Scientists tag Great Whites

As Chatham officials announced they were closing all of the town’s East Side beaches, state marine biologists were pulling off the high-tech accomplishment out on the ocean.
The first shark was tagged at 9 a.m. near the southern tip of Monomoy Island, off Chatham. A second was tagged at 3:30 p.m. about a mile north of the first - each with a single move. A third was also spotted but not tagged. “They were right around a 1,000 pounds apiece,’’ said Chaprales, a 58-year-old tuna fisherman and lobsterman from Marstons Mills, a village in Barnstable.
Chaprales said he had worked with biologists at the New England Aquarium years ago to tag other species of sharks and bluefin tuna. “We’ve done this before,’’ he said. “It doesn’t hurt the sharks.’’ The tagging occurred days after officials set out to identify the species of five sharks seen about a mile off Monomoy Island last week. As of yesterday, marine scientists had identified three great white sharks in that area. The tagging marked a major high-tech accomplishment for state marine biologists.
Though other types of fish have been tagged with pop-up satellite devices like those used yesterday, this was the first time biologists used those tags to study the movements of the great white in these waters, Skomal said. The tags are programmed to pop off the two sharks on Jan. 15 and rise to the water’s surface. Data gathered until then will be transmitted via satellite to Skomal, who will track the animals’ movements. Skomal calls the device “the latest and greatest’’ technology in tagging great whites and said it that will provide data such as the depth and temperature of the water in which they travel.
Skomal and his team - an assistant at the state’s Division of Marine Fisheries, a graduate student, and Chaprales - headed out on the ocean at around 8 yesterday morning. Pilot George Breen of Falmouth aided in the search, hovering above in a spotter plane. Chaprales’s son, Nick, drove the fishing vessel, the Ezduzit.

Diving is an adventurous sport

Diving is an adventurous sport. Interaction with marine animals is the greatest thrill. Sharks, most of which are harmless, strike fear into the majority of people – but there are also divers who love them and will do anything to see the larger ones in their natural environment. Are you one of “them” and dig shark-diving? So do we! Welcome to Shark Society, the underwater adventures provider with great places to go scuba diving, a great team to assist and guide you, several shark-diving locations worldwide. We are glad to share our knowledge about sharks with you and make your vacation with shark scuba diving an unforgettable shark-diving adventure.
For the scuba-diving novice that “surfs” into our website:
Scuba diving is a excellent recreational activity, scuba diving with sharks is in no way different. Shark-diving is, in our opinion, just as safe like regular scuba-diving: stay within the rules, respect the sharks and their natural habitat, educate yourself about shark-diving, listen to the experienced shark-divers and you are in for a very special treat. Scuba diving with predatory sharks, one of the most fascinating creatures in existence,has been described by many participating divers as a thrilling and strangely,at the same time, an emotionally moving experience!

Great White Shark

The legendary great white shark is far more fearsome in our imaginations than in reality. As scientific research on these elusive predators increases, their image as mindless killing machines is beginning to fade. Of the 100-plus annual shark attacks worldwide, fully one-third to one-half are attributable to great whites. However, most of these are not fatal, and new research finds that great whites, who are naturally curious, are "sample biting" then releasing their victims rather than preying on humans. It's not a terribly comforting distinction, but it does indicate that humans are not actually on the great white's menu. Great whites are the largest predatory fish on Earth. They grow to an average of 15 feet (4.6 meters) in length, though specimens exceeding 20 feet (6 meters) and weighing up to 5,000 pounds (2,268 kilograms) have been recorded. They have slate-gray upper bodies to blend in with the rocky coastal sea floor, but get their name from their universally white underbellies. They are streamlined, torpedo-shaped swimmers with powerful tails that can propel them through the water at speeds of up to 15 miles (24 kilometers) per hour. They can even leave the water completely, breaching like whales when attacking prey from underneath.

Mozambique Scuba

Mozambique offers pristine beaches, warm waters and unspoiled reefs. Scuba diving here is truly world class. Mozambique has steadily established itself as one of the top dive destinations in the world. Divers come to Mozambique to swim with the giant Whale sharks that frequent the waters of this beautiful coastline.
The small town of Praia do Tofo (pronounced Torfu) is the home the of largest concentration of Whale sharks in Africa. To get to Tofo you have to travel through the city of Inhambane. Many tourists are under the impression that they can dive from Inhambane itself but in actual fact there is only a harbor in the town and the diving resorts lie about an hour’s drive from Inhambane.
Whale sharks snorkel trip run on a daily basis from most dive centers in Tofo. Whale sharks are friendly and curious creatures, sometimes even coming up to the boat and divers.
Another reason for divers to put Mozambique on their must-dive list would be the friendly but huge Manta rays.
More information on Mozambique Inhambane - Tofo Scuba diving here....

Two new species of Manta rays has recently been discovered on Manta Reef in Tofo. The species have not even been named yet as they were only discovered mid 2009. Scuba divers certainly have a lot to look forward to.