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!

Sharks! It's a Numbers Game. Conservation video from PEW

Spend 1 minute and take a look at this video below.  It's well organized PSA on the problems facing sharks, and the oceans in general.  Spread the word and help shark conservation!

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!!

Conservation Video

End Overfishing.

This is a great video describing the biggest problem faced by our oceans.  Enjoy & Share!

Here's a graphic showing the danger to sharks.

Howard & Michele Hall with Norbert Wu

Trip Report
April 2012

We were excited to welcome Howard and Michele Hall, and Norbert Wu to Cat Island!


The Group: Joseph Burkhart, Howard Hall, Michele Hall, Norbert Wu, Debra Canabal, Joe Romeiro, Briana Darcy, Vincent Canabal, Emma Smith.

We had a perfect week of sharks and the encounters were amazing! One day we were surrounded by 7 large Oceanic Whitetips (only one was male), countless silky sharks, and a few dorado flashing by.







Norbert Wu capturing a few unique images.


The next day, we spent all day in the water. This time, it was all female Oceanics, as well as countless silky sharks. The action kept building!









 
In the middle of all the action, a Blue Marlin came flying out of the deep. First a loud sound, like tree limbs snapping. The Oceanics reacted immediately and dramatically, but we still had no idea what was happening. Suddenly from below, an enormous blue marlin blazed in. Our hearts were pouding to get the phots, but this guy was different. He stuck around us for several minutes, which is an eternity in marlin time! After giving the divers a show, he cruised to the surface and circled our boat quickly, several times. The people on the boat were just as amazed as the divers in the water.





Notice the oceanic in the background. This marlin was about 14' overall length! Impressive





We couldn't be happier after encountners like these! Everyone on the trip had an amazing time. Check out Norbert Wu's Review for more photos and information.


On the back of the Thresher!  -with Joe Romeiro, Howard Hall, Michele Hall, and Debra Canabal

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. 

Show Support for NJ Bill S1764/A2719 to protect sharks

Please help show support for the NJ Bills S1764/A2719, which have been written to prohibit the sale and possession of Shark Fin in New Jersey. 

Take a brief moment to prepare an email to legislators to show your support of the bill.  Here's an example you can use.  Thanks to Shark Angels for providing the email.  This is just a template and should be modified with your own words, to be more effective.

You can find your local legislators on this website

SUBJECT: Please support S1764/A2719 to protect sharks and our oceans

Dear Legislator,

Every year, tens of millions of sharks are killed primarily for their fins. In just a few decades, some regional shark populations have declined by over 95%, and their populations continue to plummet. Due to the economics at stake, shark finning, the primary reason sharks are caught, is unsustainable, and often unregulated, illegal and inhumane. Fins bought in New Jersey support this industry and are driving the staggering decline in shark populations.

Reducing demand for shark fin through legislation is the quickest and most effective way to save sharks from extinction. The entire West Coast -- California, Washington, Oregon, and Hawaii -- and the U.S. territories Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands have already enacted bans on the shark fin trade. It is my hope New Jersey will exhibit similar leadership and join them.

S1764/A2719 will allow New Jersey to make a critical impact on decimated shark populations that play an important role in keeping our oceans healthy.

Please support the bipartisanS1764/A2719. In doing so, you will be giving sharks a much needed chance to recover, while protecting our oceans, and all who depend upon them.