Tiger Shark shoot with NBC's Today Show

Saturday, 04 April 2009 05:35

We set out to dive with sharks, but not just any type of sharks, Tiger Sharks! Known as one of the most dangerous predators in the ocean, we set out to capture video of them off the West End of Grand Bahamas in a place known as Tiger Beach. Becky was part of the NBC Today Show shoot that will air on NBC Monday March 16th 2009. It was an amazing group of people and sharks! It was a breathtaking experience being in the water with 7 Tigers at one time! Look for Becky's article on Tiger Beach in the latest issue of Advanced Diver Magazine Issue #31

I splashed down into the clear blue Bahamian waters and knelt on the rippling sand as I peered out into the distance. I knew what I was waiting for and she appeared almost instantly. I’ve been in the water with other large animals but never anything like this. Out of the shadows I saw the silhouette of a large object making its way towards me. It didn’t hesitate as it swam right towards my camera it’s huge body gilding over me only inches away. The unmistakable brown and grey stripes, blunt nose and the large dark eye of a Tiger shark staring right at me.

I was invited out onto the M/V Dolphin Dream to shoot with the NBC Today Show and Shark Diver Magazine. Departing from West Palm Beach to the West End of Grand Bahama Island with only one goal in mind, to dive with sharks, but not just any shark, we are seeking out one of the most dangerous sharks in the ocean, the Tiger Shark (Galeocerdo cuvier).

Tiger sharks are the second largest predatory sharks next to the Great White and have the second most reported attacks on humans. This may be due to the frequency they come into contact with humans, as they inhabit tropical and sub-tropical waters around the world. They are solitary hunters usually spending the day in deeper waters, and then hunting at night in shallow areas. Tiger sharks have an eclectic diet feeding on all types of prey both organic and inorganic. They are surface feeders so their diet usually includes turtles, birds and fish carcasses but they have been known to eat anything even garbage. They are quite large ranging anywhere from 8-24 feet long and get their name from their distinctive dark tiger-like bands on their light colored body which fade as they mature.

We arrived back with hours of exciting video of both Lemon and Tiger sharks. They were truly beautiful animals, very curious and cautious. They slowly moved through the water and gave us great shots! At one point we had 7 Tiger sharks in the water with us, no matter where you turned there was a large shark. They seemed to check out the divers as they swam by they slow down almost stopping and looking at the camera then move on. I came back from these dives with such an appreciation for these large animals, after being in their world for just a short time you cant help but to respect them.