Tiger Sharks in East Indonesia

[Bulenyasar97]

Hi there,

On a recent diving adventure in the South Halmahera region I ran into 2 tiger sharks in separate island groups. I wanted to ask if other divers that frequent East Indonesia's vast diving regions if you have been noticing an increase in Tiger Shark populations?

 

[Dan]

I've been diving in East Indonesia about once a year for 15 years (Raja Ampat, Alor, Banda Sea, Forgotten Islands, etc.) and haven't seen any Tiger Shark. There is a recent news about a diver body parts found in a juvenile (7-foot long) Tiger Shark, here:

Unknown - Missing diver in Indonesia, with body remains subsequently found in shark.

I don't think the authorities have even established that the remains are those of the missing diver.

scubaboard.com

 

[Indah]

I've been diving in East Indonesia about once a year for 15 years (Raja Ampat, Alor, Banda Sea, Forgotten Islands, etc.) and haven't seen any Tiger Shark. There is a recent news about a diver body parts found in a juvenile (7-foot long) Tiger Shark, here:

Unknown - Missing diver in Indonesia, with body remains subsequently found in shark.

I don't think the authorities have even established that the remains are those of the missing diver.

scubaboard.com

That happened at East Timor.

 

[Dan]

That happened at East Timor.

Well, the body parts were found in the stomach of a Tiger Shark in East Timor. However, the diver lost at sea around Pulau Reong, which is in Southwest Maluku regency.

“Colleen Monfore, 68, was diving with friends near the Pulau Reong island off the coast of Indonesia’s Southwest Maluku Regency on Sept. 26 when she did not resurface, Asia Pacific Press reported.”

 

[Indah]

Well, the body parts were found in the stomach of a Tiger Shark in East Timor. However, the diver lost at sea around Pulau Reong, which is in Southwest Maluku regency.

“Colleen Monfore, 68, was diving with friends near the Pulau Reong island off the coast of Indonesia’s Southwest Maluku Regency on Sept. 26 when she did not resurface, Asia Pacific Press reported.”

You are correct. But Reong is very close to East Timor.

 

[Dan]

You are correct. But Reong is very close to East Timor.

I don’t understand what the fuss about this. Aren’t they located in East Indonesia region? East Timor is in Timor island and West Timor is in East Indonesia. At one time the whole Timor island was part of Indonesia (annexation by Indonesia in 1976), until East Timor regained its independence in 2002.

East Timor - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[Dan]

@Bulenyasar97 may be you are near Tiger Shark nursery area. If you find some shallow banks where pregnant female Tiger Sharks are hanging around, you may start “Tiger Beach” ala Indonesia there in Halmahera, like Captain Scott Smith did in Bahamas.

Then the local won’t call you “Bule Nyasar” anymore and called you”Bule Nemu”.

Tiger Shark Diving

Tiger Shark Diving at Tiger Beach Bahamas and Hammerhead shark diving Bimini by liveaboard. Up to 6 different specie of sharks on one trip!

www.sharkexpedition.com

 

[CWK]

I saw a tiger in 2 of my 3 cruises in Banda this year. Video evidence is somewhere on the net. I have also seen a tiger in Christmas Island, which is not too far from Indonesia. Video evidence is also somewhere on the net.