The subject of sharks fascinates me immensely. The first occasion I had to see one was whilst paddling of the west coast of Mull in Scotland. The coastal pelagic on this occasion was a basking shark. It was both an exhilarating and anxious feeling because I didn't know what damage it could do to the boats and my group if it got too close and caused a capsize. No matter, it was a magnificent sight to behold. A leaflet published by the Shark Trust on how to interact with basking sharks can be downloaded here
However, with the advent of an article about kayaking with Great Whites, I was facinated to see how close the paddle is to the shark. Amazing! I have added the link to the main article as it makes for interesting reading.
This article was published in the September 2005 issue of Africa Geographic.
We do get sharks are around the UK and this British Sharks downloable PDF may enlighten the curious paddlers as to what they potentially may come across. These creatures, in my opinion, are not something to be feared but enjoyed and celebrated as an important part of Marine life.
1 comment:
The bottom photo I ordered from Africa Geographic. I had it mounted and is a great poster!
I believe I've only once seen a shark from my kayak, in Florida. I've snorkelled in Belize with nurse sharks, which interestingly enough possess what appears to be two penises but are actually two claspers!
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