Marine Life & Conservation
Diving with Dolphins
It is said that the best way to swim with and video dolphins is to free dive with them. I’m not sure that’s true. There are of course occasions when marine mammals are very nervous of things they don’t understand. A diver blowing noisy bubbles would be one of those things. Let’s think about dolphins. They are extremely smart, a master of their environment. No matter if you are free diving or wearing an air tank, the dolphins know exactly where you are and quite possibly what you are.
As soon as you enter the water, what happens next is entirely up to the dolphins. If they want to play they will, if they are feeding, then you probably won’t be able to keep up with them. If they are simply hanging out then who knows?
There are occasions when free diving does seem to work better and allows for closer contact but this is not the golden rule. Not being a very good free diver I have always, where possible, used air tanks and mostly come away with great results. There are advantages and disadvantages to both free diving and scuba. As already mentioned free diving may on occasion let you get closer but air tanks give you a lot more time and you don’t have to surface for air just as things are starting to get good. Air tanks also allow you time to think about your sequence.
A good example of this is two very different films I have worked on with groups of Spotted Dolphins on the Bahaman Grand Banks.
The first occasion I met and filmed with them was from a boat that had very strict rules about how to behave when encountering dolphins. It was free diving only and absolutely no physical contact. We were to observe the dolphins in the wild, video what behaviour we could and that was all. I could understand this as people do get extremely self centred and start to chase and harass dolphins just to get that ‘dolphin experience’. So although a little frustrating, it made perfect sense to me for the rules of this particular boat to be so strict. We swam with the dolphins and filmed while free diving. We got some nice stuff and felt quite pleased at the end of the shoot.
It was two years later that I was sent to film the same groups of dolphins using another boat, only this time the approach of the skipper was very different indeed. As with the previous skipper two years previously, an association with the dolphins had been going on for many years, only here, play was the order of the day as well as observation.
Within the first day of being out at sea we came upon a group of fifty dolphins. It was one of those typical Bahaman Bank days. The sea was pond calm and clear. The golden sand below shimmered up through the two or six metres depth of water and the pale blue of it merged effortlessly on the horizon with the vivid blue sky.
The dolphin pod could be seen hundreds of metres away and were very slowly and deliberately cruising towards us. The camera gear had been ready on deck since the early hours of the morning, before we even left port, so I had a moment just to stand and look. It was like a perfect painting where all the colours, light, composition and animals are all meticulously placed in an impossibly wonderful arrangement. But this was real and I was spell bound.
But I was here to film so I picked up the camera and started with a few wide GV’s (general views) just to set the scene. Then as the dolphins came closer I went for a few mid shots and close ups. It was all so easy.
Then I noticed our skipper was sat on the back platform starting a petrol driven water scooter. Its 2 stroke engine coughed into life and was thrown into the water followed almost immediately by our skipper. I must confess to being more that a little surprised. Surely he doesn’t hope to get near them with that? Within seconds he was careering through the water surrounded by a very playful group of Spotted Dolphin. Noisily with protesting puffs of exhaust, the little scooter was weaving and dancing with the excited dolphins.
After a few minutes, the scooter was discarded and bobbed silently and alone while our skipper simply swam and played with the dolphins as they played just as enthusiastically with him. Having covered things from the surface it was at last time for me to get into the water. We had two cameras on the shoot and so one was dedicated to the underwater housing which meant I could get in without any delay. There was absolutely no need for any lighting under the high bright sun. Unlike our skipper I was wearing a tank. Within moments I was in the water spinning, tumbling and rolling, with dolphins doing the same all around me. Then after about half an hour of playing we all relaxed and simply chilled out together in mid water and on the shallow sandy sea bed. Now I was really getting some beautiful video. Gentle dolphin to dolphin interaction, mothers and calves, feeding, playing……. And most importantly of all for the premise of the film, human and dolphin together in perfect harmony and acceptance. You know, it’s quite hard to smile underwater and keep a regulator in your mouth.
I must say at this point that this particular encounter was not just a chance meeting. Our skipper had been developing a friendship with these dolphins for nearly 20 years. Slowly at first and then gradually evolving into personal contact and recognition from both man and dolphin as the years went by. It was wonderful to see and be part of. It was sharing, for a brief moment of time, an ocean with another species. It was a mutual attempt at understanding.
Needless to say the following few days resulted in some fantastic video of dolphin behaviour both human induced and natural. All done on scuba.
I do believe that success in filming animals in the wild is greatly a state of mind. Be relaxed, non threatening, understanding and when possible try to get the attention and curiosity of the animals you are filming. Give them the opportunity to look at you.
Marine Life & Conservation
Leading UK-based shark conservation charity, the Shark Trust, is delighted to announce tour operator Diverse Travel as a Corporate Patron
Corporate Patrons provide a valuable boost to the work of The Shark Trust. The Trust team works globally to safeguard the future of sharks, and their close cousins, the skates and rays, engaging with a global network of scientists, policymakers, conservation professionals, businesses and supporters to further shark conservation.
Specialist tour operator Diverse Travel has operated since 2014 and is committed to offering its guests high quality, sustainable scuba diving holidays worldwide. Working together with the Shark Trust will enable both organisations to widen engagement and encourage divers and snorkellers to actively get involved in shark conservation.
“Sharks are truly at the heart of every diver and at Diverse Travel, we absolutely share that passion. There is nothing like seeing a shark in the wild – it’s a moment that stays with you forever!” says Holly Bredin, Sales & Marketing Manager, Diverse Travel.
“We’re delighted to celebrate our 10th year of business by becoming a Corporate Patron of the Shark Trust. This is an exciting partnership for Diverse and our guests. We will be donating on behalf of every person who books a holiday with us to contribute towards their vital shark conservation initiatives around the world. We will also be working together with the Trust to inspire divers, snorkellers and other travellers to take an active role – at home and abroad – in citizen science projects and other activities.”
Paul Cox, CEO of The Shark Trust, said:
“It’s an exciting partnership and we’re thrilled to be working with Diverse Travel to enable more divers and travellers to get involved with sharks and shark conservation. Sharks face considerable conservation challenges but, through collaboration and collective action, we can secure a brighter future for sharks and their ocean home. This new partnership takes us one more valuable step towards that goal.”
For more information about the Shark Trust visit their website here.
For more about Diverse Travel click here.
Marine Life & Conservation
Shark Trust Asks Divers to help with Shark Sightings this Global Citizen Science Month
Whether you are stuck for ideas of what to do with the kids or are off on the dive trip of your dreams. You can get involved in Citizen Science Month and help the Shark Trust by providing vital data about sharks are rays both close to home and further afield.
In addition to reporting the sharks and rays you see on your dives, the eggcases you find on the beach, the Shark Trust is looking for some specific data from divers who are asked to report any Oceanic Whitetip and Basking Sharks.
Oceanic Whitetip Sharks
The Shark Trust are looking specifically for Oceanic Whitetip Shark sightings over the coming weeks and months. So, if you are diving anywhere in the world, please report your sightings via the website or app.
Website: https://recording.sharktrust.org/
App: Search The Shark Trust in your app store
The Oceanic Whitetip. Known for their incredibly long dorsal and pectoral fins, this species was once the most abundant oceanic-pelagic species of shark on the planet.
Large and stocky, they are grey or brown above, and white below and famous for their huge rounded first dorsal fin and paddle-like pectoral fins. The fins also highly prized within the shark fin trade. Whilst they are mostly solitary, Oceanic Whitetips do occasionally hunt in groups.
An inquisitive species, they were easy prey for fisheries. Combined with their low reproductive rate, they were inevitably at high risk of population depletion. And declines of up to 99% have been reported in certain sea areas. They are listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Redlist (2019).
Conservation efforts to discourage further declines include listing on CITES Appendix II and CMS Appendix I. They’re also the only species prohibited from take by all the Tuna RFMOs (Regional Fisheries Management Organisations). However, these measures do not mean that Oceanic Whitetips are not still caught – whether targeted or as bycatch – in some parts of the world. With populations declining at such a high rate, effective implementation of management measures is essential to ensure that the species can recover.
If you are lucky enough to get an image of an Oceanic Whitetip and you record your sighting on the Shark Trust app or website YOU CAN WIN! All images submitted with sightings, that also give consent to use in conservation messaging, will be in with a chance to win an Oceanic Whitetip T-shirt and mug. The competition will run until the end of “Shark Month” in July – so keep those sightings (and images) coming in.
Basking Sharks
Basking Shark (Cetorhinus maximus) season is upon us, and the Shark Trust is asking everyone to keep an eye out for these majestic giants over the summer months. If you see any, you can record your sighting to the Basking Shark Sightings database.
Each year, these mighty fish return to British waters to feed on plankton. You may see one, (or a few if you’re really lucky) from around April-October. They can be seen feeding at the surface of the water, where they look like they’re basking in the sun. Thus, their name!
Sighting hotspots around the British Isles include southwest England, Isle of Man, north coast of Ireland, and western Scotland. The Sea of the Hebrides is the most prolific sightings area in Scotland, but they have been spotted all around the coast and have even ventured into some of the sea lochs. The Shark Trust has received thousands of sightings since the Basking Shark project began, but more data is needed to truly understand what is going on with population numbers and distribution. You can help by recording your sightings this summer.
Great Eggcase Hunt
The Shark Trust has an Easter Egg Hunt with a difference for you to try. Take part in the Great Eggcase Hunt and get involved with a big citizen science project that helps shark, ray and skate conservation. And it’s an enjoyable activity for all the family.
The Shark Trust also want snorkellers and divers to record their underwater eggcase findings. Underwater records help pinpoint exactly where sharks and skates are laying their eggs and can help link to beach records. Learning the depth and substrate that they lay on also helps better understand the species.
Find out more: https://www.sharktrust.org/great-eggcase-hunt
Whether you are diving, snorkelling or exploring on the beach you can take part in Citizen Science Month and get actively involved in shark and ray conservation. Find out more: www.sharktrust.org
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