DiveCareDare

Djenny was the first tiger shark that I encountered off Jupiter, Florida in 2015. Great to see her again considering there was a time when she was missing and assumed to be dead.

Back in town! My favorite shark. DJENNY!! Safe and sound. About 14’ and pregnant, again.

Shark smarts. Great advice from Ocean Ramsey.

In my hope of helping people to be safer while enjoying the ocean by learning how to coexist with sharks, I wanted to share information about both technological options and other choices/behaviors that can help us adapt to sharks’ sensory systems and ecological role and behavior. . I genuinely care about people and sharks, and I hope fellow surfers, swimmers, and divers might find something here helpful or insightful—or hopefully you already know all of this ❤️ and can just share w others ❤️ I am not invested in or paid by @rpela_sharkdeterrent however I have personally tested two of their devices with white sharks, tiger sharks, Galápagos sharks, and sandbar sharks in multiple regions around the world, and have seen it work. I also plan to test this device with bull sharks this year (it has already been used by others while surfing around bull sharks.) . 🌊 Key takeaways: • When we enter the ocean, we are entering their wilderness—and that is our choice. • Sharks are essential for healthy marine ecosystems that humans depend on. . 🌟Highlight🥽 info 🦈: Ways to reduce the chance of an adverse interaction: • Avoid areas near fishing activity • Avoid natural prey colonies, haul-outs, and dense aggregations • Educate yourself on seasonal shark aggregation sites • Minimize splashing and unnecessary noise • Distort your outline/silhouette when possible • Stay in shallow water and avoid drop-offs and channels • Use tools like Rpela, surf near shark spotters/lifeguards, go with friends, etc. •Avoid flashy, dangling, shiny or high contrast colors • Educate yourself about seasonal or year-round aggregations and sites. . ⚡️ Important note: This device is not meant to make anyone “invincible.” But when combined with informed, adaptive behavior, it can effectively and powerfully help reduce risk ❤️ . 🏄‍♂️🦈Video @juansharks paddling in @xcelwetsuits @rustysurfboards (Also my lovely assistant 😘 #shark #sharks #ocean #surfing #bikini

It’s Randy Jordan’s birthday today.

The former fisher started shark Emerald dive charters out of Jupiter, Florida, where we met for the first time.

Many stories are left untold on hard drives. This YouTube post features real time video that was recorded on the dsy that Randy and I first met on his charter boat.

Real time footage features a tiger shark called Djenny with a silent “D” like Django.

When Randy massages Djenny’s head and pushes her backwards in the water, it is with the same purpose as the hand signals that are used to initiate physical interactions. The trust is specific to the established relationship that can endure for decades.

When trust is established, hook removal, even painful hook removal from around the mouth and inside the jaws becomes something that has to be seen to be believed.

Imagine what your own dog or cat might do if you attempted to remove a fish hook from their lips or gums.

Hundreds of sharks in Florida and Bahamas have these human-shark interactions with divers that they have come to know and trust.

It is legal in Florida to use a speargun while scuba diving. Fish are speared on the way to the dive site to be offered as snacks. Note that Randy offers Djenny a fish so that photographers could capture a bite shot. Djenny was not that interested. She turned up for a sentient experience with Randy.

TEASER for followers.

Long before you and I met on that rainy day, my shark interaction mentor was South African, Brandon Paige. He set up Fiji’s first shark encounters at Shark Reef in Beqa Lagoon following massive coral bleaching events that left villagers desperate for work in the hotels that were no longer attracting tourists to the Coral Coast. Beqa Adventure Divers (BAD) now operate at Shark Reef. Brandon set up two more sites 2 km east of Shark Reef with The Bistro being a destination for me every year until you and I met in Florida. Before he retired, I wanted a shared experience with Brandon at his best and final site, The Cathedral, close to open ocean off Beqa Island Resort. In August, I am taking my dive buddy, Phil the Frogfather, for a high end week at Beqa Island Resort (The Cathedral) and a TimeShare week for The Bistro (AquaTrek) and Shark Reef (BAD). This text and link will be shared with Eric Isaacs who I will see in Costa Rica in November. In my dreams, you and Eric would join us for shared experiences with Brandon Paige before he retires. When I have secured flights to and from Fiji, I’ll put our costs on a spreadsheet for up to four divers to share costs at the timeshare and two divers to join us at Beqa Island Resort (The Cathedral). Sharing this as an exemplar:

Cathedral tiger shark dive: Beqa Lagoon Resort in Fiji This was our experience with the tiger sharks doing the Cathedral Shark Dive at Beqa Lagoon Resort in Fiji. It’s a must for scuba diving enthusiasts who lov...

How long is it going to be before the wider population is enlightened enough to understand these truths……..and demand that our democratically elected leadership does something about it…….before the 2032 Olympics in SE Queensland when the WORLD WILL BE WATCHING.

In light of recent events in Australia, this is a timely reminder that Australia already culls sharks, continuing to operate the world’s longest-running state-sanctioned marine cull, through the use of shark nets and lethal drumlines along the east coast. For nearly 90 years, both NSW and QLD have run these programs, resulting in the deaths of thousands of sharks each year.

The most current scientific research shows that culling sharks does not improve ocean safety for people. There is no evidence linking reductions in local shark populations with a decrease in human–shark encounters. Research also states that shark nets are ineffective at preventing human- shark interactions. 🦈❌
Instead, these measures can create a false sense of security, while overlooking the environmental factors that may impact shark activity and increase periods of risk.
Improving safety requires greater awareness and understanding of these factors.

Whilst the NSW Premiere has stated that the government is not considering a cull at this time, he has also confirmed that shark nets will not be removed. Shark nets are a tool of the shark cull that already runs in NSW.

The government must prioritise public education and install clear signage following significant weather events to raise awareness of when there is a greater risk to enter the water.

Shark nets need to be replaced with modern, non- lethal alternatives which are already available and backed by science, research and experts.

Our thoughts remain with the victims of the recent incidents in NSW, their loved ones, and the first responders who attended these tragic events.

North Stradbroke Island with Adrian Dawson today.

Adrian was testing the waters today after major surgery last year.

This is an incomplete collection of his images that I scored on the ferry travelling back to the mainland.

More to follow no doubt.