Indubitably, each time I discuss sharks with someone new, a short dialogue ensues:
Newby: “You dive in a cage, right?”
Me: “Only when I have to”.
Newby: “No cage? What the hell, do you have a death wish?”
Me: “My fantasy death aside, do you really think I would choose vacations where I spend my time trying to outsmart killing machines? Swimming with sharks is a thrill, but there’s nothing death defying about it.”
Newby: “Well no offense, but I think you’re crazy. No way would I jump in the water with sharks, cage or no cage.”
Make no mistake; I’m not recruiting for the shark diving army. I am not trying to convince anyone to “jump in the water with sharks.” Disregarding the unrequested opinion on my sanity all I really want to convey is that sharks are misunderstood and misrepresented and that diving with them can be a harmless and even peaceful experience.
The easiest and safest way to shark dive is in a cage, but certainly not all sharks warrant the use of steel protection. Some operators bring along a cage just in case anyone wants to stay in it. This is common here on the East coast as well as in Hawaii and Bahamas for diving with blue sharks, makos and in some cases reef sharks. As I said, the cage is optional and a lot of divers feel completely comfortable unconfined. It doesn’t mean you’re a badass if you don’t use a cage, it just means you’re alert and at ease when surrounded by sharks. Ok, who am I crappin? Shark divers are badasses! I kid. Sorta.
Cage diving is used almost 100% with great white sharks. Some lucky people have been able to dive uncaged with the fearsome sea warrior, but I’m not among them (yet, give me time). South Africa and Australia are probably the most well-known white shark destinations, but I think the real great white Mecca is Guadalupe Island, a couple hundred miles off Mexico. At Guadalupe, or Lupe as some call it, the water is remarkably clear and temperate. There is a healthy population of white sharks likely due to the numerous sea lions. The white sharks there aren’t the biggest in the world, but they put on a good show! Sometimes they breach, sometimes they prey on or play with the sea lions (depending on their mood), sometimes they bump the cage (exciting!), but always they glide around showing off their gnarly triangular chompers (they have a natural smile, check it out below). I dive Guadalupe every chance I get and each time one of the regulars is there to greet us, like Rockstar, Patches, Cal Ripfin, or Big Mama, I get goosebumps. It’s always a sigh of relief to see an old favorite – who knows how long they’ll be on the blue planet?
If you’re interested in learning more about cage diving opportunities, drop me a line at heidi@squidforce.com .
Stay sharky!
