Hi everyone

We're back in Bonaire from 20th Jan and I was just wondering if the sharks are still hanging around Andrea. Anyone know? Can't wait to get back out there. Regards, Jo

Jo

I saw a large shark on our Christmas trip scooting along the bottom at La Machaca, no real id as the viz was down to around 70 feet. It was bigger than a Tarpon and stockier. We did Andrea and Oil Slick Leap and lots more further North but did not see any Blacktips this time which we have seen a year or so back on the Northern sites.

We also are fairly sure that we saw a Manta on the bottom at Small Wall at the end of the dive, we went down to 70 feet and the back was spot free nor did it have a long tail but it was 60 feet further down and moving. We both had 105mm Macro lenses on so no photos. We have both had numerous Shark and Manta encounters in the Indian Ocean so our id should be good.

Thanks Brian. I'll be more than happy if we get to see the Manta, they're just my favourite of all. We saw a Whale Shark a couple of trips ago, but like you I had my macro lens on and no time to change it! Chris managed to get around 20 secs of video which was a result though.

On our trip back in October, we saw a 4+ foot black tip reef shark and a 6+ foot nurse shark.

These were on the east side, about 1/2 mile south of Sorobon. The water was very flat, due to a wind reversal. We were in about 40 feet of water when we encountered the black tip. It would swim to within about six feet of us, then scoot away. Then it would circle back from another direction, get within about six feet, then scoot away again. This went on for about 3-5 minutes, then we decided to leave. I figured it was just as curious of us as we were of him, but I didn't want to push our luck and antagonize him.

This was the first shark we had ever seen, and it was breathtaking! The sheer power and beauty was something to behold.

The nurse shark was laying on the bottom, in about 20 feet of water. We encountered it on our way back in from the dive. This thing was huge. It was longer than I am tall, and I doubt very much I could've put my arms around it. I was amazed by its girth. When we got to within about three feet of it, it darted off very quickly, and was not seen again.

This dive is one of the most memorable I have ever had. Not only did we see our first shark, but we actually got to see two! And to top it off, we were able to dive the "East Side"......

Can't wait to go back :-)

Dave.

Gerald's Reef Tiger shark
Be very afraid

I think Martin stores shark attractant in his gadget and smears it on his head before he goes diving.

Just a guess....

Mare