Third times a charm - Great white shark cage diving

avatar

Hi Hive!

mmexport1626175993431.jpg

Are you aware that today is shark awareness day?? 🦈🦈🦈

So I thought today was a fitting day to share my blog on our third cage diving experience!

So here we are back at the Neptune Islands to hopefully cage dive with a great white shark... And it turns out third time was a charm because we got to see three!!!

Going home with no shark sightings the first time around was very dishearting... And left me with a slight obsession in seeing one.

Of course as irony would have it, the sightings improved in the weeks after out first trip!

So five weeks later here we're back in the Neptune Islands to cage dive with a great white shark!

This time around, was feeling very optimistic as the last two trips before ours saw three great whites. But knowing all to well what a nomadic creature the great white is, nothing can be guaranteed....

mmexport1626176159184.jpg

Our great white shark cage dive experience - Take three

Same drill as last time had to be at the Calyspo office by 6am. When everyone is signed in it's time to head to the boat. There are some familiar crew faces onboard today - Caz, Jack and skipper Andrew.

After the briefing it's time to select cage groups. With today's numbers on board there will be five groups. Jack gave us first dibs as we were trying for our third time. He told us over the last week or so the sharks have been showing up within half hour of arriving.

So was super tempting to go in cage group one... But after some deliberation between us we decided we'd go group three.

We figured we already tried first and last group, there were three of us, it was our third attempt and three was in the middle of the five groups.

received_916852745841385.jpg

Now with the business part over it's time to relax for the cruise back out to the Neptunes.

received_200085472069466.jpg

On the way there see this awesome sunrise aswell as a few southern right whales. Which was a real treat!

mmexport1626249216751.jpg

This trip out is prob the roughest we have had. Anticipating the big waves coming is a bit daunting but the MV Calypso Star and Andrew have it sussed.

mmexport1626251599225.jpg

Thankfully once we arrive at the Neptune's the water is much calmer around the islands.

mmexport1626249211815.jpg

Adventure Bay and Rodney Fox are both already here and we take the same position we had on the first day.

received_1051076009032972.jpg

I assume every company must have an allocated spot if we're all out there.

received_2315371271930998.jpg

The crew do their cage briefing then start berleying the water as group one gets kitted up.

received_3050544931848796.jpg

They're in the water for not even half an hour and Andrew yells "Shark!!!"

Oh man Jack called it... And damn it we should of gone in group one haha.

But all good this is freaking great there is actually a shark in the water! The crew try and entice the shark closer to the cage so everyone can get a better look.

20210605_110818.jpg

There is quite a lot of skill involved in this, as you want to entice the shark without letting it get the bait. Especially because if they do there is a 15 minute penalty where no berleying is allowed.

This is part of the rules to help preserve the sharks natural instincts and to not teach them unnatural behaviours.

At first I have trouble seeing the shark which was very frustrating.

Every one else was all "Wow" and "so cool!!" And I'm thinking damn it am I the only one who can't see this thing???

But then in all its shadowy glory, I see a dark silhouette under the water line, getting bigger as it gets closer.

received_514870572962041.jpg

And then finally a dorsal fin breaks the surface... Yay!!!! I finally see my first great white 😁😁😁

mmexport1626175967208.jpg

After all of group one has seen the shark from inside the cage it's group two's turn. That means we now have to get our wetsuits on to keep the groups flowing. Which is always easier said than done.

Also don't want to miss out on anything going on outside so today the wetsuit jiggle is even harder haha.

Don't want to be outside in the cold.. But also don't want to be inside in case you miss something outside!

Now after missing out on seeing a shark the last two times was wondering how I would be after seeing one...

received_549060946092805.jpg

Would I still be as keen to jump in the water with a great white shark?

mmexport1626175952477.jpg

As it turns out YES!!! I couldn't wait. Was actually surprised how not scared I was about the idea.

mmexport1626175975505.jpg

Wonder if that had something to do with the prior cage and regulator experience? I knew the cage was strong and sturdy (despite a few dings and bite marks haha) and have the regulator sussed so all that was missing was the shark... Which now we have.

But think the sheer excitement of knowing there was a shark in the water just overtook any fear. Was pumped and couldn't wait for group two to get the hell out!

Then it was finally our time - We finally get to cage dive with a great white shark at the Neptune Islands!!

G went in first and I wasn't far behind. Didn't want to waste any time with my mask or regulator figured I'd work it out down there. Just wanted to see the shark from underwater!

Rick quickly followed and then we finally had three of the trevally kings in the water with a great white. Woooooooooooo!!

FB_IMG_1622947622071.jpg

Another thing that was surprising was just how quiet it is. Like I would of thought you'd be able to hear a shark underwater but that wasn't the case. All you could hear is the familiar sound of everyone's regulator bubbles and creaks of the cage.

Since I didn't want to miss a thing I was frantically looking to the left, right, in front, and below. Something my Go Pro footage can shakily agree with haha.

Now you're told that if you see something to let the others in the cage know... Which can only really be done by tapping the person next to you. But the thing is you're constantly knocking into each other with the movement of the cage so its hard to know what is accidental knocking or a tap saying "omg there's a shark this way"

So sometimes you can still miss a shark that is in close proximity. When rewatching our footage I was surprised how many times we all turned away from where the shark actually was!

But can clearly remember the first time I saw one under the water...

At first I just thought it was a big king fish cruising with a squad of trevally... But something made me do a double take.

mmexport1626176305716.jpg

Remember thinking "whoa that's a huge king fish!.. Oh wait that king fish has gills!..

mmexport1626176000809.jpg

OMFG that's actually a great fucking white!!!"

mmexport1626176247490.jpg

I could hardly contain my excitement and tried to get G's attention. But then a curtain of trevally blocked my view and I lost track of where he went.

Next time I saw him he had swum up to the surface and was falling backwards, white belly up! Was so cool.

mmexport1626176095974.jpg

Would seem I just witnessed the last of him trying to get the bait. Which he did. So then we had a 15 minute berley break.

mmexport1626176067952.jpg

Just hoped I or someone else managed to get the whole thing on our GoPros!

mmexport1626176063516.jpg

The next 15 mins underwater were pretty chill, he was just cruising past with his brave treavally mates.

mmexport1626176257992.jpg

Was surprised how deep he seemed to swim and just hang out in the depths.

received_318038849773476.jpg

Also got to see some of his distinguishable features - a scar on his head and a deformed tail.

received_548948452955991.jpg

We got to see another berley grab under the water before it was our time to come back up so the next group could have their turn.

Back up on deck we asked Caz if she knew which shark we'd seen...

Apparently the deformed tail was a dead giveway as to which great white we saw...

mmexport1626175157437.jpg

None other than a local legend named IMAX!!!

mmexport1626176026199.jpg

IMAX is easily identified from his deformed tail and is a 4.2m male who has been visiting the Neptunes for approximately 14 years.

mmexport1626176202889.jpg

I know what you're probably thinking... IMAX like the cinema? And the answer is yes. He was named by the cinema people who were out on a charter one day. They paid for his naming rights as well as not to have him tagged. Which is a pretty cool back story.

mmexport1626176239159.jpg

After a few years of not visiting he has made a few appearances this year which the Calyspo crew were super stoked about. Especially because there was a rumour going around that a fisherman had got him!

mmexport1626176132417.jpg

So was super great to know this wasn't the case and that he is still getting around 🦈

received_233126115296158.jpg

IMAX is a Calypso crew favourite and you could tell they were all super excited to see him as he always puts on a show.

received_335197781421615.jpg

Group four and five have their turns and then we have circled back to the start. So anyone from group one who wants another dive goes in. Then group two. Then it was our turn again!

Unfortunately somewhere between group one and two's second dives IMAX had decided to move on. A third shark made a brief appearance but didn't stick around. Or at least not that we saw.

One thing that has stuck with me is how deep they swim and how there could be one not far from where you are. But you just wouldn't know.

For example we went on Adventure Bay's seal tour the next day and they said they didn't see one shark! And we saw three. They really weren't that far away from us, maybe 1km and they didn't see any.

That's not to say there weren't any there. I guess it just goes to show it's the luck of the draw when visiting the Neptunes!

20210605_112939.jpg

Super stoked we finally got to tick off a great white shark cage dive on the bucket list βœ”πŸ¦ˆπŸͺ£πŸ—’

Was such a cool experience and even though it's been ticked off still can't wait to do it again! I also think next time I will upgrade to the "shark attacking the cage while I'm inside" experience πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚

mmexport1626175901755.jpg

So will def be keeping an eye on the sightings, and hopefully when the time is right, we'll be able to get all the OG Trevally King misfits together once again 😁🦈🐟🍻!!

received_149471327255023.jpg

This blog first appeared on πŸ‘‡πŸ˜ŠπŸ‘‡www.fourwornsoles.com
Check it out for more travel blogs and pics 🌍🌎🌏 Thanks for stopping by ✌



0
0
0.000
19 comments
avatar

Congratulations, your post has been added to Pinmapple! πŸŽ‰πŸ₯³πŸ

Did you know you have your own profile map?
And every post has their own map too!

Want to have your post on the map too?

  • Go to Pinmapple
  • Click the get code button
  • Click on the map where your post should be (zoom in if needed)
  • Copy and paste the generated code in your post (Hive only)
  • Congrats, your post is now on the map!

0
0
0.000
avatar

Isnt it just the most amazing experience! Your photos really capture the excitement. We went out to Neptune Islands with Rodney Fox a few years ago. I should actually have a post coming out today with some photos. Something I'll never forget.

0
0
0.000
avatar

Thank you @inavan, it sure is 😊😊 Awesome, I would love to do the liveaboard on the Rodney Fox one day! Will have to check out your photos when you do your post. Def an unforgettable experience 😁🦈✌

0
0
0.000
avatar

Yah, third time lucky and am so glad you finally got to see a Big White in the cage. I bet you would go back and experience it all over again, I look forward to the that post too.

0
0
0.000
avatar

@angiemitchell Third time lucky indeed 😁😁😁 Thank you so much, cant wait to do it again! The best thing is no matter how many times you do it each will be a totally different experience so looking forward to it 🦈🦈🦈

0
0
0.000
avatar

Congratulations @terrybogan! You have completed the following achievement on the Hive blockchain and have been rewarded with new badge(s) :

You published more than 70 posts.
Your next target is to reach 80 posts.

You can view your badges on your board and compare yourself to others in the Ranking
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word STOP

To support your work, I also upvoted your post!

0
0
0.000
avatar

Hiya, @ybanezkim26 here, just swinging by to let you know that this post made it into our Top 3 in Daily Travel Digest #1260.

Your post has been manually curated by the @pinmapple team. If you like what we're doing, please drop by to check out all the rest of today's great posts and consider supporting other authors like yourself and us so we can keep the project going!

Become part of our travel community:

0
0
0.000
avatar

Thank you! Greatly appreciated 😁✌

0
0
0.000
avatar

Wowww. really amazing, the BIG WHITE is really awesome !!!

0
0
0.000
avatar

@intoy.bugoy it sure was! The great white is such an amazing creature, so glad I got to see one close up 😊✌

0
0
0.000
avatar

Wow so beautiful pictures and the experience is amazing 😍πŸ₯°

0
0
0.000
avatar

@snedeva thank you, it was such an amazing experience! Looking forward to doing it again some day 🦈😊✌

0
0
0.000
avatar

This was such an epic day! So glad we got yo see 3 great whites! Nothing like getting into a cage in freezing cold water, then covered in tuna guts. Totally worth it! And the trevally were so majestic πŸŸπŸ‘‘

0
0
0.000
avatar

Def was an epic day!! Cant wait to do it again with the rest of the crew πŸ¦ˆπŸŸπŸ‘‘!!!

0
0
0.000