A few moody Seven gill Shark photos

Nice!!!

great. You are sooooo lucky to be able to dive with them

Thank you guys!

pdemaagt, I agree completely, its such a fortunate position to be in to be able to swim from shore and spend some time with these beautiful sharks.

Really nice, that first image is just fantastic!

Nice like number three best

Thanks for the feedback rnuijen & eefella.

There is an interesting story behind the shark in the first photo.

For those interested, here is the load down on what happened.

It was my second dive for the day at this site where these sharks can be found and a solo dive.

I found a vista I liked and decided to dick in and wait for a shark to arrive. As I was getting into

position, a shark spotted me and immediately took interest in what I was doing. He's whole body

language was saying, I can see you are busy hiding there, whats that all about? It slowed down

and didn't continue on its extended path like they normally do. From that point on for the next 30

plus minutes he didn't let me out of its sight.

At this site the Seven gills normally swim a rather big path. So you will get to see them for a

while as they come into the viz range only to disappear into fog like murky water after a close

swim pass. Then not to be seen again for 10 or more minutes. But with this one the behaviour

was nothing like that, he kept at max a distance of 15m between the two of us all of this time.

As the shark remained where it was, when first spotting me and not swimming over to where

I wanted it, I decided to swim over to him. Normally that kind of action will see them swimming

off, not fleeing, but swimming of none the less. But not this fellow, he waited for me to be next

to him and then continued to swim in a tight circle with me next to it.

I spotted another possible vista close bye and moved into position. This time he came over to

right above me, also not unusual, but then stopped and settled down onto my dome port. (not normal)

After a few seconds, it started with a slow swim again. I was still hoping to get him into the first

location. A big rock was at that location and by now a cat and mouse game was being played.

The shark would pretend to swim around the rock in one direction and I would be going around

the other way. Then it would change direction and once I change direction he would change

direction again. (Just like the game one would be playing when chasing a person around a table)

Having already done a dive there earlier the day, I knew there were a good couple of sharks

around. When they are there in numbers you always get to see a few sharks at a time, coming

from different directions, but for this whole period this was the only shark in the area. Finally as

I swam back to the exit point, he followed me all the way to where the rocky kelp seabed change

over to sand and turn back at that point. They hardly ever cross that line. Its also interesting how

the viz on the sand side of the line is pretty much always better on that on the other side of the

line. They have this site figured!

Geo

Nice story...sounds like a great interaction that also gave you some great shots. I especially like your sunbeam in number three.

Those are awesome!! Heck of an encounter.

Is this off Simonstown?

Thank you Hollywoodivers Imaging, agree this one has become a permanent "movie" in my mind.

Yes these where taken just outside Simonstown Drew.

Thank you Hollywoodivers Imaging, agree this one has become a permanent "movie" in my mind.

 

Yes these where taken just outside Simonstown Drew.

Near Boulders Beach Simonstown by any chance? I was there over a week ago with a bunch of Italian shark fanatics. The vis on your photos are much better though. These are awesome seven gills sharks or "cow sharks" as the locals call them. They swim just right along side you and totally unafraid of divers.

Cheers

David

@ CheungyDiver, I am sure its the same spot you are thinking of. It used to be called Pyramid Rock, but now people has started to call the portion of the site where the sharks are found, Shark Park. (A name I don't like at all, because it really is not a theme park after all. Also prefer the name Seven Gill Sharks)

I really wish I could knew what these sharks are thinking, because as really are very curious in the divers and having one swimming right at, over or into you is not uncommon.

Fishermen hold high respect for these sharks as a strong fighter (yes very sadly there are those who angle them) and with seals forming part of their diet, they should not be under estimated. I love diving with these sharks, but always give them the respect they deserve.

Viz in the at site can be trick and it helps to know the site well;)

You really are lucky to be able to swim along side those beautiful creatures.

Thank you guys!

pdemaagt, I agree completely, its such a fortunate position to be in to be able to swim from shore and spend some time with these beautiful sharks.

I should come over again....some time.... :-)

I should come over again....some time.... :-)

Hope to see you back sooner than later;)

Great Shots, wonderful.

Thank you Mio!