Naturally, I grew up like many others, having seen movies, like Jaws and Deep Blue Sea, so I had a respect for the great white because of their sheer size. Fortunately for us, the reality is that humans are not on the menu. Great white shark attacks on humans do occur, and though I have often read the word ‘unprovoked’ when reading a headline about the last shark attack, since my experience in the cage, I’m starting to feel differently.
Bronze whale sharkers or copper sharks are not aggressive towards humans, except when there’s food around. They get hangry, just like human beings do. What I did not know until my trip was over was that I had been in the presence of what I consider the most bullied shark in the ocean. Do not underestimate them though, they value friendship and will stick together, and they are not easily moved by the presence of orcas.
The bronze whale shark is however, considered by certain conservation organisations to be among vulnerable species in certain countries due to overfishing. They make up a sizeable portion of bycatch in commercial fishing, are in demand in certain countries as meals, and are often the targets of sport fishers. I had the opportunity to come face to face with what could be, in the future, an endangered or existent species. The idea that someday my children or grandchildren would not be able to have an opportunity to see a shark face to face, to have this experience I have had, saddens me.
This topic, for me, and I am sure many others is a sensitive one. The state of our oceans has also been something remarkably close to my heart. Documentaries like Seaspiracy on Netflix had me curled up in a ball questioning every decision I had made in life but highlighted some important things about what is going on that I had not known before.
I did not expect to be changed so much by the experience of shark cage diving in Cape Town. The ones I got to see were after all not the biggest fish in the pond, but certainly life altering and not one I will soon forget. I got no video footage or pictures of my experience inside the cage. The memories, the feeling of my hands gripped onto the yellow bar inside, and my feet hooked to the bottom of the cage is enough. The icy water, the smell of the sea. The experience of turning my head and finding a 3 metres beast only a few centimetres from my face is enough. You may think a shark is small notion of underestimating the size of a shark leaves your body quickly.
I have learnt a lot going shark cage diving, getting to speak to the crew before and after the experience has left me with a great sense of admiration for the people who have dedicated their lives to preserving and trying to save what we have left of our oceans. This refers to the ocean itself, its vastness and depth, and its ability to provide a home for so many species. All this serves as a reminder of the big, beautiful world I am lucky to be a part of.
Even if the idea of shark cage diving has never been on your bucket list, like it was on mine, I would invite anyone to do it simply because it truly is the experience of a lifetime. No day will be the same for every person. Every trip out, on every different vessel will be different for every person. Nature is unpredictable and ever changing, and you never really know what you are going to find out there. You never really know what you are going to see or experience, or how it’s going to change you. You may absolutely hate it for some reason or another, and never want to do it again. Or you may be like me, changed, and remembering that I never got any footage and absolutely must do it again.
