Private sharks / dolphins trip to the Bahamas aboard Shear Water

Hello guys! I just got back from an 8-day sharks / dolphins trip to the Bahamas (out with Jim Abernethy, as usual). The trip just before us was the Wetpixel oceanic white-tip expedition, led this year by Alex Mustard.

This one was a private charter by a good friend of mine, and there were only four of us on the boat (plus crew). I was the only photographer, which was very strange. I'm so used to people diving non-stop on the Shear Water. Instead, we read, napped, ate... and did 2-3 dives a day (at most).

Full image gallery here:

http://echeng.com/journal/2009/06/02/baham...phins-may-2009/

This one was a private charter by a good friend of mine, and there were only four of us on the boat (plus crew). I was the only photographer, which was very strange. I'm so used to people diving non-stop on the Shear Water. Instead, we read, napped, ate... and did 2-3 dives a day (at most).

Sounds like it was a great way to do the trip with a nice change of pace. Great shots. One day I need to do one of those trips.....

Boy, that shark looks like its' been well fed.

Instead, we read, napped, ate... and did 2-3 dives a day (at most).

The hardest thing to imagine is Jim chilling. He looks pretty relaxed in your pics. I think the whole crew needed it after our trip.

Boy, that shark looks like its' been well fed.

The shark, Emma, is *very* pregnant!

The shark, Emma, is *very* pregnant!

Thanks, That was actually my second choice as to her condition.

I have not had very much experience with sharks so it's hard for me to tell the difference between the boys and girls yet.

Looks like a very pleasant trip. Like the picture of you and Jim with the 3D specs.

Alex

The shark, Emma, is *very* pregnant!

Great to see pictures of Emma so regularly and to be able to see her belly get bigger week after week...

Was on the jul 08 shark & Dolphin trip (with Alex) and a day rarely goes by without me thinking about this great experience.

Can't wait to go back.

In fact Emma has become quite a star with my friends !

Even with my japanese in laws' family, who at a recent wedding in Japan served Shark fin Soup... Yes you read that right...

That was the occasion for a good and tactful (as much as could muster) lecture on my behalf the following day.

My videos of Emma among others definitely helped get the the message through.

Sad to see that the lack of shark conservation support in Japan is due mainly to ignorance as most Japanese I have found are overall very nature and preservation oriented...Most people there have no idea of the situation.

Anyway this could be the subject of a seperate thread I guess...

As usual Eric - great pictures

Hope next time I go out with Jim he brings the Ultralight / boat !

Wonderful images Eric.

You made the Daily Telegraph in the UK today..

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/5785901/L...-on-camera.html

Thanks, Rob. I wrote an journal post about those articles, which might be interesting:

http://echeng.com/journal/2009/07/09/the-p...mages-to-media/