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The 1992 Cageless shark-diving expedition was the world′s first cageless dive with Great White sharks and contributed hugely to changing public opinions about the supposed ferocity of these animals.

Contents 1 History 2 Impact 3 See also 4 External links

[edit] History

In January 1992, during the filming of the National Geographic documentary Blue Wilderness, and after surface testing of the prototype "Shark Pod" (now Shark Shield) for the Natal Sharks Board, amongst several large Great White sharks swimming around the boat at Dyer Island, Western Cape, South Africa, four divers: Ron and Valerie Taylor (notable Australian pioneers of underwater exploration and film-makers), good friend George Askew (Pioneer South African diver and photographer), and Piet van der Walt, the real pioneers of the South African cage diving industry in 1989, carried out the world's first dive amongst these animals without a safety cage—which had been lost in a storm. (The Prototype Valerie is seen wearing during this dive was a dummy for continuity and afforded the divers no protection). The Taylors and Askew, recognised shark experts, were testing their hypotheses, based on many years of experiences with sharks, and following on several articles Askew had published—the first being in December 1978 ("The Jaws fish - Myth or Maneater")—that these animals had a much fiercer reputation than they deserved. The divers had several timid encounters after a long wait and this ground-breaking "Underwater Everest" conquest changed people's perceptions of these animals forever and opened the door to more close encounters by later divers. The Taylors felt that the Australian sharks have a slightly different disposition to South African ones, but as it is now known that Great Whites swim to and from Australia, this may be questionable.

[edit] Impact

The divers found the sharks were actually very timid and difficult to approach, although just before the dive when Taylor and Askew were kneeling on the dive platform filming with their hands in the water, a premonition made Askew get up. As he did so and stepped back, a 4-metre (13 ft) Great White slid onto the platform. It would have taken his camera and arms, and maybe pulled him in if he had not got up. It stopped 75 millimetres (3 in) from his foot before sliding back. The consequences of that first historic dive were the close encounters that have shown the world that Great Whites are not there to devour people but can be quite friendly. Since this dive a few intrepid souls have done cageless dives—even hitching rides on their dorsal fins and touching them underwater.

[edit] See also

• Andre Hartman
• Michael Rutzen

• Jaws

[edit] External links

• Interview with Ron and Valerie Taylor
• John Harding Marine Photo Library