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Dive with wild sharks with no cage (BAHAMAS)
Want to see a shark at close range without an barriers in between? Get ready for an adrenaline pump at Walkers Cay.
Walkers Cay located about 40 miles north of Grand Bahama Island, is most regularly accessed by seaplane from Fort Lauderdale (45 min service by Pan Am Airbridge). There is also an airstrip that takes up most of the small island.
Therefore an alternative means of getting to the island is to charter a small plane (beware, however, the strip is short and it may be a problem when wet)The resort includes a good sized marina making the island a popular destination for boaties visiting from Florida (about 100 miles to the west) or from Grand Bahama.
Of course one of the principal reasons for
divers to visit Walkers is to participate in their world famous close up encounters with sharks. This image
of a blacktip was taken with a 20 mm lens which provides some idea of
just how close one can get without actually coming into contact with
the prey (unlike diving with hammerheads at Cocos and Galapagos where
its a problem to get within 5 feet of your subject).
What makes the shark diving at Walkers such a memorable experience is
their innovative use of the "chumsicle" - a rubbish bin size
slab of frozen fish waste hung on hooks. Unlike shark feeds by other
outfits, where the fish is fed to the sharks piece by piece, the use
of the chumsicle makes for more action but less danger.
Usually there are one or two sharks chomping on the chumsicle every few seconds. It is radical to see a six foot Carib reef shark or nurse shark chomp on that chumsicle. The jaw extends and the shark twists and shakes to get a piece off. If it gets a big piece, it will shoot off fast and several sharks and jacks will hightail it after that sharks to get a piece.
It is important that the divers remain on their knees with their arms folded while the sharks are around as if you move your arms carelessly Sharks may mistake them with fish and grab them.
Nurse sharks which are the large number of participants in this shark rodeo range in size from about 2-13 feet (0.75-4 m) long. The largest are about 14 feet (4.25 m) long. The nurse shark is a large, sluggish, bottom-dwelling shark that is generally harmless unless provoked. It has very strong jaws, a stout body, and a wide head with obvious barbels.
The nurse shark has thousands of replaceable teeth which are serrated and fan shaped; they are capable of crushing shellfish. The teeth are arranged in rows that rotate into position when one is needed. Some of the teeth fall on the sand during the shark rodeo. One of the best souvenirs for a diver is finding them.
Shark diving is an incredible senstion to live as it is the closest you can get to them. But if you are to ask if it is dangerous or not. Do not forget these animals are not pets!!