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ABOUT ELASMODIVER

BIO OF ANDY MURCH

 

WHAT IS ELASMODIVER?

Not just Shark Pictures: Elasmodiver contains photos of sharks, skates, rays, and chimaera's from around the world. Elasmodiver began as a simple web based shark field guide to help divers find the best places to encounter the different species of sharks and rays that live in shallow water but it has slowly evolved into a much larger project containing information on all aspects of shark diving and shark photography.

There are now more than 5000 shark pictures  and sections on shark evolution, biology, and conservation. There is a large library of reviewed shark books, a constantly updated shark taxonomy page, a monster list of shark links, and deeper in the site there are numerous articles and stories about shark encounters. Elasmodiver is now so difficult to check for updates, that new information and pictures are listed on an Elasmodiver Updates Page that can be accessed here:

WHAT'S NEW?

Shark picture - green sawfish

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SHARK DIVING HOTSPOTS - BAHAMAS SHARK SAFARIS

 

Encounter: Tiger sharks, Great hammerhead sharks, Lemon sharks, Bull sharks, Caribbean reef sharks and possibly Black tips, nurse sharks, and more. This is probably the most dynamic shark adventure in existence. Most of the diving is conducted in blue water and involves copious amounts of chum being poured into the water to form a chum slick that attracts large sharks for miles around. Once a large Hammerhead or Tiger shark arrives, divers are invited to enter the water and hang on lines suspended from the swim step close to the chum. Its possible to get very close to the sharks and the photographic opportunities are unparalleled. The ever present Caribbean reef sharks can get quite aggressive towards divers that are near the bait, but the larger Tigers and Hammerheads tend to be skittish and avoid close contact. Some encounters are organized on the reef itself and then lemons and Bulls are also seen.

The sharks are never absent completely but the Tigers and Hammerheads which are the big ticket species are not always present. I was lucky to see a couple of Tigers and 4 Hammerheads during an 8 day trip and I have heard of divers seeing a dozen or more Tigers at a site named Tiger Beach. One diver recently told me that he was unable to get close to any Tigers in one week of diving so like many other dives luck is a factor in the overall experience.

Operators: Jim and Anna Abernethy run dedicated shark trips to the outer reefs of the Bahamas aboard their liveaboard dive boat the Shearwater. The trips last for around one week during which they move from one site to the next opportunistically diving with whatever sharks show up. Jim is an energetic host that delights in getting close to big animals underwater and Anna is charming and just as enthusiastic as her husband. Nitrox is available onboard.

Accommodation: The Shearwater's bunks may not be the most luxurious of sleeping quarters but in rough seas they are just what you need to avoid being thrown out of bed during the night. Overall when running at full capacity the boat is a little cramped especially if most of the divers are photographers but the underwater opportunities vastly outweigh these minor inconveniences. The food is excellent and seems to flow continuously from the galley even in the roughest weather.

Directions: The Shearwater runs out of Palm Beach, Florida. Generally guests sleep on the crossing the first night and clear Bahamian immigration the next morning then continue on to whichever area weather conditions permit.

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Tiger shark diving at Tiger Beach, Bahamas.
 
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CONTACT ELASMODIVER

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250-588-8267

P.O.Box 8719 Station Central, Victoria, BC., V8W 3S3, Canada