27 Feb, 2008

Two new individuals can be added to the identification database.

Today started badly out on Aliwal Shoal, on the coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The current had picked up, and it was an hour before any blacktip sharks (Carcharhinus limbatus) arrived.

We jumped overboard into grimy water. The colour had changed from blue to green, and further down there was a heavy thermocline – the layer of water where the rate of temperature decline is highest. Even murkier grey water slopped on the bottom of the ocean. The temperature below the thermocline was 24°C (75°F), much colder than the last two days.

Despite the bad conditions, the sun shining down through the water made for some stunning images as the slender brown sharks slid through the water.

Halfway through the dive, things got much better. A white, shovel-shaped nose came looming out of the grey gloom below me. I dropped down and intercepted the first tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) I’d seen in 10 days.

Another animal arrived and I spent a while with them in the dark water near the bottom. Then I began to ascend and to my surprise the pair followed. They stayed with us for half an hour and spent most of this time swimming close by and slowly.

The best thing about today was that I managed to add two more individuals to my Aliwal tiger shark identification database. These two were picked up just north of the Castle area of the reef; I’ll be looking out for them in the future.

– by Graeme Duane, Earth-Touch crew © Earth-Touch

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