30/08/2019
Its , and we're showcasing another intern blog. This time, our Oceans Research intern, Kristin Jones, shares with us how she felt when she saw her first white shark...
"My First White Shark Experience
The firsts in life are always the most exciting and the most terrifying; whether it is the first kiss, first job, or first kid. A less common one, however, is the first white shark experience.
This month has been a series of firsts for me: first step into South Africa, first time on a research boat, first time eating Billtong. But the most memorable, was when I came face to face, with the fearsome and misunderstood white shark.
My first day with Oceans Research started with a relaxed, but ever important, beach cleanup, and less than four hours later I was in the presence of the ocean’s apex predator. Stepping onto the research vessel “Thalassa”, I had no idea what to expect. I figured we would learn to tie some knots, learn how to spot shark fins from afar, and maybe, if we were lucky, see one swim near the boat.
Boy was I wrong. Six of us interns were sorted into our roles for the shift, and I was given the duty of camera operator. Nice, a camera that zooms, maybe I’ll get to see the sharks a little better.
Once the boat was in position, conveniently located near Seal Island, we split into our roles. Let me say first though, if you have never heard of “chum”, consider yourself lucky. It is a smelly and slimy smoothie, of tuna bits and sea water. Pretty gross, but the sharks seem to like it. Once the chum goes into the water, we all stand alert, waiting for a sighting. It takes about five minutes before I hear “shark on stern”. My heart skips a beat, as I am standing fairly close to that spot.
Camera ready, I zoom in and wait. 3…2…1… and a blur of grey and white enters my field of vision. There it is. The ocean’s apex predator, jaws, the fearsome monster of the sea. And yet, all of those images I had seen before were so wrong. This creature was beautiful and graceful, not bloodthirsty and out to get us. It was about three and a half meters long, its grey skin shining in the sun, its mouth wide. Then it was gone, gliding back under the surface.
I thought in this moment I would be scared, but I was in awe and unluckily for me, forgot my duty and didn’t actually get the shot. But I saw my first white shark. And that was something I would never need a camera to remember for me.
Since this day, I have seen about 20 more white sharks, some larger and some smaller, and even went cage diving with them. But the exhilaration I feel when seeing one break the surface, never goes away. These creatures are portrayed so wrong in popular culture.
I expected to come home from this trip missing an arm or a leg, and instead I’m going to leave with a new piece of my heart. And maybe a new tattoo (don’t tell my parents)."
