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Scubaverse Underwater Photographer Interview: Jacopo Brunetti
In an ongoing series, Scubaverse.com’s Underwater Photography Editors Nick and Caroline Robertson-Brown talk to underwater photographers from around the world that they admire.
This interview is with Jacopo Brunetti from Cabo Shark Dive.
Jacopo Brunetti is the founder of Cabo Shark Dive, the first and only shark diving company in Los Cabos. He is a marine biologist, PADI Scuba Instructor, professional underwater photographer, shark behavioural expert and a big shark addict. For 12 years, Jacopo worked as a biologist, shark dive guide and professional underwater photographer with sharks and large marine animals in South Africa, Egypt, Azores, Hawaii, Mexico, Baja California, Australia & Philippines, collaborating with important institutions such as The Shark Research Lab at The Hawaiian Institute of Marine Biology.
Over the years he gained experience and skills in diving and free diving with big marine animals and he developed an efficient chumming technique to attract sharks safely. He learned how to read and observe the behaviour of sharks and will personally take care of you during your shark experience.
N/C: How long have you been running Cabo Shark Dive? How did it start?
JB: I have run Cabo Shark Dive for the past three years. I was so impressed by the huge pelagic life of Baja and thought that the best way to protect this amazing fauna is to share these wonders and inform as many people as possible about the importance of protecting sharks and other top predators to keep the balance of the ocean.
Cabo Shark Dive has a strong ecological objective. We protect the local species of sharks and pelagic predators by offering the safest, closest and most personal underwater interactions. This is the best way to raise awareness of the conservation of marine environments and encourage more people to love sharks and take part in shark sighting activities. We also promote the development of free diving with sharks as a complementary activity. Shark diving, snorkelling and shark watching are eco-sustainable activities which have no effect on shark populations and other pelagic predators, who are currently in a critical situation. We involve local fisherman in the project, to help the community and nature at the same time. While they work with us they make more money and they don’t kill any fish.
After people have dived with us we as them to do their part, to dispel myths and push shark conservation. Tell others (particularly non-divers) about your experience. Post pictures and videos – focusing on demystifying sharks (not the Jaws type!) Your shark diving experience can really help the ocean.
N/C: Do you get a chance to photograph the sharks yourself?
JB: Yes, I’m the head photographer of Cabo Shark Dive.
N/C: What camera equipment do you use?
JB: Nikon d800 or Canon 5d mk3 in a Nautical housing, fish eye lenses.
N/C: What is your favourite shark?
JB: Mako and Smooth Hammerhead.
N/C: How do you get your best shark photos? Talk us through what you do to get your best shark shots.
JB: I wait, I float at the surface and I let the sharks get close to me. I try to be invisible in the water, making as few vibrations as possible. I try to merge myself with the water, I move slowly, I slow down my heartbeat and I wait in the right place at the right moment, ready with my finger on the trigger for the perfect shot!
For more from Jacopo and Cabo Shark Dive, click on the following links:
Website: www.cabosharkdive.com
Facebook: jacob brunetti https://www.facebook.com/cabosharkdive/
Today we are diving one of the outer reefs from an inflatable. As we reach the bottom, a reef octopus eases its way into the cover of a small crack in the coral while displaying it’s incredible ability to change colour. They are arguably one of the most charismatic of reef dwellers and it is always exciting for me to simply hover and watch. I would have spent longer and waited for it to come and investigate me, but as dive time is limited we wanted to move on and find a turtle.
The waters around Somabay are well protected and hold a rich variety of marine life. The reef edges are thriving colonies of coral and shoaling fish, while nearer the sea bed plenty of wildlife is still to be found.
Then we located the turtles. They are very used to divers and so show little concern when slowly approached. In fact occasionally one will come over to see what you are doing. There is always huge excitement when diving with a turtle. The shear thrill of sharing a moment with another species.
What a fantastic way to finish a wonderful few days diving and I would like to thank SOMABAY, ORCA DIVING and THE BREAKERS for making my stay such a good one.
I had a great time, with diving everyday either on the house reef or on one of the offshore reefs by inflatable or larger day boat. Orca diving provided high quality equipment and facilities while the staff were all very friendly and welcoming. The Breakers was right on the coast with nice rooms, good food and once again friendly staff making the whole trip a real pleasure.
Soma Bay covers an entire peninsula and is home to several resorts as well as residential compounds.
As well as scuba diving, Somabay caters for many other sports and activities, and so is perfect for families as well as individuals and/or groups. And of course there is always time to lay peacefully on the beach under the Egyptian sun.
Book your next Red Sea dive adventure with SOMABAY! For more information, visit www.somabay.com.
Stay at the Breakers Diving & Surfing Lodge when you visit! For more information, visit www.thebreakers-somabay.com.
Find out more about ORCA Dive Clubs at SOMABAY at www.orca-diveclubs.com/en/soma-bay-en.
Day three of my trip to Somabay and we were spending the day on the Lady Christina and diving on the wreck of the Salem Express.
Diving wrecks for me is always one of mixed emotions. The excitement of diving a wreck is more than often tempered by the thought of loss of life when she sank. The Salem Express was a passenger ship and a roll-on/roll-off ferry travelling from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to Safaga, Egypt. Most passengers were of poor class travelling home from their holidays while around 150 people were returning home from their pilgrimage to Mecca.
The ship struck a reef and sank within 20 minutes. Passengers were trapped below deck and the ship was filled with fear and panic.
The wreck area is strewn with personal belongings from the crew and passengers such as a transistor radio and a flat iron for clothes. A diver at sometime has put them in a prominent place to be seen.
Tragically only one life boat was launched while the others went down with the ship. More than 600 men, women and children lost their lives here.
It’s a stark reminder that the sea can be unforgiving and so when we dive on such wrecks we should do so with humble regard.
Returning to the surface, shoals of fish are gathered under our boat and seem to be welcoming us back into the light.
Back at the Breakers I sat in the dining area with a beer and a very good meal while my thoughts still remained with the day’s dive on the Salem Express.
Check in for part 3 tomorrow for Jeff’s last day of diving with Somabay on the off-shore reefs looking for turtles.
Book your next Red Sea dive adventure with SOMABAY! For more information, visit www.somabay.com.
Stay at the Breakers Diving & Surfing Lodge when you visit! For more information, visit www.thebreakers-somabay.com.
Find out more about ORCA Dive Clubs at SOMABAY at www.orca-diveclubs.com/en/soma-bay-en.
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