Shark Cage Diving with Great White Sharks
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Welcome to the Foveaux Strait, home to many migratory animals including seabirds such as Royal albatross, the Sooty shearwater, Giant petrel, and of course the main attraction, the GREAT WHITE SHARK! This strait is known for its shallow waters which can create huge swells that are pushed up by the unimpeded wind and tidal influences.
We are heading to Edwards Island (Motunui) which is part of the small group of Tītī Islands that cluster around Stewart Island. These are named after the Sooty shearwater (muttonbird) that returns from its 64,000km journey around the Pacific Ocean, to its established burrow to breed, and to which customary rights are held by the Māori to harvest each year for food. You may be lucky to see other shark species such as the speedy Mako or greedy Seven gill, but these generally stay away when the Great Whites show.
Edwards Island is home to around 2000 – 3000 native NZ Fur Seals, whose pups begin to learn their swimming and fishing skills through the summer. This is one of the main attractions for the Great White Shark that migrates here, arriving approximately December onwards. The pups are an easy meal compared to the adults who are always alert to the quiet stalking of a Great White Shark. An adult can easily outswim and out-manoeuvre the shark, unless caught by the speedy surprise attack this species is well known for, often breaching their full body (sometimes weighing well over a tonne!) out of the water in this pursuit.
New Zealand
Fur Seal
Motunui
Edwards Island
WELCOME
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Edwards Island is a natural aggregation point for the Great White shark. This may be due to the underwater topography, as some islands have seal colonies but the sharks are not found there in numbers as they are here and a few of the other Tītī Islands. Over the time that Shark Dive NZ has been operating and scientists have been studying the area, we find that the younger males arrive earlier in the season, then the females and larger individuals turn up. When the females arrive, it certainly seems to create some interest from the other males in such a way that we see many more at this site.
Great White sharks migrate great distances seasonally, although they travel individually. You see Great Whites do not have the emotion and need for comfort as humans experience it. They do, in fact, have a strong system of hierarchy sometimes shown when a smaller individual gives way to the larger, to ensure that they do not touch. The only time these sharks get close together is when mating, the sign of this is obvious when we see a female with a bite mark against body and pectoral fi n. Nobody in the world has ever seen this species mating, although it is suspected that this is one activity that brings them to the Foveaux Strait.
Like many species of shark, the Great White is driven by its senses without need for a higher level of cognitive thinking. They possess super eyesight, hearing, smell and ability to read electrical fields, and touch is also very important! The Ampulae of Lorenzini are tiny cells that you can see on the snout (when close enough!) pick up electrical fields that could be from distressed seals/fish, the movement of our metal cage, heartbeats and cameras!
All individuals have their own personality. Some are shy and will barely approach us, and are scared away by anything that is different! Others are incredibly curious, which bring them around the boat to investigate. Sharks obviously do not have hands so sometimes this investigation is done with gaping mouth or a quick bunt of their flank. Some sharks have great attitude and confidence, with a seemingly endless attraction to seeking out anything out of the norm!