AUGUST 24, 2009 Not much has been going on here at SDM HQ. I guess its the calm before the storm. Really what I have been busy doing is prepping for our mako trip at the end of this month. (Sorry last minute planners, its sold out.) and working on the next issue. Thats right, the long awaited issue 21 is in the works. I have said it before that when it comes to getting pumped for the creation of our next issue, I need to have two things in place. The first is some ideas of what stories I am planning to publish. The other is my cover. I need to create the cover so that I can get amped up about working on the next issue. When as many of you who follow this blog knows I do not write about the mag here, I have a special blog that is all about the creation of each and every issue. What it takes, what I go through, the stories and images I will be publishing and so on. You can find it on our homepage, or just click here. But if you don't have time to read our mag bloand just want a sneak peek of the next cover, then you can see it here...
This cover is by Andy Murch. This is his 4th cover for us, and for sure will not be his last. In fact he has already shown me a few photos that are just amazing, and one of them will be featured on an upcoming new issue.
AUGUST 1, 2009 You know there is so much controversy over interacting with sharks and other wild animals. I have been attacked for the different things we have done over the years, from feeding sharks, to chumming for sharks, to filming sharks. Many purists believe that feeding sharks is bad, and/or chumming is bad, or that sharks should be left alone. There are pros and cons I admit to everything involving sharks. But my personal feelings are that interacting with sharks in different ways is important if we are to learn more about the species.
Hand feeding sharks is one thing we have done through the years that has people in an uproar. Is it neccessary? Probably not, but I have learned many an intimate details about social status among a family of sharks through these interactions that I never knew before.
Very little is known about sharks, and to me, the only way we are going to learn anything is to jump in the water, and find different ways to interact with them. It is a trial and error process and through time we find things that work, and things that don't work. There are things we did with sharks a year ago that we no longer do, because it is not safe, or because we feel we may be hurting the sharks.
This is a wrangling rig we used to bring the sharks in close but after a couple of uses we decided that it put too much stress on the sharks and have since stopped using it. This is all part of trial and error as we build up our knowledge on sharks.
The more time I spend in the water with sharks the more I understand how little we know. But I also know that there is something about these animals that is so special. I have had moments in the water where I have interacted with a shark, one on one, and after the encounter I am asking myself, "Did that just happen?" So for me I am just going to keep interacting with sharks, and I am going to keep searching for new ways to go deeper into the sharks world.
PEOPLE I ADMIRE As far as people who are often criticized for their intimate work with wild predatory animals, here are some of the people I admire for their work. All of these guys have been criticized and hated on for what they do with dangerous animals, but I think their work is amazing, and I am sure you will be blown away with their work as well. Maybe after watching them, you will understand me and what we do a little better...then again, maybe not?
Here is a video with Roberto "Beto" Bubas who has done some amazing work with wild orcas. No funny flips in an aquarium, this is just real majesty and natural beauty. These are the things that show what is possible with wild animals and people...
This guy has been criticized for the work he has done. Manny Puig has been accused of being a show man, and also for his circus performances with sharks and snakes, and so on. But the interaction work he has done with alligators is something that I highly respect and think is beyond amazing. By putting himself out there he has shown what is possible. I just have a lot of respect for his work.
This is another guy that I admire greatly for his work. people think he is insane, but I think the guy is just amazing. Charlie Vandergaw has been living in a cabin out in the deep woods of Alaska and has been intereacting with black bears and grizzlie bears for many, many years. Watching him with these animals is just breath taking and while I watch his show, I am just jumping out of my skin with excitement.
Kevin Richardson is a guy who owns an African animal reserve in South Africa and interacts intimately with lions and hyenas. It is amazing work and for an outsider looking in, it looks completely insane. But I think it is amazing work.
These are the kind of people that I admire and respect. Their work is to be commended and studied. What they are learning from different species of animals is original and exciting. I watch these guys and just think how amazing and beautiful these interactions are. I know that these people are hated on for the things they do, but I look at their work and admire them, not for their bravery, or fearlessness, because I know it is more than that. I admire them for seeing beyond what normal people see. They see what is possible, in world's where people believe that interacting with these lethal predatory animals is impossible. Out there they are making magic happen, and they are achieiving things and learning things that force us to learn new things! It is awesome.
JULY 24, 2009 I am sorry for the long wait for any news about our Holbox Island adventure. Normally I would blog about what was going on, but it was difficult to really put a pulse on Holbox this season. The weather was doing a crazy number on this place and the sharks were doing some strange things. I am going to write up a trip report about it, to try and share the full story with you.
However, this year is going to be hard to really share what happened out there because it was such an amazing trip, and to really understand it, you really had to be there. It was beyond EPIC. And I know I use that word alot but this time, I really do mean what I say when it was a beyond EPIC adventure, and I feel truly privilaged to have been there and seen it with my own eyes, and when you read the report and see the photos, you will wish you were there too. No point getting you all worked up over this, here is some quick highlights of our water sessions with the sharks...
July 7, 2009... we saw 2 whale sharks. The water was murky and the sharks were not in the mood for swimmers. July 8, 2009... we swam with 2 whale sharks and some manta rays. Again the sharks proved a bit sly in their behavior, but it was still a lot of fun. A crazy fun group. July 9, 2009... we saw 3 whale sharks, and we were drenched by a passing storm on the way in. Rumors begin to fly of a monster aggregation of whale sharks 3 hours away from us. July 13, 2009... Only 2 sharks today. It was very difficult to film these sharks. They did not want to interact with swimmers, and the vis was terrible. It was very thick soupy water. More rumors about a monster aggregation surface. July 14, 2009... we decide to check out the rumors and make the 3 hour journey to Contoy. The rumors are true and we find over 200 whale sharks feeding at the surface, in blue water. It is a humbling and emotional experience for everyone who was there. On the way home we encountered a school of golden rays July 15, 2009... we return to Contoy, and witness over 300 whale sharks feeding. 1st time in history a gathering of this size is ever recorded. July 16, 2009... Not as many sharks today, but still breathtaking. Over 100 sharks gathered in Contoy. July 18, 2009... Over 100 sharks but further apart today. The crazy feeding aggregation is ending. I feel privilaged to have witnessed it. July 20, 2009... We spend the day back around Holbox waters and had an amazing day. Over 15 whale sharks, and manta rays are everywhere. The water was glassy and perfect. Manta rays were breaching all over the place. July 21, 2009...Last day in the water, we saw between 15-20 whale sharks. They were sleepy today and slow moving. It was a great way to say goodbye. I am sad leaving my whale shark friends for another season, but amazed and blessed at what I witnessed.
The full report is coming soon along with images that will try and tell the full story...
