Sharks up close

I've been looking at my images and realize that I am seriously light on sharks.

I am planning a 2-week trip to S Africa at some point to photograph the bulls, tigers, etc., but I was also looking at a shark destination that is closer to home- ie, someplace in S/E Asia or Pac Rim.

I am looking for someplace where it is possible to get *close* encounters (feeds included) and a chance to photograph them with an UWA. And sharks other than reef white-tips. Been to Layang Layang already.

Any other suggestions? No Galapagos or Cocos recommendations please (know about them, am planning to do them at some point but am looking at something relatively "local" for me). Palau? Someplace in Philippines?

Vandit

Dive South Africa offers an 11 Day Shark Diving Safari. I've not dove with them before but I met the owners, Roen and Karin Coetzee, at Beneath the Sea a few years ago. They've also got a few other options as well.

http://www.divesouthafrica.co.za/scubadivi...harksafari.html

South Australia. You'll see all the Great Whites that you need, in clearer water than Africa, and you can do bottom dives (in a cage of course) to 20m with them, so you see more than them just splashing around after bait (but of course you do get this too). I think the company that does liveaboards down there is called Rodney Fox?

i thought encounters in South Australia were getting pretty sparse these days?

In Palau you dont get that close, as its natural behaviour. Try Fiji for feeding, or if you have the budget fly to French Polynesia via Japan or Sydney.

A number of operators do trips to Osprey Reef where they attract sharks. You can guarantee you'll get pretty close to grey reef whalers (although I'd like to get closer):

On the rare occasion, silvertips (but still not close enough):

And on my last trip we saw a school over over 20 hammerheads, but too far away to photograph.

You could also come to Sydney and swim with grey nurse sharks. You can get really close to these:

i thought encounters in South Australia were getting pretty sparse these days?

A couple of friends did it this winter, doesn't sound like there was any shortage, and they bought back some great close up photos.

The shark feed in Fiji is sposed to be great too. Or maybe look at Uepi in the Solomons if you want somewhere really good to go.

"On the rare occasion, silvertips (but still not close enough)"

These silver tips are coming VERY close now at Osprey and especially paying attention to camera strobes and camera electronics!!!!!

3-4 silver tips at a feed with one female swimming within inches of the divers many times

In Palau you dont get that close, as its natural behaviour.

What's close? You can get sharks within 10 feet, 3m, at Blue Corner in Palau when the current is running, and (rarely, I know) sometimes pelagic sharks come in. So, mostly grey reef sharks, but you never know... I saw a whale shark there this year.

And it's natural behaviour!

Tim

Well, by close I am thinking close enough to fill the frame with an UWA. Frankly, if a shark is coming that close to me in "natural behavior", I'd be a little worried.... Most natural behavior tends to be a shark swimming away, and that isnt really what I want.

Oz will have to wait a year or two, although it is on my list as well. Btw Andrew, what lens did you use for those sharks?

BotSo - I was looking at a similar shark tour for next Feb actually - I may end up doing a month or 6 weeks in S Africa next year (Sardine Run, Aliwal, Mozambique) anyway.

Thanks for the recommendations! I think Fiji is going to be the next dive holiday....

Vandit

About South Africa , I returned 1 month ago from a 6 weeks there . If you want to get close to the sharks , contact Blue Wilderness and choose your dates according to which species of sharks do you want to see . In august you will have ragged thooth , black tips and duskies ( this last two are there i think any time of the year ) and maybe a tiger ( best time is early in the year march-june ). I suggest that besides the sharks you spend at least 3 nights in a reserve , wildlife photo opportunities are plenty.

Good luck

As you mentioned, Cocos is likely one of the top 3 spots worldwide to get close to sharks (find an active cleaning station, duck down behind something, hold your bubbles and... or just wait for a big, curious Galapagos shark to swim by [usually from behind you when you least expect it])

As for Palau - I had very good luck at Blue Corner being the last one in, last one out. When everyone unhooked, try sitting right at the corner (behind the rock) - my buddy and I had grey reefies coming in within 5-6 feet above us (very dependent on the strength of the current)

From S.E. Asia, I would suggest several spots in the Maldives - there was a "Shark Nursery" dive in the Northern Baa Atoll that was incredible (dozens of sharks in very close, with juvenile eagle rays mixed in as a bonus). South Ari Atoll has some good shark dives as well.