Oceanic Revelations - New Video

Amanda Cotton, of A Cotton Photo Creative Works, just released a short film that takes a glimpse beneath the surface into the world of the Oceanic Whitetip Shark, and what it's like to dive among these incredible apex preditors. Enjoy and Share!

Discovery Channel 25th Anniversary Shark Week

Epic Diving was thrilled to be involved with the production of How Jaws Changed the World, featured on the Discovery Channel during their 25th anniversary of Shark Week.  The show aired on August 14th, and was an analysis of the movie Jaws and its influence of the pop culture mythology that surrounds sharks.

During the film, Quint talks about the hours that followed the WW II sinking of the USS Indianapolis.  As a fictional survivor of the sinking, Quint spends his next hours in the shark infested waters.  It has become one of the films most classic and powerful scenes. 

While history supports the fact that many of the sailors were consumed by sharks, it is believed that these victims had first succumb to exposure and dehydration before the sharks fed. Oceanic Whitetip Sharks have been notoriously blamed for the manslaughter.

Because of this, the show included a glimpse into the Oceanic Whitetip Shark.  We filmed for several days in rough ocean conditions.  The team, which included shark researcher Mark Marks and award winning film maker Joe Romeiro, were able to capture great footage that shows these sharks are strategic social animals and not mindless maneaters. 

Most of the people who spend time in the water with Oceanic Whitetip sharks would attest to the fact that they have a lot of personality.  The are calculated, curious, patient, and bold.  While each shark has a different temperament, they are all generally willing to approach divers very closely.  Males behave differently that females, and attitudes change when other sharks are around.  They seem to develop courage in numbers.  They have spent hours upon hours with us in a single encounter without incident.  

Check out www.epicidiving.com for more photos and information.  Your next shark diving adventure is just a few clicks away!  The 2013 Oceanic Season is filling up fast, so contact Epic Diving today!

Sculptor Victor Douieb Trip Report

Victor Douieb Sculptures

Trip Report
April 15-21, 2012

This year we were treated to special guest Victor Douieb. Victor is an acomplished sculptor whose pieces are currnetly exhibited in the Ft. Lauderdale Museum of Art. He also just released a book featuring his artwork. With a passion for wildlife, and sharks in particular, Victor set out to come face to face with Oceanic Whitetip Sharks to inspire his next design, a smaller (more portable) Oceanic!

Check out Victor's Website for his Trip Report with the Oceanics.


Victor's Original Oceanic Design, 2011


Each of the guests received a copy of Victor's newly released book featuring his work. Victor signed each copy after a week of great new memories.


Photo by Steve Hincynski



We had an increadible week of shark encounters after a dreary start brought bad weather on the first day. We spent hours in the water with the Oceanics with amazing free diving and SCUBA encounters.

 
Victor spent the evenings working on the sculpture. It was amazing to watch the piece come together.




During one of the dives, a Blue Marlin buzzed by, chasing after a fish.




And at the end of the day, we were treated to a huge Blue Shark. This male was about 12 feet long and stuck around for a long time. It was one of those days that are just hard to beat!!

Bahamas Shark Sanctuary

Celebrating one year since the government of the Bahamas announced that all commercial shark fishing in the approximately 630,000 square kilometers (243,244 square miles) of the country’s waters is now prohibited.

This Shark Sanctuary permanently protects more than 40 shark species in Bahamian waters.

Thanks again to all those involved in this legislation!

Epic Diving reaching out to the local communities on Cat Island to gather support, and signatures, for the establishment of the new Shark Sanctuary. 

Sharkman Mike Rutzen Trip Report

Sharkman Mike Rutzen

Trip Report
May 22 - 28, 2011

We had a very special week with Mike Rutzen from Shark Diving Unlimited in South Africa. Not only did we have four days and countless hours with the Oceanic Whitetips, but our favorite shark Miranda graced us with her presence again. We also had a more Blacktips and Caribbean Reef sharks. Finally, to end the season, we had two days with blue sharks.

   

Our first Blue shark of the season


Having a couple of Oceanics and a Blue was a real treat!  After about an hour though, Miranda had enough and the two sharks squared off.  It was a tense and amazing moment, but Miranda asserted her dominance and the Blue took off in retreat.


The much larger Oceanic Whitetip chased off the Blue

 
The following day, a different Blue swam up the slick first, and stayed with us for a few hours.  During that time, more Oceanics had arrived!


Mike Rutzen lining up Miranda and the Blue Shark