Urgent advise on Bahamas please

Hi,

I am currently doing a Private Pilot Course in Florida and for tomorrow I have a long cross country flight to the Bahamas scheduled.

I would very much like to see some sharks and take some pictures from the air (in non-wildlife restricted areas I can go as low as 500 feet). Can anyone give me directions on what the best location in the Bahamas is to see sharks in shallow water?

I am leaving tomorrow morning, replies before that time are very much appreciated.

Cheers

Vincent

Well Walkers Key is the area that people used to go knee deep in a there were sharks at their feet .. no idea how that will seem from the air though !

I would imagine that what you see from the air is all to do with how low you are and then the vis in the water, but I would guess any of the shallow areas between islands where there is a current and coves or bays near that might be good. Less populated areas, and less boat traffic areas too.

Funny, you can't drive a car and talk on a cell phone in parts of the world, but you can fly a plane and take photos !

Hi Giles,

Thanks for your quick reply. Any idea where the Hammerheads/Tiger sharks hang out? Out on the coast off New Smyrna we see groups of dolphins and Giant Manta Rays almost every time when we fly out. Most of the time silhouettes are quite easy to spot (as long as they are near the surface of course). A lot of Red Tide here lately also (unfortunately).

Cheers

Vincent

Tiger Beach is off the coast of Freeport .. i don't know which direction or how far .. so can't help you our there.

http://www.lonelyplanet.tv/Clip.aspx?key=E85740DD37860C18 this map doesn't even point to Freeport !

Might want to be careful with low-level flying over the Bahamas - the DEA may get VERY interested in your aircraft :-)

Cheers

James

People that have been there may no better than me but isn't it about half way between West Palm Beach and Freeport ?

in the middle of the Ocean I would have thought you are fine to be at 500ft no ? The DEA getting interested may only add a bit of excitement to the day .. just don't go chasing some high speed cigar boats that are painted in black with major sat nav equipment !!

in the middle of the Ocean I would have thought you are fine to be at 500ft no ? The DEA getting interested may only add a bit of excitement to the day .. just don't go chasing some high speed cigar boats that are painted in black with major sat nav equipment !!

I'll do my best to avoid the DEA/cigar speedboats, like real sharks better

Thanks for your help, I'll post some pics on Wednesday.

Cheers

Vincent

Hey Vincent, a little advise. If I understood correctly you'll be doing one of your required cross country flights for your private license. As a licensed pilot I can tell you that this might not be the best time to go shark watching. Your tendencies might be to go lower to see better, your altitude over the ocean can be very deceiving. Sun angles change, wave heights are potentially confusing. You might be better served if you took care of business and nailed the navigation. I'm sure it will be a beautiful flight and there will be plenty to get excited about and store away in your memory for when your old and gray. The only trick to that is that you have to be around long enough to get old and gray. Maybe on this trip you want to fly at a couple thousand and look for whales. I'm sure you'll do great. Good luck.

Steve

Hi Steve, thanks for your concern. I was flying with an instructor who was looking after me (already done my solo, but I am not allowed to fly solo in another country until I receive my Private certificate). You are absolutely right about the dangers of flying above open water, reaction time when flying low is very little and can be a big problem, especially out at sea with nothing around.

We had a flight plan scheduled for our flight across the water between West Palm Beach and the Bahamas at around 8000 feet, and we dropped down to about 800 feet when we got close to the islands. We followed the Berry Islands (where we had lunch on the beach and cleared customs). After that we went to the south and up to Nassau where we spent the night. The size of the aquarium in the Atlantis hotel is quite amazing, felt sad to see that they have 3 Giant Manta rays (biggest is about 15 feet, huge!) swimming in their tanks. They say they have a catch and release program where they change the inhabitants every 6 months or so (wondering how and where they get those Mantas tough).

This morning we flew further down south and followed the cays down to Exuma and went back via Eleuthera, Abaco and Grand Bahama. The islands were absolutely stunning to see from the air. We saw some smaller reef sharks near the shores of the Berry Islands and a plane wreck near Exuma. Unfortunately no big tigers and great hammerheads, hopefully next time. Anyway I can highly suggest anyone to see the Bahamas from the air, it looks absolutely stunning. I look forward to return soon to see some sharks up close

Cheers

Vincent

Great Vincent, glad you had a great flight. Sounds like your flight instructor was up for some fun. Mine were always yelling at me for doing dumb things. Congrats.

Have fun,

Steve

Might want to be careful with low-level flying over the Bahamas - the DEA may get VERY interested in your aircraft :-)

An area east of Andros called the Tongue of the Ocean is a gathering place for large animals, including sharks.

To the DEA point, the area is home to AUTEC (Atlantic Undersea Testing and Evaluation Center) ...lots of low flying helicopters, subs and other suspicious military and Coast Guard personnel!

.