Shark behaviour - Beqa Lagoon

[Wiggsy]

Yes Blue Devil - fast moving sharks create a whole new range of problems for digital cameras. I must admit that, during the dive, I was thinking my old Nikononos with a wide angle lens would have yielded more (but not necessarily better) images. Trying to get a digital to focus on the fairly featureless side of a Silvertip less than arm's length away was the most frustrating bloody thing I've experienced in photography - I found it best to pre-focus on something stationary and then hold....wait...shoot. But it ain't easy. Regarding the camera "locking up" - that is a mechanism that automatically engages whenever you have the potential to take the world's best ever shark photos. Either that or it was probably user-error - the 'idiot filter'.

 

[Jcsgt]

I'm so jealous! We did that dive in March, no tigers around since there weren't any turtles around for them to eat.

Nice photography!

 

[Wiggsy]

We didn't see any turtles, so I don't know what she would be eating! But then, tourists swim slower than turtles! Really I suppose we do take our safety a little for granted during an exciting dive like this. I did not hesitate to approach very close, and totally head on to the shark - I remember her digging in her near side pectoral to turn away from me. Fear was not a factor - adrenalin washed all fear aside. But what if she hadn't turned. Just look at her mouth (see the photo in my gallery) and think of the damage just one quick snap and shake would do!!! It's interesting to ponder how the sharks must perceive us....aliens from another world....top end predators to compete with? Or generous benefactors that feed them regularly? My impression of the Tiger Shark was that it was curious, powerful and reluctant to obey the direction of the fijian diveguides who manouvered her around the group of divers. But did she want to eat us? I doubt it. I don't think she considered us even a potential food source. But what if I'd been floundering around on the surface, in snorkelling gear, when approached by a 15 foot Tiger? It is very different on the surface to being in a group of divers on the bottom.

Most lasting impression is that I've never seen anything so beautiful and awe-inspiring underwater - just a perfect specimen.

 

[zahgurim]

Nice pics!

 

[diverdowndh]

I get to go next week!!! We leave for Taveuni on the 11th, and after 7 nights we go over to do the Beqa Lagoon shark dives.... man, oh, man I cannot wait!
I will share when I get back....