Saw a 8-10 ft reef shark

[chester]

Was diving last week in Panama City and I saw a ~ 10 ft reef shark while diving the Black Bart. The shark was 20-25 ft from me and swimming away so I swam towards it a little to try and get a better look (I never got closer than 20 feet).

I know people who logged many, many more dives than I have and have never seen a shark so I realize how fortunate I was... what an incredible experience.

I've only logged about 15 dives but have now taken the PADI OW, AOW, and Nitrox classes.... now I plan to log about 50 more dives and then pursue the Rescue Diver course...

Wow, I love diving - more than I ever thought I would/could. Anyway, just thought I'd share my experience.

UPDATE: After I posted this, I began reading every thread I could find on the subject and perhaps what I saw was the referenced Bull shark... (see link). I thought there was a black mark on the dorsal fin, so I assumed it was a reef shark but I obviously don't really know one shark from another.....

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=98534

 

[Mrs.Prages]

Very Cool. I wish you many more sitings and know real encounters.

 

[RTW]

Awsome!
Living in North Alabama, I imagine I'll be doing most of my diving in Panama City once I have my C-card.
(Besides practicing buoyancy control in the Madison, AL dive quarry.)

Do you dive there often?

 

[chester]

Awsome!
Living in North Alabama, I imagine I'll be doing most of my diving in Panama City once I have my C-card.
(Besides practicing buoyancy control in the Madison, AL dive quarry.)

Do you dive there often?

Actually, this was my first diving trip to PCB... seems to be somewhat hit or miss. I had to drive to local springs (Morrison) one day because of 4 ft seas (nice dive if I had only dove it once but we did 3). Then another day we had great vis at the Black Bart but then only an hour later it was pretty bad (~20 feet) on our second dive (span 14).

But overall, the diving in PCB was better than I expected.

 

[kabluton]

Was diving last week in Panama City and I saw a ~ 10 ft reef shark while diving the Black Bart. The shark was 20-25 ft from me and swimming away so I swam towards it a little to try and get a better look (I never got closer than 20 feet).

I know people who logged many, many more dives than I have and have never seen a shark so I realize how fortunate I was... what an incredible experience.

I've only logged about 15 dives but have now taken the PADI OW, AOW, and Nitrox classes.... now I plan to log about 50 more dives and then pursue the Rescue Diver course...

Wow, I love diving - more than I ever thought I would/could. Anyway, just thought I'd share my experience.

UPDATE: After I posted this, I began reading every thread I could find on the subject and perhaps what I saw was the referenced Bull shark... (see link). I thought there was a black mark on the dorsal fin, so I assumed it was a reef shark but I obviously don't really know one shark from another.....

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=98534

I remember seeing my first reef shark. It was on my first OW trip ever to the ocean in West Palm Beach. He just kind of cruised in and checked us out. I was in awe for sure!

 

[Buoyant1]

Cool! Finally saw my first shark in March (well the first that wasn't a nurse shark) Appx 6' Caribbean Reef Shark!

What an awesome sight!

Can't wait to see more!

 

[ShakaZulu]

Awesome, what did you use to clean your wetsuit???

 

[toodive4]

I Dive 4 Sharks... I've seen so many I've lost count, but each encounter seems just as exciting as the first... Hammerheads & Bulls, & Blacktips and Nurses and Grey Reef and White tips and Sand Tigers and well you get the idea... what a rush... Keep up the great sightings and enjoy!