Not just Shark
Pictures: Elasmodiver contains photos of sharks, skates, rays, and
chimaera's from around the world. It began as a simple web based
field guide to help divers find the best places to encounter
different species of sharks and rays but it has slowly evolved into
a much larger project containing information on all aspects of shark
diving and photography. There are now more than a thousand shark
pictures and sections on shark evolution, biology, and
conservation. There is a large library of reviewed shark books, a
constantly outdated shark taxonomy page, a monster list of shark
links, and deeper in the site there are numerous articles and
stories about shark encounters. Elasmodiver is now so difficult to
check for updates, that new information and pictures are listed on
an Elasmodiver Updates Page that can be accessed here:
If you're looking for a
broader range of marine life pictures the following links represent
a new area that contains pictures on other marine organisms and on
marine habitats. This expansion of Elasmodiver is in its first
stages but will eventually include pages on everything from sea
stars to nudibranchs. Creating this portal will take time and for
now it consists of a token offering of fish pictures. Please return
regularly to enjoy the progress.
Identification:
Trailing
tips of pectoral, pelvic, anal, and caudal fins dusky. Leading edge of first
dorsal posterior to trailing edge of pectoral. Snout bluntly rounded. Low
interdorsal ridge. Heavy bodied. Overall coloration greyish brown to grey.
Underside white.
Size:
Maximum
length 3 metres. 70 cm at birth.
Habitat:
Reefs and shallows. To 45m.
Abundance
and distribution: Florida
to Brazil. Fished out of many areas but still abundant in the Bahamas where some
degree of protection has been granted due to tourist dollars being generated by
shark feeds. Most commonly observed requiem shark on Caribbean reefs.
Behavior:Cruises
over sand and reefs in search of prey. Often seen with a dark variegated leach
trailing from first dorsal fin.
Reproduction:
Viviparous.
Observations:
Photographs:
Outer Bahamas.
Similar species:Blacktip
shark distinguished by pale to white anal fin and silver white streak on flank.
Dusky shark distinguished by thinner body and larger gill slits. Bull shark
distinguished by absence of or vague dusky fin tips, large acutely pointed
dorsal over pectorals and no interdorsal ridge.
Reaction to divers:Usually
moves
away unless in a baited situation. May become very bold and make close passes at
divers. Can become very persistent when provoked by spear fishing or chumming
and eventually attack divers.
Diving
logistics: Many
operators in the Bahamas run dedicated shark feeds at which the most common
shark is the Caribbean reef. Walkers cay has a "chumsicle" dive at
which a frozen ball of fish is suspended from the boat. This dive attracts many
Caribbean reef sharks and Blacktips as well as other occasional visitors. Grand
Bahama has multiple operators who
run shark feeds where the bait is taken down by a diver (sometimes in a chain mail
suit) and the sharks are fed individually with the dive master controlling the
pace. Some operators also demonstrate tonic immobility on the sharks in which an
individual is flipped over and falls into a trance like state until released
right side up apparently unharmed. See the links page under Bahamas for a list
of operators.
Jim and Anna Abernethy run
week long Hammerhead and Tiger shark trips to the Bahamas from Palm Beach. Chum
is used to attract the sharks with which they have had great success.
These shark safaris also attract many Caribbean reef sharks and participants
should be aware that no cages are used. In my opinion the experience of diving
with such large sharks without the restrictions of a cage is second to none.
Read the trip report entitled: Hammers and Tigers in the Bahamas.
Other diving locations submitted by
readers:
References
and further
reading:
Reef
Fish
Identification. Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas. Paul Humann. New World
Publications.
Reef Sharks and Rays of the World. Scott W. Michael. Sea Challengers.
Sharks and Rays - Elasmobranch Guide of the World. Ralf M. Hennemann. IKAN.
