Shark Encounters

Today we went on adventure to see sharks close up!

Whilst in Waikiki we saw a tour shop with a large plasma screen advertising shark cage diving, I was immediately fascinated. We enquired but the tours ran from the North Shore and we didn't think we could get there to go, so we decided to stay at the North Shore on our return. The next problem was that I really wanted to go but Samantha didn't, so I booked in to go and Samantha was going to go to the beach.

During our time on the big Island Samantha warmed to the idea of going on the trip (but strictly not in the cage) and after speaking to some Americans from Chicago on the big Island she was quite excited and really wanted to go.

This morning we got up early and got the bus down to the harbour ready for the trip. We were all ready to ask if Samantha could come along and not go in the cage, so I found the guy in charge and he said they were all booked up but if someone didn't turn up she could go for Free (nice guy).

So got on the boat hoping for the best. I asked one of the guys on the boat if everyone had arrived and he said yes - bummer, I thought. Then they realised someone was missing and after a phone call they realised there was space - cool so Samantha got to come too.

The boat then motored out 3 miles to where they had there cage anchored and almost immediately you could see the sharks swimming around. I then grabbed a snorkel and mask and climbed into the cage.

WOW!!!! It was the most amazing sight, there were around 20-30 Galapagos sharks all about 8 feet long swimming round the cage. They swam under the cage around the cage just everywhere. They were feeding them bits of fish from the boat and a shark grabbed a piece of fish from right by me and you heard the snap of his jaws. They were also swimming right out of the water by the boat to get the food which look cool from under the water.

After half an hour in the cage I got out and the second lot of people got in and I then got to witness the sharks coming right out of the water for food from on the boat which was even better.

It was definitely the best experience of my trip so far. I would love to do it again. Samantha also really enjoyed from the boat and got some really good video.