Tys's Tales of Africa
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Having a great time it S.A, it really is an awesome spot. Had a crazy experience Shark diving the other day...
Yes I really did swim with sharks in the middle of the ocean with nothing in site other than the IRB boat that was about 30 meters away. That’s without cages or anything, just a snorkel, mask and flippers.
To get out there we had to get through the shore break of about 8 foot!! Took so long to find a gap and the swells were that big that almost everyone was at breaking point fearing for there safety!! Thought it was like a set up and we were all going to die. Anyway we got 7km off the beach and then it really sunk in what we were actually about to do!!!
I still can’t believe it. They set up all the bait attached to floats and threw heaps of blood and guts into the water. It really was unbelievable, I have always been scared of sharks. We all went in (reluctantly) and some guys were already throwing up. Got in there and we were all clinging onto each other at the start fearing for our lives. I put my mask under water and saw a large school of fish then at the end of it I saw this massive Black pointer chomping on them. Out of the corner of my eyes I saw another shark swimming around. The instructors were in their element swimming around and diving right under.
The current took us quite far down so the boat picked us up and dropped us back to where all the bait was. I went back in for the second time and looked under the water again and without a word of a lie there were over 20 sharks cruising around. They were all black pointers except for two Tiger sharks which were enormous and meant to be human killers but they didn’t act like that thank god. They would come up behind you and move away at the very last moment which was exactly the scary thought and image I have had of sharks all my life. I freaked out when I saw about three of them go into a frenzy over food so swam for the boat to find the boat getting further away from me!! I thought I was a goner, just like in the movies! The guy in the boat said you will be alright as he was throwing more blood into the water!! I hate to admit it but I lost it and screamed out for the boat to stop as I was certain it was the end! Finally I got to the boat and everyone except 3 of us who were last to get back on were already on their way back in on the other boat.
I was devastated I didn’t get onto that boat as I had seen more than enough shark action to last a life time! So now there are just 3 of us left, Bronson Murry, Adam Whitlock and myself along with 6 instructors and camera men. The instructors decide they want to take some more pictures so ask us for a volunteer. My Hand wasn’t going up in a hurry so I was relieved when Bronson Murry the hell man hoped in again and started floating around out there loving it. Adam was spewing at this point and I was on the boat flipping out. They managed to convince us to go BACK in after about 15mins of really trying without giving up, so we did, but this time it was a lot better as we were with the 6 instructors who were around us so it felt safe.
We got some great photos and Bronson was filmed riding a couple of sharks by holding onto their fins! It was the most amazing experience and after actually doing it my opinion and thoughts on Sharks is so different. They are such graceful creatures and truly harmless. They knew we weren’t part of their food chain so we were all safe!!
I learnt that the media (JAWS) has really portrayed sharks fully the wrong way!! The guides gave us a long speech and educated us all after our dive and to be totally honest I would now feel safe being in the water with great whites without a cage, pretty unreal I know but true. Tyson
P.S Check out the members area soon for another blog about the REAL South Africa!