SHARKS!

Today I was able to experience the greatest predator in the world in a very up close and personal way. I went cage diving with the great white sharks off the coast of South Africa! There was a group of 11 of us who were all picked up from our flats at 11:30 by a van labeled Great White Experience on the side. We took a scenic drive east, away from Cape Town, for about 2 hours until we got to a small Oceanside town which I can’t remember the name. Upon arrival we were served a light lunch while we signed our lives away on the waiver. Basically the waiver stated that you were not forced to get on the boat, and that great white sharks are wild animals, thus the company was not liable for any injuries that may occur to you. Thankfully there was no loss of life, or even a scratch on anybody when it was all said and done.

Everyone changed into their swim suits, or costumes as they are called here, and we headed out on the boat. There were 20 total people not including the crew of the boat. The boat ride took about 20 minutes until we got to ‘shark alley’ where all the best shark action is. There we dropped anchor and part of the crew began to get the cage on the side of the boat secured and ready, while the rest of them started throwing bait(tuna and other dead fish) into the water to attract the great whites.

The cage was about 7 feet high, 12 feet long and 3 feet deep. It hung off the edge of the boat so there was enough space at the top so you could keep your head above water for breathing purposes. 5 people got in the cage at a time, shoulder to shoulder, so that all 20 of us could get a chance to see the sharks before they moved on. I ended up in the last group of 5, but was the first one in the cage. I purposefully tried to be the first one in the cage because that meant I was the farthest on the left, closest to the bait thrower. My reasoning was that if a shark was going to swim directly towards the cage, it would end up doing so at the far left because the bait thrower had a tuna head attached to a rope and was throwing it out into the water and pulling it back in. The sharks had been following the tuna back towards the boat, and therefore the cage, so I wanted to be there if one got aggressive.

My wish came true! About half way into my under water experience, just as planned, one of the sharks decided he wanted to eat that tuna and swam right at me as the guy pulled it back towards the boat. The shark at the last second opened up its jaws and ran into the cage literally inches from me! I screamed like crazy even though I was under water, but it was the coolest thing ever! All in all we saw 7 different great white sharks, most of them being about 18 feet long. It was amazing to be able to witness their natural instincts for survival, and have it be so up close and personal!

Tomorrow morning I start school. I am not overly looking forward to it, but it will be nice to have a regular schedule. Plus I am hoping I can meet lots of people who are from South Africa, and not just hang out with the other students from America. You guys are sweet and all, but it will be sweet to be in class with mostly people from around here.

Sometime this week I will be uploading pictures onto facebook, either from school or an internet café, so be looking for those!