Shark Dive tours are on and for the 5th season business is booming in Playa del Carmen where eco-tourism has provided significant income and created a greater understanding of sharks and their role in the ecosystem. The Jaws “mis-concept” is being beaten back and everyone is happy.
Life is good but is this about to change…?
Since the first pioneer; Phantom Divers, started shark dive tours in 2008 there has never been a serious incident here for either shark or the humans who have shared the seas together, but what if?
From humble beginnings, today there are 30+ dive shops that provide shark excursions and a few of them also do hand feeding of the animals. During the season from November to March there may be as many as 200+ people per day seeing sharks and thousands of people in the water enjoying the best of the Caribbean and their holiday in the sun. This is a unique business opportunity for Playa del Carmen and the money is good...but this could change in a heartbeat.
If so there will be dire consequences for the sharks and the human who ultimately is the first ever person bitten by a shark in Playa del Carmen.
If and when it finally happens it is not likely to be one of the tourists who frolic on the beach or one of those engaging in the shark dive tours who will be in trouble. It is much more likely to be one of the feeders or their camera people who are in very close proximity and who are presenting a feeding opportunity to a large marine predator. Bull Sharks are not small creatures and these are adult and juvenile females many of which are pregnant. Some are over 2.5m and could weight 250-550lbs and all of them have the ability to cause very serious damage.
Sadly, If and when it comes it will likely be the sharks that face the greatest threat and consequences.
Even though nothing has happened yet, unfortunately our research shows that there is a lot to be done to make shark diving safer here in PDC.
Things are not well under the covers and with no problems to report it is easy to be apathetic and not think about improving the safety of your product. This is sobering food for thought and we do not want this to be the fate in Playa del Carmen.
To improve the safety of all, Saving Our Sharks has been very active in promoting standardization of procedures, regulations and higher safety standards for dive tour operators including a recommendation that mandatory minimum safety measures be implemented.
Some of the examples of good practices for the dive tour operators • handler certification and minimum safety measures i.e.) chain mail and pole attached feeding
• maximum customer limits and Set times for feeding dives
• certified and tested accident response plan
Examples of good practices for the tour customers: • dress code i.e.) no bright colours or shiny objects. No dangly equipment
• minimum AOWD certification, 4 dives in last 6 months or refresher dive completed
• dedicated position on rope line no free swimming
• Waiver and attend thorough pre-dive briefing
Examples of good practices for swimmers: (excerpted from International Shark Attach File)
It is extremely unlikely for a person to be bitten or attacked by a shark and attacks are rarely life threatening. However, if you are thinking of going swimming on an ocean beach, and if you are concerned about sharks, there are a number of steps you can take to reduce your chances of being bitten:
• Always stay in groups since sharks are more likely to bite a solitary individual.
• Do not wander too far from shore. This isolates an individual and places him or her far away from assistance.
• Avoid being in the water during darkness or twilight hours when sharks are most active and have a competitive sensory advantage.
• Wearing shiny jewelry is discouraged. When light reflects off shiny jewelry, it resembles the sheen of fish scales.
• Avoid waters with known discharges or sewage and waters used for any type of fishing-especially if there are signs of bait fishes or feeding activity. Diving seabirds, which frequently feed on bait fishes, are good indicators of such activity.
• Use extra caution when waters are murky or if seas are rough.
• Remember that sharks see contrast particularly well. Uneven tans and bright colored clothing may draw a shark's attention.
• Refrain from excess splashing, as this may draw a shark's attention.
• Be careful when occupying the area between sandbars or near steep drop-offs-these are favorite hangouts for sharks.
• Never harass a shark!
Today, Saving Our Sharks AC and another Mexican Non-Government Organization RAZONATURA, are regularly doing public outreach and organizing meetings with dive operators, shark tourism, NGO and Government subject matter experts from around the world to encourage these critical steps which will benefit all stakeholders including the sharks.
Even though nothing has happened yet, unfortunately our research shows that there is a lot to be done to make shark diving safer here in PDC.
Things are not well under the covers and with no problems to report it is easy to be apathetic and not think about improving the safety of your product. This is sobering food for thought and we do not want this to be the fate in Playa del Carmen.
To improve the safety of all, Saving Our Sharks has been very active in promoting standardization of procedures, regulations and higher safety standards for dive tour operators including a recommendation that mandatory minimum safety measures be implemented.
Some of the examples of good practices for the dive tour operators • handler certification and minimum safety measures i.e.) chain mail and pole attached feeding
• maximum customer limits and Set times for feeding dives
• certified and tested accident response plan
Examples of good practices for the tour customers: • dress code i.e.) no bright colours or shiny objects. No dangly equipment
• minimum AOWD certification, 4 dives in last 6 months or refresher dive completed
• dedicated position on rope line no free swimming
• Waiver and attend thorough pre-dive briefing
Examples of good practices for swimmers: (excerpted from International Shark Attach File)
It is extremely unlikely for a person to be bitten or attacked by a shark and attacks are rarely life threatening. However, if you are thinking of going swimming on an ocean beach, and if you are concerned about sharks, there are a number of steps you can take to reduce your chances of being bitten:
• Always stay in groups since sharks are more likely to bite a solitary individual.
• Do not wander too far from shore. This isolates an individual and places him or her far away from assistance.
• Avoid being in the water during darkness or twilight hours when sharks are most active and have a competitive sensory advantage.
• Wearing shiny jewelry is discouraged. When light reflects off shiny jewelry, it resembles the sheen of fish scales.
• Avoid waters with known discharges or sewage and waters used for any type of fishing-especially if there are signs of bait fishes or feeding activity. Diving seabirds, which frequently feed on bait fishes, are good indicators of such activity.
• Use extra caution when waters are murky or if seas are rough.
• Remember that sharks see contrast particularly well. Uneven tans and bright colored clothing may draw a shark's attention.
• Refrain from excess splashing, as this may draw a shark's attention.
• Be careful when occupying the area between sandbars or near steep drop-offs-these are favorite hangouts for sharks.
• Swim only in areas tended by lifeguards.
• Do not enter the water if sharks are known to be present, and get out of the water if sharks are sighted. • Never harass a shark!
Today, Saving Our Sharks AC and another Mexican Non-Government Organization RAZONATURA, are regularly doing public outreach and organizing meetings with dive operators, shark tourism, NGO and Government subject matter experts from around the world to encourage these critical steps which will benefit all stakeholders including the sharks.
In addition SOS’s Bull Shark Research Project is providing a better understanding of the habits and movement patterns of the sharks and this will enable us to identify specific conservation strategies to allow humans and the sharks to co-exist in the Mayan Riviera.
Hopefully an agreement can be reached with all of the operators who are providing shark dive tours to implement consistent and increased safety measures.
We would like them to adhere to a specific code of conduct and Saving Our Sharks is working with all stakeholders involved to develop a plan of action and subsequent regulations that we will introduce to the local dive shops.
The result will be that they will be able to train for and improve safety so that Playa del Carmen can continue to offer one of the most spectacular, safe and awe inspiring shark dive tours in the world.
The result will be that they will be able to train for and improve safety so that Playa del Carmen can continue to offer one of the most spectacular, safe and awe inspiring shark dive tours in the world.
Saving Our Sharks Association Civil is dedicated to understanding and protecting local shark populations in the Mexican Caribbean and our organization needs your help to succeed. Please see our website www.savingoursharks.org for links to our social networking sites where we will continue to publish more information on our work here in Playa del Carmen. Please also donate to our cause so that we can do more to help the sharks.
