Not sure I ever thought about it…… but after today, I can’t stop thinking about it. I got slapped by a shark. Never really thought I’d be able to say that …. but I can now. Our first dive today was at a site that is known to hold several sharks…. and because the mooring ball had been torn off, it’s been a hot minute since we have dove that site, so I was anxious to get back down there. It’s also been a hot minute sine I have gotten a ‘good’ shark picture…… all those minutes got ‘cooled off’ today. Just barely got started on the dive when one fairly good sized shark showed up. I waited until the bulk of the group went on about their way before I sank down to where he was at. (about 90′) I ‘clinked’ my camera tray and had an instant response as the shark pivoted around looking for the sound. As he got near– I did a rub on my lens shade. It is a grunting sound, that has been explained to me sounds similar to the sound a lobster makes when it is in distress. (we aren’t the only things that like to eat lobsters). When I did, the shark coming at me cruised by me…… as I followed him- I noticed I now had 2 more sharks circling me, apparently intrigued with the sounds emanating from me. I ‘aimed’ at the biggest one and started ‘grunting’ again….. he/she was really intrigued…… he/she made a bee line at me. I waited until he/she was close enough for a really good close up and fired. Typically, as soon as my strobes fire, the shark will turn away. Typically….. apparently this was not a typical shark…… he/she kept coming…. so I took another shot, my strobes fired again…… by now Mr./Mrs. Shark is now within arms reach…… holding tightly to my camera, I braced for impact, when the shark turned abruptly away from….. whew…. what I did not plan on, was that when the shark turned, his/her body whipped around behind him/her….. including her tail….. which came around my solidly braced arms and slapped me firmly and solidly up side my head. Luckily, it didn’t knock my mask off or bust anything vital. Bounced one of my strobes out of position, but that’s not a big deal. Honestly, being slapped by the shark wasn’t that big of a deal…… getting the shot that I got… now that is a big deal~!!! I finished taking the shots I wanted and started up to catch back up with the dive group. As I came up I saw another photographer on the load watching me…… his eyes were about the size of saucers. I just kinda grinned, flashed a cool divers sign with my hand and swam off……… Yea….. I’m a cool underwater photographer that gets slapped by sharks~! 😉
Boat is out here on the West end the next 3 days, so hopefully I’ll get to do Armageddon at least once~!! There is a chance I may be doing afternoon dives for the next 3 days….. if I do, the odds of writing this blog go way down because I’m usually editing pictures until 9:00. We’ll see.
Good Night Y’all # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # Thankx for stopping in~!
