Atlantis, Paradise Island in the Bahamas

Day 1-Arrival

Day 2 - Pool

Cocktail/Mingling

Welcome dinner

The Dig

Day 3-Beach

Poop Deck

Day 4

 Diving lesson/

Fish Fries/the boys

Day 5 - Lagoon

Rain

Discovery

Walking around

East Villa

Day 6

Snorkeling

The Sharks

The kids

Ocean club

Dune

Day 7 - Diving #2

Senior Frogs

Farewell dinner

Day 8 - Marina  Royal tower

Last stroll

Day 6 - Swimming with the sharks

First a quick Shark 101 lesson for the uninitiated and the scared. Sharks vary greatly in size from a mere 10 inches to over 50 feet in length. Although most sharks are predators, the majority feed on other fish, whereas large sharks, such as the Great White and Tiger Shark, prey on large marine mammals such as seals, dolphins, turtles and sea birds.  The sharks here are reefs sharks and they do not target humans as prey. The majority of shark attacks can be attributed to the shark confusing humans with its normal prey.  It is not going to happen here, or so we hope!

Are you reassure now?  Let's go swim with the sharks now! 

 

We could only swim in the middle of the area marked by the two yellow ropes and we only had 15 minutes with the sharks.  Like it or not I am jumping in the water.  I can not stay on the boat when it is at a stand still.  The boat swayed too much and I get sea sick, so my only option is to jump in the water!

 

This is how it works... a bait box is lowered on a rope to a depth of 40 feet. The bait box creates a scent trail that will attract the animals around the bait box area and will keep them  close to the bottom.  I saw at least a good dozen of sharks swimming at the bottom of the ocean.

In the mean time we are floating on top of the surface, wearing our snorkeling equipment and fin, observing the sharks swimming underneath us.  Let me tell you... This is probably once in a life adventure!  it was exciting and scary at the same time!

 

The 15 minutes has lapsed and we are back on the boat.  One of the crew member pull up the bait box and started throwing the fish inside the bait box to attract the sharks up to the surface.

 

This is a great picture of a shark coming up to the surface and snapping the thrown food.

Yes, we swam with really big sharks.  My guess is they were around 10 feet long or so.

 

They really come close to the boat for their food.

 

 

We are reaching the end of the trip now and one of the crew member is now throwing the remaining bait (the dog food kind) and a bunch of fish show up to eat it.  Sharks are not interested in dog food!

 

I made it back!  What a cool and unique experience!

Next...The kids

 

Home

Travel

Our house

Birthdays

Photo Gallery

 Mon  petit coin