Shark Feed Diving: Conservation At Its Best Or Ethically Irresponsible?

Shark diving is one of the most contentious of all types of diving. Often scuba divers who have never tried it condone it and non divers fear it. There also those who love to shark dive and declare it the safest diving you can do. 

For me there is a lot more to it than these simple descriptions. I have been lucky enough to do a variety of different shark dives all over the world. There are plenty of places where you can go and have a non baited shark dive such as Cocos Islands and Galapagos, but these are expensive trips where you might get lucky and see a school of hammerheads or you might spend a week diving and end up with nothing.

The only way to really guarantee to see sharks is to go on a shark feed or baited dive. This could be done by using chum to bring them towards the area, or actual bait in the water in a bucket or container or even a live feeding session underwater. I have been involved in all these types of dives in a wide variety of places around the world, but I always ask myself the same question after the encounter. “Was this in the best interests of the animal or purely for my own benefit?”

There are a myriad of differing views on this depending on how you look at the situation. The purpose of this article is not to determine if it's right or wrong but just to highlight the different outlooks and allow you to draw a conclusion for yourself. I will however give you my opinions as we go based on the experiences I have had. 

Safety First 

When I show people shark images, the first type of things they say are "how are you alive?" now generally I am pretty comfortable extolling the virtues of shark diving to others, I am relaxed about the situation. However I am not someone who will tell you that shark feed diving is categorically safe. It all comes down to the operator and the way the situation is handled. 

I have done some of the most incredible shark dives in Tiger Beach, Bahamas. Huge tiger sharks swirling around and coming within inches of me and my camera. Reef sharks and lemon sharks all over the place with an incredible intensity in the air (water). At no point did I ever feel unsafe. This is because of the way the situation is controlled. There is the absolute minimum amount of food in the water; it's mainly a scent that is bringing them in, so almost no actual bait is given out other than a small chunk every 5 mins or so fed directly to one shark at a time.

However, I have been in other situations such as the now famous Tiger Zoo in the Maldives. This did not feel safe, mainly due to the way the situation is handled. In this situation, tuna carcasses are thrown from a black bin on a zodiac 60 feet (20m) above the guests and let to sink down, almost landing on top of the group. This creates a chaotic and uncontrolled environment; the sharks are charging up and down the vertical wall pouncing on any food sinking down through the water column regardless of who is the way.

The stark contrast between these two experiences that ultimately are both trying to give people great tiger shark encounters couldn't be more different. One where I felt relaxed and in control and would do it again and again in a heartbeat. The other I will never return to. 

Will I see sharks without feeding? 

I have done a lot of ocean dives, maybe 3000 across the world. Now of all these dives I have done, I would estimate that less than around 200 have given me a great encounter with a shark, and by this I don't mean a dark spot in the distance, I mean I real genuine encounter where I could closely see and identify the shark. Of those 200 or so encounters, around half were shark feed dives or at least chummed dives and the other were natural occurrences. From the natural encounter dives I probably have a collection of okay images, but all my great images have come from encounters where we have bait of some kind in the water.

It's absolutely clear to me that sharks are one of the hardest creatures to see in the ocean; they are elusive and few and far between. There is no way I would have the images I have without having used bait. But what is the value in these images? Do they spread fear and allow for the media and others to remain hostile to sharks? Or do they raise awareness that you can be in the water with them?

For me the answer is in the type of photo you are taking. I do not like to show sharks as aggressive man eating creatures. This does nothing to help with shark conservation and the only use for such images is for sensational style journalism and click bait articles. 

Take for example the great white shark dives in places such as South Australia and formerly in Guadeloupe (now banned by Mexican Government). I have seen images I just adore, usually images perfectly exposed and lit with natural background of a shark cruising around in the water. There are also images that I do not like which are those that show aggressive mouth open sharks charging forward ready to eat. These images are manufactured by towing tuna on lines on the surface at high speed towards the cage where photographers wait to get the shot. This often causes damage to the shark and for sure the final images do nothing to aid the shark when they are printed on the front page of tabloid newspapers with scary headlines.

The type of image I try to take with sharks is usually of a more peaceful and calm scene. I try not to shoot images of high action and prefer to make images where the shark just likes to be in its natural environment. I would be happy for these images to be used in any publication and hope that these images represent the shark in a more balanced light.

Impacts of shark tourism

There are several places in the world that have completely banned shark hunting. They have realized that sharks have a higher dollar value than for their single retail value as a slab of meat or to make shark fin soup. If populations are encouraged then it can turn a location into a place where they receive so much value from dive tourism and ultimately a major economic boost.

The Bahamas is a place where the population of quite a number of shark species is fairly healthy and they can be seen pretty much on demand in a number of different places. 

This is undoubtedly a good thing for sharks. They are legally protected and allowed to live freely. But does that mean that we should be encouraging a behavioral change by feeding them so often and regularly? 

When sharks learn such behavior, becoming reliant on boats and divers for food it may well impact them when they migrate out of the area and into new territories where they are no longer protected. It may also have a negative effect on their natural feeding behaviors. It might also cause them to stay in the area all year around and alter their migration routes and possibly their mating routines.

Shark diving activities should not disrupt the natural behaviors, feeding patterns, or migratory habits of sharks. Frequent and invasive interactions with human divers can potentially alter these essential behaviors, leading to long-term negative consequences for the sharks and the overall marine ecosystem. It is crucial for operators to prioritize responsible practices and abide by guidelines that minimize any potential ecological impact.

Educational merits

Before I began to dive I knew little about sharks. I had seen the movies that others had such as Jaws and more modern scary shark movies such as Sharknado and 47m Down. These films only show the sharks in a scary manner and it of course impacts the average viewer, who only knows what they have been exposed to. After 12 years of diving I see sharks in a very different light. I have a healthy respect for them as an apex predator and admire them instead of just fearing them.

Without having met so many people that are involved in shark diving I would never have had such exposure. I also would not have this story to tell and would not have been able to share it with other people who are not fortunate enough to have had the same experiences. I am always keen to share this with my two nephews Jasper and Oscar.

However, I feel this way only because I have been exposed to great shark diving experiences; had I only ever been involved in more negative experiences such as the one in the Maldives I might not have such an important message to tell.

Ethical diving operators utilize shark diving experiences as opportunities to educate visitors about the importance of shark conservation and the preservation of marine ecosystems. This includes raising awareness about the threats facing sharks, debunking misconceptions, and promoting sustainable behaviors that protect their habitats. By providing accurate information and fostering a conservation mindset, shark diving can become a powerful tool for positive change.

Conclusion 

I have been shark diving for a number of years, and of all the marine creatures you can see underwater they are one of the most exciting and engaging. However, I am increasingly selective of the operator I use, the way they operate and the considerations they have for the sharks will have a major effect on your experience, and that of the sharks. 

It is crucial to prioritize the welfare and wellbeing of the sharks and ensure that diving activities do not harm or disturb them. Diving operators should follow responsible guidelines and avoid actions that artificially alter shark behavior or create dependency on humans, such as feeding or baiting. The focus should be on observing and appreciating sharks in their natural state, rather than altering their natural behaviors for human entertainment.

Ethical dive operators often contribute to shark conservation initiatives and research projects that focus on protecting these vulnerable species. By supporting responsible operators and participating in dives that promote conservation, divers can actively contribute to the preservation of shark populations and their habitats.