With the task of getting
out of your comfort zone at hand and the deadline creeping closer and closer, I
decided to attempt something that I have wanted to accomplish for a while, free
dive with a cow shark.
There is a peculiar
feeling that runs through your body the moment you wake up with a cow shark
dive lingering over your head. There is a completely different mindset that you
have to get into before you attempt a free dive amongst a large number of
sharks. With a short car journey before you reach the launch pad there are many
different thoughts going through your mind, the most recurring thought is the
obvious one, “I really don’t want to get eaten today” and no matter what you do
you can’t shake those thoughts.
Once at the launch site
there are still many things to do before you can get into the water. You have to go through a 10-minute
battle to get your 10mm wetsuit and then a very formal safety briefing before
you can jump in. After an extensive amount of time getting myself into the
right mindset for the dive, I jumped in and started the long swim to the dive
site.
I have dived in some of
the most exhilarating dive spots in the world over the last 2 years. Crystal
blue water, with translucent coral reefs stretching as far as the eye can see.
Being able to be in the presence of other creatures in their natural habitat is
an experience within itself, but to be in the presence of a shark is another
feeling all together. Childhood movies, such as Jaws, always play over in my
thoughts. However by accepting the fact that I am but a visitor in their home,
respect is paid and all fear subsides whilst tranquility prevails. Every shark
I’ve swam by and had the privileged opportunity of observing holds a special
place in my memory and heart.
Cape Town waters are a
divers nightmare. Unclear waters, spine chilling temperatures and unfamiliar
techniques make diving a little bit edgier. There is a spot in False Bay where
you can dive with schooling 7 gill Cow sharks, one of the only places in the
world where you can see them in such great numbers.
For a long time I have
wanted to dive with these sharks but the looming thought of the cold Cape Town
water always prevented me. After been given this assignment I decided to finally
get in the water with the sharks but with a little twist. Instead of using the
conventional scuba equipment, I decided to free dive instead, to take me
further out of my comfort zone and stretch my limits.
Before you can experience
the tranquility of the cow shark you have to complete a 100-metre swim to the
kelp forest where they dwell. While lingering on the surface attempting to
catch your breath before you submerge yourself into the dark waters below,
gives you the feeling that you may become an easy snack for any passing great
white makes your bones stand on edge. Presenting yourself on a dinner
plate for any passing great white, while floating above the kelp forest, while
attempting to catch your breath before you submerge yourself in the gloomy
water below makes your bones stand on edge.
Hyperventilating 3 times
for your lungs to reach full capacity before you begin your decent into the unknown.
Using the kelp as your guideline to the ocean floor pulling yourself slowly
down into the murky water below. You get a very eerie feeling while on the seabed
with numerous sharks carving their way through liquid skies, until they disappear
into the ominous glow of the kelp forest. With a total bottom time of just over
a minute, your experience with the prehistoric beast is brief. The sharks have
a playful feel to them coming in close and on occasion inviting you stroke them,
all this while on a breath hold is an experience unlike no other. It shows you
the true personality of sharks and not what Hollywood portrays them to be.
The day spent amongst
these majestic creatures was truly an eye opener for me, an experience that I
could never really express with words. Seeing a shark that close and that calm
completely takes your breath away and will leave you speechless.
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