The day had finally come.....ever since my childhood, I had dreamed of cage diving with Great White Sharks, the most feared and misunderstood creatures in the sea. We were both on the top of our games as we made the long drive down to Gansbaai. After a small breakfast, we went out to the boat and loaded up for, what hoped to be, a memorable day.
The boat ride out to Dyer Island, aka Shark Alley, was a rough and fun one. Once there, we grabbed our cage from it's anchor and started preparations. We dropped anchor and got into our wetsuits. I was initially fine, but suddenly found myself with a bit of a headache and motion sickness. I was determined not to let it get the best of me. Although having the boat anchored meant that every wave that hit us was tossing the boat around. Not even 5 minutes into it and one guy lost his breakfast over the edge of the boat. Soon, more than 2/3rds of the boat would be sick from the waves and the smell of the seals, as we were downwind of about 30,000 seals.
"Shark in the water!" was the call that snapped me back. No way was I going to let this pass by. I finally got ready and jumped into the cage with 3 other people. It wasn't as cold as what I thought it was going to be and there was decent space in the cage. We waited as the shark circled the boat and went after the bait. Carolyn joined the cage and it got a bit tighter. Finally, with both of us in the cage, the shark went for the bait, but missed. As he went under the boat, I got a great view and watched him circle the boat ready for his next try. He came and missed and then gave up. So did I. The waves were tossing both Carolyn and I around like dirty clothes in a Maytag washing machine!
Back on the boat, my sea sickness got the best of me, but Carolyn was still game for a few more dives. This time with a lot less participants. She enjoyed each dive she took because there was a lot more room and she didn't feel like she was getting tossed around. I, on the other hand, was reduced to the fetal position to keep from losing my lunch.
On the last round, right before heading in to port, Carolyn got the experience of the day as a Great White went straight for the bait right in front of the cage and rattled the cage as he took his prize! What an experience and Carolyn let out quite the shriek of joy. Too bad I was still in the fetal position.
More later.......
Love, peace, and soul.
The boat ride out to Dyer Island, aka Shark Alley, was a rough and fun one. Once there, we grabbed our cage from it's anchor and started preparations. We dropped anchor and got into our wetsuits. I was initially fine, but suddenly found myself with a bit of a headache and motion sickness. I was determined not to let it get the best of me. Although having the boat anchored meant that every wave that hit us was tossing the boat around. Not even 5 minutes into it and one guy lost his breakfast over the edge of the boat. Soon, more than 2/3rds of the boat would be sick from the waves and the smell of the seals, as we were downwind of about 30,000 seals.
"Shark in the water!" was the call that snapped me back. No way was I going to let this pass by. I finally got ready and jumped into the cage with 3 other people. It wasn't as cold as what I thought it was going to be and there was decent space in the cage. We waited as the shark circled the boat and went after the bait. Carolyn joined the cage and it got a bit tighter. Finally, with both of us in the cage, the shark went for the bait, but missed. As he went under the boat, I got a great view and watched him circle the boat ready for his next try. He came and missed and then gave up. So did I. The waves were tossing both Carolyn and I around like dirty clothes in a Maytag washing machine!
Back on the boat, my sea sickness got the best of me, but Carolyn was still game for a few more dives. This time with a lot less participants. She enjoyed each dive she took because there was a lot more room and she didn't feel like she was getting tossed around. I, on the other hand, was reduced to the fetal position to keep from losing my lunch.
On the last round, right before heading in to port, Carolyn got the experience of the day as a Great White went straight for the bait right in front of the cage and rattled the cage as he took his prize! What an experience and Carolyn let out quite the shriek of joy. Too bad I was still in the fetal position.
More later.......
Love, peace, and soul.
4 comments:
Dreams do come true. The ones you have to wait for are often the most memorable and the sweetest. I am not sure that shark cage diving is one of mine but each to his own.
I can remember you holding up kindergarten students to see the nurse sharks in the Houston Aquarium. The teacher was having heart failure because you were telling her students how gentle and non-agressive the nurse shark was in comparison to the Great White. That was about 14 years ago. You were at the sunset time of the great shark phase in your life.
Grow a pair, son.
Matt, your trip sounds absolutely amazing! I'll be checking out your blog, living vicariously through you as I sweat in the barren oklahoma heat.
Biggs - the fetal position? I can't believe you were curled up due to sea-sickness. Stay safe and have fun.
Scott
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