Ocean Safari pics

Normally I'd start with some underwater pics but I just checked my topside folder and decided the following sequence is probably the most exciting natural predation and fight I've seen:

2 gannets fight over a mackerel. They use a mexican standoff technique

where both hold the fish underwater until one lets go!

 

But the young juvenile gannet (the colored one of the left) sees something

the battling gannets don't see... the tell tale dorsal fin of trouble...

 

 

So the young one proves to be smart and exits stage up up and away!

 

SNAP!!! The shark gets into the melee and fights for the mackerel! However it unwitting

knocked the other gannet off mackerel....

 

 

..Freeing the gannet which maintained a tight grip on the mackerel to make a run for it!

 

 

But the shark still wants the fish so a second tussle ensues!

 

 

The gannet has the advantage of high ground and pulls the fish out of the water...

 

 

But loses its balance and drops back into the water... right on the shark!

 

 

Amazingly, it manages to wrestle away from the shark...

 

 

...and enjoys the spoils of this battle of the fittest!

Hi Drew,

Interesting !!! Thanks for sharing !!

Can't wait for the underwater part !!!

Edmond

Well it would've been awesome to have an overunder of this activity. Next year with a 24" dome!!

Well it would've been awesome to have an overunder of this activity. Next year with a 24" dome!!

Hey Drew

Gripping stuff. Now I understood why you asked about a 24" dome. I will try and make one.

Got space next year?

cheers

David

What a great sequence! Thanks for posting those, Drew.

-Gina

Very exciting and excellent comentary.

Allan

Unreal!

A couple more from that CF card:

This is not a lover's embrace while war is happening!

 

 

Definitely not loving play!

Got space next year?

Ah Cheungy, for you always a maybe!

We'll talk!

Where are all the underwater action shots Drew. I would have thought that since this is an underwater photography forum then it would be good to upload a few of them to show us.

Stew

Stew, the underwater pics would come in the underwater section of the gallery. This is the topside section and thus apropos. And that'll come when I bother to get to them later in the month. A few guys have already posted theirs from this year. You should do a search in the uw gallery for them.

Hey Drew,

These are fantastic! What a great series!

Adam

Stew, the underwater pics would come in the underwater section of the gallery. This is the topside section and thus apropos. And that'll come when I bother to get to them later in the month. A few guys have already posted theirs from this year. You should do a search in the uw gallery for them.

Yes I know that Drew. I know that you might think that I am thick, but I can assure you that I am not. I was just asking where all of the underwater shots are. I know where the underwater gallery is, as I post my images in there often, you should take a look at my postings someday. Basically I was just enquiring as to the where about's of your below surface shots. And now reading your reply, I guess you have not " bothered " to get in the water yet to take any photos.

Stew

Yes I know that Drew. I know that you might think that I am thick, but I can assure you that I am not. I was just asking where all of the underwater shots are. I know where the underwater gallery is, as I post my images in there often, you should take a look at my postings someday. Basically I was just enquiring as to the where about's of your below surface shots. And now reading your reply, I guess you have not " bothered " to get in the water yet to take any photos.

 

Stew

I'm with you Stew....where are the pics Drew?

Wow! I'm touched that I have at least 2 fans for my uw pics. Still, I'll post when I finish up the trip report. Sorry to disappoint my 2(only) biggest fans!

Mike, weren't you with Amos in Port Edward? I remember you were selling some spots in the Trp section. How was the action from there? The sardines were thick in the south Natal coast this year.

Come on Drew, you know the story of the Snow Petrel and that we ended up at Aliwal Shoal with no action...don't you? Maybe your just rubbing it in?

When were the sardines thick in Natal?

Looking forward to your UW pics so I can dream about next year.

Wow! I'm touched that I have at least 2 fans for my uw pics. Still, I'll post when I finish up the trip report. Sorry to disappoint my 2(only) biggest fans!

Mike, weren't you with Amos in Port Edward? I remember you were selling some spots in the Trp section. How was the action from there? The sardines were thick in the south Natal coast this year.

Welll, I've heard so many different stories about the snow petrel that I didn't really pay any more attention. First it's in dock, then Ivan says it's running then every one were in aliwal. Then someone said you guys were running to Port Edward. LOL.

I'm sorry you had to go through that but seeing how the seas were unrelentingly big for a few weeks, it may be a blessing in disguise.

They've been netting in the South Coast for the last 2 weeks. They just netted @ Pennington yesterday. But alas the big bad weather continues so I'm not getting anything up here.

Wow! I'm touched that I have at least 2 fans for my uw pics. Still, I'll post when I finish up the trip report. Sorry to disappoint my 2(only) biggest fans!

Drew I am certainly not a fan of yours, your statement could not be further from the truth. I was just hoping to see some action photos from someone who always has so much to say. I was hoping that your images might prove that you can walk the walk and not just talk the talk.

Stew

At least he gets responses ... Good or bad I've had 180+ views and one comment!!!

Dive safe

DeanB