly. When diving the sharks followed us around cause they knew since we were there that were gonna get fed. It changed their natural behavior. It was the only time I did a shark feed and was very early in my diving career. Since then I skip them and protest to the captain. One captain told me the sharks like it. I told him to go to Glacier National Park and feed the Grizzly Bears they like it. He had no reply to that. I've skipped dives in Fiji, Truk and Yap cause they were doing shark feeds. If enough people protest and skip the dives maybe they will realize it's wrong but to many of you seem to think it's okay. It's not! Okay I'm getting off my soapbox now.

I have been hammered for my thoughts on this in the past. Thank you for verbalizing.

[chinacat46]

No worries. I have the feeling I'll be skipping another dive in the coral sea off the Spirit of Freedom sometime in early October. In Fiji 40%(4 out of 10) skipped the dive.

[Osprey]

I don't like shark feedings either, but if there is a chance of just hanging in a place where a lot of sharks are spotted (migrations or whatever), I'd love to hear them!

[chinacat46]

I dove in the Galapagos back in June besides seeing whale sharks at Darwin the coolest part was the hundreds and hundreds of scalloped hammerheads that hangout at Wolf. It was a site to see and there was no unnatrual feeding going on.

[Splitlip]

Originally Posted by Osprey

I don't like shark feedings either, but if there is a chance of just hanging in a place where a lot of sharks are spotted (migrations or whatever), I'd love to hear them!

Google jupiter lemon sharks
http://www.divingwithbill.com/
Lots of stuff on the Lemons. They visit between November and March.
Contact these guys
www.jupiterdivecenter.com

[ScaredSilly]

I too skip shark feeding dives. However, the best shark specific dive I have done was to shark island in truk lagoon. It is a cleaning station. Really cool watching them come, hover, get cleaned then move on.