Day 3 Shark Dive (eek!)

Today has been one of the most wonderful days of my life!!

It has been within my top ten most memorable events, and I have loved every minute of it from 5.30 am when it started, until now at almost 10pm when I am finally giving way to all the adrenaline that I have pumped.

 Bryony & I were collected from our hotel at 6.30 am  for a 2hour drive to Gansbaii. The base for most of the White shark trips from the Western Cape. On our arrival at “Shark Diving Unlimited” base, we hungrily devoured our awaiting cooked brekkie; before collecting our waterproofs & boarding the good boat “Barracuda” the vessel upon which we were to travel to “Shark Alley”.  A 15 minute high speed burst across the bay delivered us our appointed date with Mother Nature’s deadliest creature. By now, I was beginning to doubt my sanity in thinking that this was something I wanted to do & it wasn’t something I was forced to do.

Both Bry and I watched with awe & trepidation as our 1^st  Great White, or as they are know locally as “Tommy Sharks” More about that later)  came into view. He was just a little chap just apporox 2.4 mtrs, but he still had as many teeth as his bigger brothers. We then donned our wetsuits (easier said than done on a moving boat J ) and soon it was our turn to enter the cage. Mmmmmm , 2^nd,3^rd & many more thoughts occurring now.

 “Down” shouts the skipper, and we let go of the overhead bars & descend to view the beast directly in front of us chomping on the baited line. “Up” shouts the skipper and we quickly ascend again to await the approach of the next beastie. Time and again we repeat this procedure, and quickly the fear and trepidation of our intial entry disappears, and is replaced by greedy anticipation of the impending visit of the next magnificent creature. In total we see 5 different beasts, our time in the cage flies by in the blink of an eye, and we are hauled out to allow our fellow passengers another turn.

 A second sessions is then offered, and I reluctantly have to decline because of difficulties with my **** knee. Bryony is back in as quick as a flash for more. (Surprise surprise (NOT) This time I am kept busy taking photographs from above. Finally time up is called, and just as the final baited line is thrown the biggest beastie of all cruises past, nibbling on the line, before getting a little tooooooo close to the cage, and putting his snout through the cage right next to Bry, I think he was attempting a “(Sharkie French Kiss!) and as Bry surfaced she exclaimed “Oh S***t”)  Probably an understatement I think. JJ

We then commenced our return to shore; the adrenalin high was unbelievable and continues even now as I type this.

  Hot home made soup, home made bread, and home made scones awaited us on landing and were devoured with great haste and appreciation, before our 2 hour journey back to Cape Town. En route we made 3-4 stops at special viewing spots, attempting to spot returning Southern Right Whales which arrive here shortly to breed. 3 had been seen earlier the week; but not today. I think we had exhausted our share of good fortune for the day by then.

We returned to our hotel, and had a welcome hot shower & change of clothes before heading out for an amazing evening which I will report on tomorrow