Pacific Shark Expedition 2006/2007
This is a very special expedition on which we
will circumnavigate the southern Pacific Ocean, diving
with as many different species of sharks as possible,
and filming our adventure as we go. The footage will be the basis for the broadcast
quality shark video and global shark image database that Shark Safaris are creating.
We will be reporting on our progress in our expedition Blog. To follow us,
click here to view
the Expedition Blog
| Location: | |
Malpelo, Colombia |
| Dates: | |
7 - 23 December 2006 |
| Diving site: | |
Malpelo Island |
| Shark species expected: |
- Scalloped hammerheads
- silky sharks
- galapagos sharks
|
| Description
Undoubtedly one of the most remote diving destinations in the world, Malpelo
island is widely recognised as the finest place in the world to encounter
large schools of hammerhead sharks in shallow water.
An endless inventory of seasonal "big fish" encounters await:
migratory pelagics such as whale sharks, oceanic manta rays, silky sharks,
galapagos sharks and dolphins visit the island - and, of course, hammerheads.
The depths are also home to "El Monstruo" - the 4-metre-plus
smalltooth sandtiger sharks (Odontaspis Ferox) - their silhouettes often
seen against the sandy bottom at 60 metres.
|
| Location: | | New Zealand |
| Dates: | | 26 December 2006 - 6 January 2007 |
| Diving sites: | |
Poor Knights, Rainbow Warrior, White Island, Gisborne Shark Dive |
| Shark species expected (cage diving): |
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|
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Description
The Poor Knights Islands were named by Jacques Cousteau as one of the
top 10 dive sites in the world. Separated from mainland New Zealand,
the Poor Knights Islands are influenced
by a warm current that originates in the Coral Sea, north of Australia.
Water temperature is higher, and visibility significantly greater than
in nearby coastal waters. Tropical and subtropical life forms have become
established among the diverse and multiple environments formed by the
island's volcanic origins. Underground caves, tunnels and archways are
home to an extraordinary variety of seaweeds and dense populations of
colourful fish - pink and blue mao mao, squadrons of stingrays, moray
eels and grouper.
Diving at the Poor Knights is rewarding at all times of the year. In January
the water is a warm 20-23 Celsius (70F) and the clear averaging 20 m
visibility.
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| Location: |
|
Fiji |
| Dates: | | 7 - 20 January 2007 |
| Diving sites: | | Beqa Lagoon, Big Fish Dive |
| Shark species expected: |
- Bull
- Tiger
- Sicklefin Lemon
- Silvertip
- Grey Reef
- Whitetip Reef
- Blacktip Reef
- Tawny Nurse
|
|
Description
10 days of diving on the what has been called "The best shark dive
in the world" - a shark photographer's dream!
Each day we will do at least 2 dives. The first on a reef ledge next
to the drop off into the abyss of Beqa Passage. Here at a depth of 30m/100ft,
the feeders bring in the main attraction; the bull sharks. After 20
minutes in "The Arena", we head up to "The Den",
for the smaller shark species, Whitetip Reefs and Blacktip Reefs. The
second Shark Dive takes place halfway down the reef slope at 16m/55ft.
'The Take Out' is where most of the feeding occurs.
Often the Tawny
Nurses are the first species to feed before giving way to the Bulls.
Silvertips, Lemons and Grey Reefs come in to feed when the Bulls allow,
but if one of the Tigers turns up then even the Bulls give way. Moving
slowly and with purpose the Tiger will take food from the feeders' hands
giving the divers a view of one of the oceans' top predators.
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