Instant Reader Report on Diving
Falie in
Australia/Neptune Islands, South Austral in
2002/06

by
John Crossley, CA, USA
Report Number 020911004402633

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 Fiji, Indonesia, Philippines, Solomans, Truk, Palau, Yap, Galapagos, Cocos,
Hawaii, Cozumel, Caymans, Turks & Caicos, Sipadan, & others 

Stay inside the steel cages.  Group time limit about 40 minutes  

[None]  

Overall Rating

This was a Stan Waterman lead trip that teamed up with the world famous
great white shark expert, Rodney Fox, on the three-masted, 80 year old
classic sailing ship,the Faile. The cabins were decent size, but  15 divers
shared three large toilet/shower rooms,  Meals typically included several
choices and they were well prepared. 

The Great Whites were out there every day.  We saw about 13 different ones
in a week. At most we saw 5 different ones in a day, about 9 to 16 feet
long, but most were really thick and strong looking.  

Four divers could get into a 6ft by 6ft. steel cage lowered from the side
of the ship to 60-80 feet, where we would watch the white sharks (and eagle
rays, sting rays, and other fish) circle around us. They just cruised
around,looking at us, and they seemed like peaceful giants.  We were told
not to go out of the cage.

Off the stern, four divers could stand in a steel cage that floated at the
surface, while the boat crew fed the sharks tuna baited on a line that
floated right next to our cage.  On scuba at just 5 feet deep we could see
the sharks come up to feed one at a time.  They were very cautious hunters,
making several passes before coming back for the big bite.  We saw it right
up close.  They would swim away and come back anywhere from one to 10
minutes later, and always from a different direction in the murky water
(visibility 30 ft).  Sometimes it would come up right behind us and we
would not see it until it was right there.  What a skilled hunter! 
Generally, we did two cages dives a day, and each was a trill. We forgot
how cold the water was (61-64) until we got out and froze on the deck in
the wind.

The third way to see the sharks was on a side feeding, with us hanging
over the side rail of the ship to see the great whites go for the tuna
suspended a little above the water.  It was really impressive to see these
giants come half a body length out of the water with jaws wide.

After dinner we would listen to Stan and Rodney tell stories of great
adventures. In one discussion, we all agreed that we felt not a second of
fear during our cage dives with the great whites, but instead a total sense
of awe and respect for these perfect hunters.  Rodney said that is why he
leads these trips, so people can really appreciate the grace, beauty, and
aquatic perfection of these great white sharks.  After the trip, we had a
party at Rodney’s Great White Shark Museum, which is a great exhibit.  All
in all it was a great and memorable week.

 
 

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