The Caribbean

THE ULTIMATE BAHAMIAN ADVENTURE: SHARKS, SHARKS, SHARKS AND DOLPHINS

Dolphin and shark encounters in the 700 Islands

Dates: Friday 19th April - Friday 26th April 2013 (8 days)

Group Size Limit: 11 plus leader

Around the world the story is depressingly similar: divers are finding encounters with sharks ever more rare. Think of a famous shark site and ask the locals if the sharks are there in anything like the numbers they were a decade before. You will probably be told that the numbers have fallen or worse still, that the ‘finners’ have been through the area and the population has crashed.

There are two ways to see sharks in the Bahamas. One is to take part in what is sometimes referred to as a ‘shark rodeo’, where a groups of divers are lined up on the seabed and a dive guide attracts the sharks by feeding them from a bag or by means of a frozen block of fish known as a ‘chumsicle’. These nearly always guarantee close encounters with reef sharks for around 20 minutes. The second way is to join a dedicated shark safari. These safaris are rare, difficult to set up and can be unpredictable, but offer the potential for real encounters with many different species of shark. They require the skill of an expert: someone who knows the waters in which he operates like the back of his hand and has perfected his shark chumming methods. Captain Scott Smith of the liveaboard Dolphin Dream is such a man. Captain Scott Smith has been interacting with and recording the behaviors of the Atlantic Spotted dolphin on the Little Bahama Bank since 1980. As captain of the charter/research vessel, Dolphin Dream, he spends over 30 weeks a year in the Bahamas with his shark and dolphin friends. Scott has identified and keeps track of over 100 individual Spotted dolphin, about 30 of which he can recognize on sight. Since the number of spots per animal increases with age, he must continually update his I.D. catalog. Photographs are taken of both sides of each dolphin, then logged into a database. A detailed record of each encounter is also maintained. Scott is an accomplished underwater photographer and videographer, and his relationship with the dolphin has enabled him to document a comprehensive range of behaviors.

Scott and the ‘Dream Team’ have played host to visitors from around the world including feature film crews, National Geographic, The Cousteau Society, many of the world's top underwater photographers, and many family yacht charters. Scott has been featured in a on-hour documentary for Japanese television, educational videos, and the subject of books and magazines worldwide.

Some of the most far-flung reaches of the Bahamas still meet, in spectacular fashion, the requirements for outstanding shark diving: healthy reefs, an absence of commercial fishermen (thanks to remoteness and a ban on long-lining) and therefore a superb array of sharks. Fortunately for both sharks and divers, these areas are way off the beaten track and can only be reached by liveaboard boat.

Scott has identified a number of sites where shark encounters and photographic opportunities are first rate. There are reefs where, figuratively speaking, you can hardly get in the water for the number of Caribbean Reef Sharks gliding around you! On other reefs, sleek Lemon Sharks glide below. Tiger Sharks – normally timid background ghosts – can also be chummed in right up to the boat above the sand flats, offering photographers a truly spectacular experience! The Little Bahama Bank, known for its population of Caribbean Reef Sharks has colourful sponges for excellent contrast and some handy crevices where you can get beneath the sharks to shoot up. Lemon Sharks reside over sandy patches in shallow water but the Tiger Sharks really steal the show, with their sleek and elegant lines and stripes and big, dark eyes.

You can expect to get extremely close to these individuals, so it is important that you at times work as a team to look out for each other and point out opportunities for shots as well as looking out for potential bumps!

The main aim of our Dolphin Dream shark and dolphin safari is to dive with, photograph, video or catalogue as many shark and dolphin species as possible, particularly Bull Shark, Silky Shark, Lemon Shark, Tiger Shark, Caribbean Reef Shark and Black-tipped Reef Shark. This is a unique trip and designed to maximize time in the water and in front of big sharks, as close as you want and as often as you want. Unlike other trips, this week will be non-stop action the only limiting factor being daylight, memory card capacity or changing cylinders. The most likely encounters are Lemon Sharks (the puppy dogs), reef sharks (the terriers) and of course the super apex predator the Tiger Shark.

Should we have had our fill of sharks and if time and conditions allow, we will head off to some areas where we can snorkel with Atlantic Spotted Dolphins. Encounters can last anywhere from five minutes to five hours it purely depends upon the particular pod we find. Dolphin encounters will be on snorkel. Whenever the dolphins show up and it is possible to jump in with them, Scott will direct the encounter. The dolphins frequently love to play and frolick with snorkelers and you can free dive down as much as you like to get those all important photographs. A few of them will instigate tactile interaction with humans. They will rub along side of you or touch you with a fin. Some of them enjoy a gentle rub. Most of the dolphins prefer it if you swim with your arms down at your sides and don’t reach out for them. Eye to eye contact can go a long way to extending a dolphin encounter! Dolphin encounters can last from a few minutes to several hours each. The relationship is voluntary based on trust, play, and curiosity. Very active snorkeling and free diving are good ways to keep their attention.

This will be Charles Hood’s fourth shark safari. Charles will be on board to coordinate a packed agenda to get the most out of the encounters. Each day will be meticulously planned according to what has already been seen and what weather condition will allow. Charles will be available to help with any photographic questions and will advise on camera settings, lens choices, lighting techniques and your positioning underwater to get the best results possible.

Such is the uniqueness of this trip that the potential to take prize winning photographs is high. From his last two trips Charles has been awarded both ‘Highly Commended’ and ‘Specially Commended’ certificates in the Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. We challenge you to beat him next time!

This is pioneering diving at its most adventurous, so we can only offer places on this expedition to fit and experienced divers who have worked in currents and are familiar with shark diving. Advanced or higher diving qualifications are required.

To ensure the best results, the crew will be ‘chumming’ the water with fish and fish parts. Consequently, there will be food in the water at the same time as the divers. Please be aware that this is not a cage diving trip and that it is an open water experience.

Dolphin Dream can sleep up to 12 guests in five twin bunked cabins and one double cabin. There are two heads with showers as well as a deck shower. The salon has four benches and four chairs surrounding two tables for dining. The galley and salon are separated by a serving counter. There is a drinks bar with a refrigerator, ice maker, coffee making facilities and a sink. There is space for cameras as well as charging facilities. There is a 27” TV, DVD/VCR, stereo, book and video library should the sharks and dolphins not entertain you enough! Dolphin Dream has a sundeck for sunbathing, and a covered deck to stay out of the sun with plenty of space for dolphin watching. The large bow has plenty of space for dolphin watching. Meals onboard include outstanding home-style cooking. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are prepared freshly each day and snacks including fruit, nuts, and sweets are always available. Refreshments including water, juices, coffee, hot and cold tea, and lemonade are included.

Outline Itinerary

Friday 19th April: Arrival in West Palm Beach. Meet the group at a local hotel and enjoy the evening attractions in the area.

Saturday 20th April: Board Dolphin Dream in the late afternoon and set sail for The Bahamas and Scott's secret shark and dolphin sites!

Sunday 21st April - Thursday 25th April: Over four and a half days diving and snorkeling with as many shark and dolphin species as we can find.

Friday 26th April: After a light breakfast, disembark Dolphin Dream and enjoy the day in lovely West Palm Beach.

PRICE: $2690 (provisional price, to be confirmed)

Includes:

• 6 nights cruise with full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner) plus coffee, tea, fruit juice, soft drinks and fresh fruit on a twin/share basis on Dolphin Dream.
• One night, room-only at Super-8 West Palm Beach Hotel
• Transfers between Super-8 West Palm Beach Hotel and Dolphin Dream
• Services of Charles Hood and Scott Smith as leaders

Single Occupancy Supplement: $2110 (but you can avoid paying the supplement if you are willing to share a cabin). Provisional price, to be confirmed.

Deposit: Initial deposit $400, followed by a further $1000 at 12 months before departure.

Flights: Please contact us for example airfares from your preferred city of departure.