Shark Diver's Personal Viewpoint: Comparing Shark Diving in Cages and Open Waters
Shark Diving: A Photographer's Perspective
Shark diving, whether in a cage or open water, offers unique underwater experiences filled with thrill and challenge. This article explores the intricacies of shark diving, focusing on the challenges and factors for success, particularly in open water diving without a cage, in South Florida.
Safety and Equipment Considerations
Safety is paramount when it comes to shark diving. The cage, securely attached to the boat and floating just above the water, ensures a controlled environment. Scuba equipment is generally not recommended inside the cage due to the potential for scaring sharks away. Divers should be in good physical health, and those with neck, back, joint problems, or pregnancy beyond seven months may be restricted. Motion sickness can occur, so it's essential to prepare accordingly.
Camera Gear and Photo Challenges
Underwater photography requires specific considerations. Cameras should be capable of manual or automatic adjustments of ISO, aperture, and shutter speed to balance light, colour, sharpness, and motion blur underwater. Fast-moving sharks and sometimes murky water make setting optimal shutter speeds and light balance challenging.
Challenging Factors
Water visibility fluctuates and affects shark proximity and photo clarity. Communication about shark location helps when visibility is poor. Cold water temperatures may require proper thermal protection, though cage diving often provides wetsuits. Sea and weather conditions can be unpredictable, impacting safety and visibility.
Open Water Shark Diving Challenges
Diving in open water presents additional challenges. Divers must quickly change camera settings while following sharks, manage buoyancy and no-deco limits, and contend with potential sandy conditions that make photography difficult.
Camera Gear for Cage Diving
The author's personal choice for camera gear for caged diving was a Panasonic 7-14/F 4.0 lens and a Zen 6" glass dome port. Packing camera gear for a caged trip can be challenging due to factors like visibility and the distance between cage bars.
Personal Experience
The author has experienced shark diving in both open water and cages, including a trip with the Nautilus fleet in Guadalupe. The author's rig for open water shark diving consists of an Olympus OM-D EM-1 MKII, Nauticam housing, Zen 6" glass dome port, and dual Inon Z240s. The author alternates between using a Panasonic 7-14mm and a Panasonic 8mm fisheye lens for open water shark diving.
Upcoming Shark Photo Opportunities
For those interested, there are upcoming trips with exciting shark photo opportunities. This includes a Socorro Underwater Photo Workshop and a Socorro Big Animals Trip in 2018, as well as a Great White Sharks Photo Workshop in Guadalupe in 2018, with different pricing options for accommodation.
In summary, preparation is key to enhancing the shark diving experience. Ensure you meet health requirements, wear appropriate clothing under a wetsuit, and bring suitable underwater camera gear capable of handling low light and fast action. Understand the effects of bubbles and noise on shark behaviour and plan for motion sickness or weather-related changes. Proper preparation with considerations for safety, equipment, and photography challenges will make for a memorable shark diving adventure.
Read also:
- Weekly happenings in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Southwest region's most popular posts, accompanied by an inquiry:
- Discussion between Putin and Trump in Alaska could potentially overshadow Ukraine's concerns
- Massive 8.8 earthquake hits off the coast of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, prompting Japan to issue a tsunami alert.
