No more of this shit - source.
Read this.
Bravo Xi Jinping and Barack Obama!
Shark Bite!
Oh well - watch this.
PS - Hahahahahahaha - embedding has been disabled - but of course it has not been deleted as Freek wants to continue showcasing his heroic feat: you can watch it right here!
PPS - and now it has been retracted...
PPPS - and in case you missed it: here it is on another page!
Oh and here is the video - til it gets retracted again.... hahahahahahaha... seriously, how
Juvenile Scalloped Hammers in the Rewa - Paper!
Behold!
I must say that I like and also hate it.
Specifically, I like seeing the confirmation of the previous hypothesis that the Rewa may be a nursery for Scalloped Hammerheads; what I hate is the likely massive post-release mortality, the fact that those Sharks are currently still being obliterated by the local fishermen, and several highly disturbing ethical aspects concerning the
No more Shark Feeding in French Polynesia?
Problematic - unregulated Elasmobranch feeding with snorkelers. Source.
Remember this stupidity?
Alas, it ain't going away - on the contrary!
According to this piece, the new Environmental Law of French Polynesia is targeting both Elasmobranch feeding and Whale watching, see page 2416ff. The law has been published without any proper scientific backing and zero consultations with the
They're at it already!
Click for detail!
Behold!
Yes those would definitely be mating scars!
This is way, way early - but then again, this has been a very warm year likely leading to strong fetal development and a very early pupping season, too! To wit, Fold, Tip and Bum are already back from the nurseries all gaunt and ravenous, and busy bulking up after more than a month of fasting!
Long story short, the
Tiger Tiger Tiger - and one more Tiger!
Click for detail!
Yes it is true.
This has been epic.
We had a shy Tiger on the first dive and then, three different Tigers, among which the big and ever feisty BRAT, see at top, on the second dive.
For us, this would be a historical first.
So, what are you waiting for!
Lupe - same old same old!
Oh FFS - read this.
Indeed, fucking image of the day no less - click for detail!
And of course, it's once again the fucking Sea Escape and the bloody Ramsey chick along with her demented circular echo chamber of self-promoting #Instagram sharkettes.
For years now, those bloody attention-seeking disrespectful morons have been brazenly breaking the rules at Guadalupe and adding insult to
Parque Nacional Revillagigedo!
¡Viva México!
This really is fantastic news - announcement here, story here.
This is hands down one of the best dive destinations in the world.
You will be witnessing some of the most iconic species whilst being serviced by one of the most professional, most luxurious and safest operators in the industry, GSD member Nautilus Liveaboards.
So, what are you waiting for!
reade more...
This really is fantastic news - announcement here, story here.
This is hands down one of the best dive destinations in the world.
You will be witnessing some of the most iconic species whilst being serviced by one of the most professional, most luxurious and safest operators in the industry, GSD member Nautilus Liveaboards.
So, what are you waiting for!
How NOT to experience Cage Diving with GWS!
Oh for crying out loud.
Have you seen this?
So after all that has happened - the cage breaches, the injured animals, the idiotic and illegal out-of-cage expeditions, the countless meetings and debates and then finally, the several revisions of the rules, and all those other efforts to finally steer the cage diving industry in Guadalupe towards a more long-term sustainable future,
How
Don't eat the Reef Fish!
Source.
Bingo!
Remember this post?
Now I discover that Palau is planning to build an offshore fleet in order to fish for Tuna and other pelagics within 20% of its EEZ - and that is a good thing, and this not only economically but also ecologically!
With the Pacific Islands running out of Fish due to a combination of rampant overfishing, habitat destruction and climate change (read it
Vaquita
Source.
So this is the end.
And you moronic Whale huggers.
Yes YOU, with all your new age garbage, your breathy noise and your misguided pseudo-conservation: this has happened on your watch, and I am laying it squarely at your feet.
And the Māui?
We shall see shall we not!
Reef Shark Competition - Paper!
Reeftop hunters: Blacktip Reefies. Fantastic image by Tom!
And talking of those Reefies.
Here's another great paper.
Assuming I understand it correctly, it illustrates how Grey and Blacktip Reefies segregate spatially and are thus able to partition their habitat and consequently, its resources = prey.
Whereas I've always believed that the Greys would always outcompete the Blacktips
Second Alert!
Have a good look at the above - click for detail.
Yes it is shocking.
Article here, paper here - read them, and then go and fucking do something!
And no I really got nothing to add.
Shark Eyes?
Butterfly eye spots: likely not mimicry but rather, aimed at startling and distracting - source.
Watch.
I'm sure this may surprise you - but I kinda like this?
There's a website with some info, some of which quite good - but some probably not so much, as in the whole treatment of (Batesian?) mimicry in general and eye spots in particular, as the scientific interpretation of the
Shark-mediated Trophic Cascade in Fiji - Paper!
Reeftop predators: Blacktip Reefie and Bluefin Trevallies - great pic by Allen!
Nice!
Read this.
It illustrates how Reef Sharks influence the behavior of seaweed grazers and consequently, consistently influence the size and distribution of seaweed on the back reef of Votua, i.e. right in front of the iconic Eco Café, home of Fiji's very best wood-fired pizza, friendliest service and most
GWS vs BRUV - Video!
Watch.
That sure is a lot of effort for a tiny canister of Sardines!
Story here - enjoy!
Bird-eating GTs - Video!
Source.
This is beyond awesome.
Latest since that paper, I knew that those GTs are totally badass - but seeing this, along with the unbelievably spectacular footage and the awesome editing simply leaves me in total awe!
And yes this would obviously be the BBC - who else!
H/T Serena - enjoy!
Shark Dive Videos!
The only acceptable Shark soup indeed!
Stunning - and captured whilst following our normal procedures!
Enjoy!
PS: And by the way.
Turns out that that small male (!) Maskray at 6:37ff in the first video may well be a species of interest!
I've now spent the better part of the day conversing with prominent Elasmo taxonomists - and the consensus is that this may be something akin to, but
The Bulls of Beqa!
Thank you so much Melinda!
This is really, really nice.
Melinda is a repeat visitor - and it really shows as she understands, and has pretty much nailed what we do, and why.
Much appreciated, really!
Enjoy!
Gombessa IV - The Science!
Source.
Remember?
So here is Johann's post.
Like I said, totally, utterly and ridiculously amazing!
And Yannis most certainly agrees.
Enjoy!
Sixgill Stingray - Video!
Way cool!
I didn't even know they existed = it just goes to show that one learns something new every day!
Post here - enjoy!
Bull Shark Selfie!
Behold!
The question being, is this legit?
Christian is an accomplished video and photo pro who can modify an image in any way he pleases - but having witnessed this specific dive and his photo rig, my vote goes for this being the real thing!
Anyway, very nice!
And the mentioned research?
It's got to do with this, and with how those findings relate to our own activities at Shark
Mrs. Jaws - New Article!
Great pic by Ozzie Sam - click for detail!
Check this out!
I must really say that I find this an excellent idea!
To wit, Juerg and Charlie's latest little publication about our serial observations of Mrs. Jaws: maybe a bit lean for a conventional scientific publication but certainly interesting - or not?
And there are also videos!
Methinks this one where she was swimming around
Und schon wieder was auf Deutsch!
Sehr nett!
Alles in allem prima recherchiert, bravo.
Aber Katja ist weder Taucherin noch Biologin, und da haben sich halt doch ein paar Fehler eingeschlichen. Das beschriebene Angriffsverhalten, die Angriffs-Statistiken und Jaws beziehen sich auf Weisse Haie und nicht Bullenhaie; die Europäische Flotte im Südpazifik ist winzig = so um die 5 Boote, die stark reguliert und sicherlich
Gaping Tiger Shark - Awesome!
How cool is this!
Tim is absolutely correct.
He is disturbing a predation event, and this is agonistic behavior = the Tiger is likely seeing him as a potential competitor and clearly telling him to piss off.
Amazing defensive behavior by the Turtle, too! :)
Story here.
Poaching in the Galapagos Islands!
Amazing.
Story here and here, brilliant article about a brilliant investigation by Global Fishing Watch here!
Sharks vs Humpback Whale!
Wow.
Remember this paper about Bulls killing a Whale?
Now, some Bull Sharks (and possibly Tigers and OWTs?) appear to have attacked and killed a Humpback calf in Haapai, Tonga. Very interesting - and big kudos to the good folks at Whale Discoveries for their impassioned and respectful report.
Projects Abroad - Roughing it in Fiji!
Behold!
Life as a volunteer is, quite obviously, Hard Hard Hard!
So, what are you waiting for! :)
Tom im Weser Kurier!
Click for detail!
Tom: ganz herzlichen Glückwunsch, und vielen Dank !
Meine Mutter kam aus Bremen = für mich persönlich ist der Artikel im Weser Kurier was ganz Besonderes!
Breakfast with Bull Sharks!
A gaggle of Scarus ridens, the Giggling Parrotfish - click for detail!
Behold!
Vinaka Mae!
Like every year, we have been invaded by a gaggle of Rolex scholars along with their indefatigable mer-mom Jayne - and like every year, we had a great time.
As always, these gals are going places!
To be continued no doubt!
Stuart Cove's - fucking disgraceful!
Watch this appalling shit!
What a fucking moron.
The dude needs to get fired, on the spot.
As for Stuart Cove's, what can I say - really didn't like them much before and like them even less now!
Pathetic story here!
PS: the asshole has been fired.
Shark Cam!
Awesome, watch.
This is really as good as it gets.
Love the snoozing GWS and love the inspection plus bite - especially this full-length version!
And I also greatly appreciate being able to watch this sans all that breathy Shark Week hoopla!
More details here, additional footage here.
Enjoy!
Lemon Sharks: This has happened in Florida!
Bingo, and I cite,
This Final Amendment updates Atlantic HMS essential fish habitat (EFH) based on new scientific evidence or other information and following the EFH delineation methodology established in Amendment 1 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic HMS FMP (Amendment 1); updates and considers new habitat areas of particular concern (HAPCs) for Atlantic HMS based on new information, as
Apex Predator Tourism - Paper!
Behold!
I say, not too bad = a big improvement over last time!
Yes it's once again one of those papers where the academic intelligentsia is meddling and wants to tell us what to do - but when put into context like they have done here, those recommendations do make much more sense. And it's obviously nice that they mention the SRMR, and they also do get extra points for mentioning
And that is why we do it!
Awesome - the picture and the quote, and the dude ain't too shabby, either!
Click for detail!
Fiji's Sharks!
Love love love this image - click for detail!
And talking of Tom.
On top of his photography, he has started to film and if I'm not mistaken, this is one of his very first little edits. Great to see Papa in what may well be his very last interview before retirement.
Enjoy!
Diving for Dakuwaqa!
Very nice!
Check this out.
Kudos to Lauren the Sharkiologist for an intelligent, insightful and well-researched piece about our work at Shark Reef and beyond - and nice to see the pics by the BAD Viking and Tom, too!
And BTW.
Yes we got no Wobbegongs but we most certainly got Hammers, and did have a GHH join the feed, albeit only once - and judging by Grim's track, a visit by a
New Rules at Guadalupe!
Excellent news!
Watch.
Read this.
Following last year's cage breaches (again, BRAVO Katie Yonker!) at Guadalupe, CONANP have tightened the rules and re-designed the cages - details here. And it gets even better: at least for now, it appears that the rules (English here) are finally being enforced!
Case in point, the troglodytes are furious, see at top.
Like I said back then, they are
Dear Friends, Please Stay Safe!
This is a forecast - click for detail.
Best Wishes from the whole team!
Details e.g. here.
Bulking up at Shark Reef - Paper!
Great stuff - and I cite,
With provisioning occurring 3–4 times per week at the
SRMR and focal individuals consuming an average of ~0.74
heads per provisioning day, we estimate that
these sharks consume ~2.6 provisioned tuna heads per week,
which is similar to our estimate of food required to meet
their weekly energy budget (2.3 heads per week).
As such, it
appears that our focal sharks
Onward and Upward!
Click for detail!
We've just bid Isa Lei to some most excellent people.
And I cite,
I really must make a plan to get out to Fiji!! Of course I would have to work on a scuba cert beforehand. :-)
Dive cert: easy, takes 4 days! How can u b a shark biologist and deprive yerself of the opportunity to witness behavior first hand! Tellya what: if u make it over here I’ll throw in the cert
Tiger Shark Movements at Tiger Beach - Paper!
You can visit the iconic Tiger Beach with GSD members Jim Abernethy Scuba Adventures and Epic Diving.
Good one!
Read this.
If I understand it correctly, it appears that the effects of provisioning at Tiger Beach are, if at all, minimal insofar as the Shark diving schedules appear to have an only negligible influence on overall Tiger Shark movements, and as the large majority of
GWS off Jupiter!
Another lucky sighting in Florida - Source
Watch.
Awesome.
Certainly much smaller than the reported 18 to 20 feet - but what a great encounter and also, great comment by Stacey.
Story here.
Tiger Sharks in the Galapagos - Paper!
Cool!
Check this out.
I must say that having gone there several times and never having heard anybody mentioning them, I was totally surprised when reading about the occurrence of Tiger Sharks in the archipelago - but then again, considering the numerous (possibly distinct) Green Turtles and their nesting beaches, it makes total sense!
May this be a rather recent phenomenon like in Cocos
GWS vs Seal!
Source.
Not a good day to be a Seal!
And not a good day and place for bathing and surfing, either - remember, and here?
Story here.
Number One!
Click for detail!
Quick quick!
Check this out before somebody will undoubtedly go and spoil it!
A big Vinaka Vakalevu to all the reviewers!
Beautiful and Peaceful!
And I cite,
Desmond Ng I knew so little about sharks before I came here... they are beautiful and peaceful creatures :)
And THAT is why we do it.
The Tooth Fairy!
Behold!
The Waterbug is going places - literally!
Eli and Maritza are taking her on a two month family road trip, and one of the stops has been at Shark Reef where a big Fiji Bull Shark has given her a present. So after the BAD boyz and gals, several BAD family members and one BAD Viking, we now got ourselves a BAD Tooth Fairy - and our youngest, and most endearing Shark diver, ever!
Spearo vs Galapagos Sharks!
Watch.
Pretty darn stupid if you ask me.
This is exactly why those guys continue to get bitten = better to just let the Sharks have the Fish and go catch another one.
Story here - H/T Daniel.
GHH vs Blacktips: Cool Shit!
Great stuff!
Yes it is missing the holy grail = a successful predation - but knowing MPO's legendary determination, it's only gonna be a matter of time til he's got that one in the can as well.
To be continued no doubt.
Enjoy!
And here's another real nice one!
Dancing With Sharks in Fiji!
Another great picture by Marty, this time with Papa! Click for detail!
Very nice - Vinaka!
Finding Salisbury!
Source.
I really like this.
And I also like the project - FB here.
This place is as pristine and remote as it gets, and should probably be left alone - but then again, I completely ignore the back story and matters may well be a tad more nuanced, as they usually are.
Enjoy!
Pétition: à la Poubelle!
Shark diving in French Polynesia - quite safe and totally sustainable. Source.
Have you seen this?
Seriously, don't sign that shit.
It got zero foundation in fact and is nothing but the old tired anti-industry fearmongering - and no I'm not gonna repeat myself, the more since as a reader of this blog you know exactly what I'm talking about, e.g. here, with links.
Just this.
The
Megamouth!
Source.
Just in case you missed it (I did).
Here's that Megamouth from Komodo.
Not really the most comely of Sharks if u ask me - still, check out the pretty white markings on the pecs and pelvic fins!
Anyway, what a totally amazing encounter!
Story here - enjoy!
Insensitive Whale Shark?
Source.
Watch this.
Yes it's nice and I'm happy the wire was removed.
But that's not the point.
The point is that contrary to what is being asserted in the article, the Shark is by no means struggling and thrashing near the surface of the water but instead, it appears totally unfazed and is nonchalantly sucking down ikan puri, possibly offered from a bagan in Cenderawasih Bay; and even
Per i nostri amici Italiani: Smile, it’s Sharky Time!
Finalmente!
If you can, check this out!
Like Paolo explains, it appears that in Italy, Fiji is mainly being marketed as a honeymoon and not a diving destination. Consequently and with the exception of several volunteers with Projects Abroad, the number of Italian tourists gracing our dive has been minimal, and our exposure in the Italian media has so far been non-existent - so this is a