Recent Sightings of Great Whites off Catalina? Info??

[drbill]

I've had some e-mail inquiries about reported sightings of great whites at Blue Cavern Point and Ship Rock off Catalina Island by divers on the Sundiver and Sand Dollar. Of course these are areas where they are observed on occasion. I would be interested in any information members of the board can offer regarding these sightings, preferably first hand.

I have dived Catalina waters for nearly 40 years now. When I first moved from freshwater in the Midwest to Catalina in the late 60's, I had a definite phobia about great whites (even stopped diving after I saw "Jaws," but returned after I saw "Jaws II"). I don't worry much about them these days. The only time one has been seen while I've been underwater was when marine artist Wyland and I were diving near the East End Quarry last summer to film giant sea bass. When we returned to the boat he asked if I had seen the 13-14 footer that swam past us. My eye had been glued to the viewfinder so I hadn't. Maybe that is the reason I haven't seen any GWS in the past 7 years... they're looking over my shoulder as I film "lesser" subjects!

I tell people who ask that although there are observed here off Catalina (even a smallish one in Avalon Bay a few winters ago), they just don't seem to bother divers. The report I read on this sighting, from a fishing chat site, stated that the divers were chased out of the water by the sharks. I'd certainly be interested in any information either thru PM or by posting here.

No time to dive recently ... I'm editing echinoderms (or at least the video footage of them) for my next DVD.

Dr. Bill

 

[Teamcasa]

Bill, While having breakfast the TV (KTTV) was on some surfers at Huntington beach and the helicopter taped what looked to be two GWS, at least that what they called them. As soon as I looked up, I saw the dorsal fin for a blink before they returned to the studio. Maybe you could contact them.

Remember the days of the blue sharks, I have not seen one of these at Catalina in years.

 

[paradicio]

Absolutely fascinating! I would love to be able to snap a picture of a GW while poking around Catalina!

DrBill, from what I've seen/read our GW migrate up and down the west coast and spend spring / summer out by Guadalupe Island (some have been tracked to Hawaii!!!). Do you know how accurate this is, and do we have a "great white shark season" here in So. Cal? Do we even know enough about these sharks to answer these questions?

Thanks!
Sean

 

[drbill]

Dave... I certainly remember the days when we would count the number of blues (into the dozens) as we motored to our dive sites. Now we are lucky to get a few to come in on our shark dives 5-12 miles off the coast.

Sean... I was involved in a scientific trip to Guadalupe back in 2005 to film and tag great whites. The data put together by PIER (Pfleuger Institute for Environmental Research) from the satellite tracking data shows that they do indeed migrate from Guadalupe to a region between there and Hawaii, I believe beginning in the late fall.

I'm not certain whether we have only a seasonal presence of great whites in Catalina waters or if they are here most of the year. The sea lions do leave for 1-2 months in summer to breed on the northern Channel Islands (there are no rookeries here on Catalina, just hauling grounds) so they may not be here when food is less abundant (unless they can take enough harbor seals).

 

[Mo2vation]

That's interesting news, DrB. You know how I feel about Ship Rock (my fav site at Catalina) - I would LOVE to see one. Of course I say that now...

I've only seen one GeeDub. I think it was a GeeDub. It was about 3 or 4 years ago - remember when the diving everywhere was terrible, and the only diving we were doing was at the Quarry. I was at about 58 feet - where that mast points to that Pinnacle. I was on my way to that pinnacle off the wall a ways when I saw something very large and sharky swimming away from us.

I remember you telling me that's where you had seen one.

Of course, with me always with my grill in a viewfinder these days, it will likely be the only one I'll ever see.

Let us know if you hear anything first hand from those divers.

Thanks!


---
Ken

 

[Codyjp]

I think I saw one about 3 years ago between the gate at Angel gate from the plane. I just remembered thinking, 'wow, thats a big dolphin, wait, his tail isn't right.' It was BIG!

 

[drbill]

Many years ago when the seaplanes were still flying, I experienced my three major phobias all at once. I had a fear of flying, yet had to take the seaplane back to the island because the ancient boats weren't running. I'm still afraid of lightning, and there was a storm approaching with bolts hitting the mountains. Then as we flew over the Channel, I looked down and saw what certainly had to be a good-sized great white in the water. Mow the only thing I still have a phobia about is lightning.

Still no confirmations from anyone on either dive boat. I did hear second hand that the Sundiver confirmed the sighting.

 

[Teamcasa]

Many years ago when the seaplanes were still flying, I experienced my three major phobias all at once. I had a fear of flying, yet had to take the seaplane back to the island because the ancient boats weren't running. I'm still afraid of lightning, and there was a storm approaching with bolts hitting the mountains. Then as we flew over the Channel, I looked down and saw what certainly had to be a good-sized great white in the water. Mow the only thing I still have a phobia about is lightning.

Still no confirmations from anyone on either dive boat. I did hear second hand that the Sundiver confirmed the sighting.

You don't mean those old ww2 era water taxis do you?

I had a lightning strike land within 20 feet from where I was standing once, spooked me!

 

[drbill]

Dave, I was referring to the old red-and-white Catalina Cruise boats. My fear of lightning comes from the fact that it twice struck the tree outside my bedroom window when I was young.

Still no input on the great white sightings? I did hear from the captain of one dive boat that they may have been attracted to the area due to the presence of a dead gray whale.

 

[shoupart]

I saw a great white last summer while kayaking at Point Dume, but that's been it, so far.

Dr. Bill, do you have a link to the site reporting the sighting where the divers were chased from the water?