Feelgood Friday Fishes #6 - What lurks beneath

oceanelement (51)in #travel • 6 years ago (edited)

Put sharks and South Africa together and most likely the image that's going to pop into your head is the gnashing teeth of a fearsome Great White Shark. Well, let's erase that image from your head as sharks are incredibly misunderstood but also let's me tell you about one of the lesser know sharks we have here in SA - the sevengill shark (also known as cow shark).

Usually elusive, there's a very special spot along the coast of False Bay, Cape Town where you can get up close and personal with these prehistoric predators. They get there name from the additional gill slit and are easy to identified by the absence of a frontal dorsal fin and although they're happily cruise among the kelp and visiting divers, don't be fooled. These docile looking sharks are known as "wolves of the sea" as they have been observed co-operating in groups of more than 10 sharks as they hunt their prey. And despite measuring in at between 1-3m, mush smaller than their great white counterparts, they share a very similar diet with both species predating on fish, seals and other sharks!

The best part about diving with the sevengills in their natural curiosity. Unlike white shark diving there's no baiting or chumming the water to attract the sharks and they often swim incredibly close, usually turning away at the last moment, which is typical non-threatening shark behaviour. However on this dive, I was caught out by their pack behaviour. It's so easy to get tunnel vision underwater and in my case it's so often more than the restrictions of looking though a mask and more looking through the lens.

On this dive I was so busy following the shark in front, I knew nothing about the sevengill that swam from behind and between my legs. I will openly admit to getting the fright of my life but it never ceases to amaze me how apex predators are happy to share their ocean with us bubble blowing humans.

Footage filmed in False Bay, South Africa

Music Credit: Agnel Obel - Aventine - Dorian - 2013

#teamsouthafrica

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#photography #nature #underwater #blog

6 years ago in #travel by oceanelement (51)

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