Bull shark feeding for Christmas planned in Fiji’s Beqa Lagoon
Dorota and I have just booked our flights, accommodation and diving for our Christmas trip to Fij. I’m really excited and can’t wait to get diving there. We’re not going for the tropical beaches, little islands and white sand, but to hand feed Bull and Tiger sharks. In fact we will get to see about 8 species of shark.
Over the past 15 years dive Operators have been chumming the water developing “Shark Reef”, a big fish site. It is definitely a predators playground now with some very large fat Bull sharks, along with Tiger sharks, Blacktip Reef Sharks, Whitetip Reef Sharks, Grey Reef Sharks, Silvertip Sharks, Tawny Nurse Sharks and Sicklefin Lemon Sharks. As well as Giant Grouper, Maori Wrasse, Rainbow Runners, Giant Trevally, Java Morays and Eagle Rays.
Shark Reef has been developed in collaboration with the local village who own the reef and has been turned into a National Marine park, and has now become a huge shark breeding ground.
We’ve booked our accommodation with the Lagoon Resort and our diving with Beqa Adventure Divers, so will let you know how we get on.
But in the meantime check out some of the videos here of diving in Beqa Lagoon. Shark feed diving and another
Beqa Lagoon shark feed
PatsOn has some great photos on Flickr
Comment by Radioscrubs on 31 October 2009:
That looks incredible, don’t know if i would be brave enough though. My sister did something similar in Africa, but she was in a cage, and was extremely frightened 🙂
Comment by Radioscrubs on 31 October 2009:
That looks incredible, don’t know if i would be brave enough though. My sister did something similar in Africa, but she was in a cage, and was extremely frightened 🙂
Comment by Rico Travel Blog on 2 November 2009:
Blimey, they are big, done a little diving but haven’t had the chance to do it with sharks, aren’t bull sharks meant to be really dangerous.
Comment by Rico Travel Blog on 2 November 2009:
Blimey, they are big, done a little diving but haven’t had the chance to do it with sharks, aren’t bull sharks meant to be really dangerous.
Comment by Anil on 4 November 2009:
Didn’t know they had such swims with tiger or bull sharks. I’ve read they’re both pretty aggressive as sharks go.
Comment by Anil on 4 November 2009:
Didn’t know they had such swims with tiger or bull sharks. I’ve read they’re both pretty aggressive as sharks go.
Comment by Alex Asigno on 5 November 2009:
You’re right Bull sharks can be very aggressive, they are very territorial. And of course the problem is, how do you know their territory? My conclusion is the moment you are in the water you are in their territory and need to understand the risks involved.
Generally the only reason divers are attacked is because they have provoked the sharks, threatened them or invaded the shark’s personal space E.g. blocking their exit out a cave, touching them, etc. Both my girlfriend and I have now dived with literally hundreds of sharks and have never come close to having a problem, I was recently pushed out the way by one!
In regards to other attacks it’s either because the sharks sense blood from spear fishing, or is just an innocent case of mistaken identity, not being able to see through the surf or from poor water visibility. Or the shark
has been disrupted during its breeding behaviour, if someone you didn’t know came into your bedroom during sex you would be pretty pissed off with them too 🙂
Usually sharks attack as defensive behaviour and not because they are hungry and want to eat a human. From the majority of attacks which do happen it was only a single bite. From research nearly all encounters with sharks when injuries have occured, the person has only had single racking wounds. This and the fact that the person was released and wasn’t bitten again indicates that they are not looking to procure food.
The other thing to consider many shark “attacks” are not attacks at all, it is simply a large animal being inquisitive, they don’t have arms to reach out, feel, and test with, only their teeth.
In regards to this dive, yes there is a small possibility that we could be “attacked”, and this would be entirely our fault, we will be in the water with Bull sharks in their territory and they are feeding. In a normal dive under these circumstances I would likely keep a long distance away.
What makes this dive “special” is the fact that the sharks are used to being around divers and have been fed by divers for many years and they are not seen as food. I don’t agree with the way this has happened, as we won’t be seeing the sharks in their true environment and could possibly negatively affect the learning of the young sharks hunting abilities. But selfishly, it’s a chance to get up very close and see some of the most amazing mammals in our oceans. And yes this comes with a risk, but one we are prepared to take.
Comment by Alex Asigno on 5 November 2009:
You’re right Bull sharks can be very aggressive, they are very territorial. And of course the problem is, how do you know their territory? My conclusion is the moment you are in the water you are in their territory and need to understand the risks involved.
Generally the only reason divers are attacked is because they have provoked the sharks, threatened them or invaded the shark’s personal space E.g. blocking their exit out a cave, touching them, etc. Both my girlfriend and I have now dived with literally hundreds of sharks and have never come close to having a problem, I was recently pushed out the way by one!
In regards to other attacks it’s either because the sharks sense blood from spear fishing, or is just an innocent case of mistaken identity, not being able to see through the surf or from poor water visibility. Or the shark
has been disrupted during its breeding behaviour, if someone you didn’t know came into your bedroom during sex you would be pretty pissed off with them too 🙂
Usually sharks attack as defensive behaviour and not because they are hungry and want to eat a human. From the majority of attacks which do happen it was only a single bite. From research nearly all encounters with sharks when injuries have occured, the person has only had single racking wounds. This and the fact that the person was released and wasn’t bitten again indicates that they are not looking to procure food.
The other thing to consider many shark “attacks” are not attacks at all, it is simply a large animal being inquisitive, they don’t have arms to reach out, feel, and test with, only their teeth.
In regards to this dive, yes there is a small possibility that we could be “attacked”, and this would be entirely our fault, we will be in the water with Bull sharks in their territory and they are feeding. In a normal dive under these circumstances I would likely keep a long distance away.
What makes this dive “special” is the fact that the sharks are used to being around divers and have been fed by divers for many years and they are not seen as food. I don’t agree with the way this has happened, as we won’t be seeing the sharks in their true environment and could possibly negatively affect the learning of the young sharks hunting abilities. But selfishly, it’s a chance to get up very close and see some of the most amazing mammals in our oceans. And yes this comes with a risk, but one we are prepared to take.
Comment by B&B Blackpool on 7 November 2009:
As evolution goes in grand theme of things Sharks have been around a lot longer than humans, They will probably be around a lot longer after humans have managed to destroy themselves.
David Attenbrough has often said these are mammals right at the top of their chain. The only thing they need to fear is humans.
Comment by B&B Blackpool on 7 November 2009:
As evolution goes in grand theme of things Sharks have been around a lot longer than humans, They will probably be around a lot longer after humans have managed to destroy themselves.
David Attenbrough has often said these are mammals right at the top of their chain. The only thing they need to fear is humans.