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View Full Version : Free Diving With Sharks At Pygmy Caves, Freeport, Grand Bahama Island


ricki
07-19-2010, 08:33 PM
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs055.snc4/35113_406040518198_633803198_4557191_2616052_n.jpg


Did a quick trip to Lucaya on Grand Bahama Island over the weekend. Shot about 20 G of stills and video, some will likely show up here! This is an unprocessed clip of a short drop scooter free diving over some spur and groove bottom features with some small caves to go with. They were feeding sharks nearby at Shark Junction so some came over our way to check things out. This and several other excellent dives were made possible by Fred and Melinda with Grand Bahama Scuba, http://www.grandbahamascuba.com/. You will be hard pressed to find a more knowledgeable, capable and friendly operation in the Bahamas to dive with. Really enjoyed a night scooter free dive on Duncan's Wreck in around 90 ft. of water. Interesting dynamics at night with that sort of dive.

It was interesting to see how the sharks interacted with the scooter for the first time. There weren't that many, maybe eight to ten overall. Was concerned about the electric field generated by the scooter motor inducing them to ... had no real idea. Anyway, they seemed to ignore it largely, unless I turned away from them. That would bring them in. If I circled that seemed to rev them up a bit. It seemed like they had a capacity to become more excited through circling and close passes. Solution, don't do that! Shooting with the near fisheye GoPro HD, so the sharks are closer than they appear. Didn't want them to feel rejected. Lots more video, need to process it into something.

Video is at:
http://www.facebook.com/v/406209618198


As always, don't try scooter free diving without adequate professional free diving training in the use of this aid. Seems easy but things will go wrong over time.