(Dana) In Fiji, several current and previous OWR boats dove with bull sharks and raved about the experience. Greg and I were skeptical. In general, we avoid interactions with wild animals that have been habituated by food from humans, which feels like messing with the food chain. So, we resisted. Finally, Pura Vida reported back about the marine biologists on staff on Kuata Island and the view that the commercial shark-diving enterprise was making the reef healthier. We acquiesced. We are glad that we did. The experience was not like anything we had done before and gave us a new appreciation for these frightening animals.

For the past 15 years, The Awakening Shark dive team has been tracking bull sharks with a photo journal of all they have encountered. As the reef’s apex predator, bull sharks’ existence proves that the reef has a healthy fish pyramid. Importantly, the company has been sharing profits with local communities to decrease the incentive to fish away these temporary food sources. We saw the same feedback loop in Africa where local communities profited from safari organizations as an offset to the economic incentive for poaching.

Even against this positive backdrop, we were slightly nervous descending the 12-meters to the viewing area at Yakawe dive site. The team has perfected the process. Participants drop down and kneel behind a barrier, holding onto a line to stay in position. Every two divers, there is a team member with a large aluminum pole to poke away any overly curious sharks. I was right next to the marine biologist who tracks which creature shows up and grabs DNA samples if one gets close enough and looks sufficiently friendly at the moment! Beyond her was the feeding team wearing chainmail gloves who fix large fish heads onto hooks before sending them into the bull shark ballet. According to the team, the fish heads represent 10-20% of the food a shark would need for the day. They see it as offering a snack rather than messing with their natural hunting.

Each day, approximately 8-10 bull sharks show up out of the dozens that the team tracks. (I was disappointed that a shark named Doris didn’t show up, but apparently, she hasn’t been around in a while.) The sharks’ grace and strength were mesmerizing from the safety of our perch. Some passed within a foot of us… close enough to feel the whoosh of the water as they swam by. A few had fishhooks trailing from their very large mouths; the team tries to trim off excess line if they can. Frightening and fabulous.

The other boats were right, diving with bull sharks from Kuata Island was a unique experience, offering both education and excitement.

Exploitation or Salvation?

Vulcan’s Fury

Why We’re Doing This