Sharks choose Nikon [Part 2] - Interview with Manu San Felix

Jim Abernathy (JASA) reported about a Tiger Shark named 'Spot' who took a housed Nikon D100. from a diver and swam a few rounds to take pictures with it. "Although many believe sharks to be dumb eating machines, it is nice to reflect [...] how 'Spot' did choose to go digital for his first camera." Nobody was harmed and the camera was recovered safe and sound. After the housing was opened the staff found a picture to be (almost) perfectly exposed.

The digital photographer was Manu San Felix from Spain and he was kind enough to share six photos with us. He was able to trigger one more time before the shark completely took care of his camera and strobes.

The second picture shows fairly good exposed sea weed and sand. Either Tiger Sharks seem to have a natural talent for photography or this event proves what digideep.com and many other shooters postulate: “the learning curve with digital is amazing!” However the picture clearly illustrates that the shark still needs to work on his composition.

Picture three shows that the shark made a beginners mistake by pushing the camera downwards when he tries to trigger it.

We thought that many of you would like to ask the photographer how he felt during this strange encounter. Therefore we asked Manu San Felix to describe his perspective of the event and interviewed him.

Hi Manu, which camera housing do you use?
My camera is a Nikon D100. For underwater photography I use a Hugyfot housing with two Sea & Sea YS-120 strobes.

When did you start digital photography?
I started photography 1984 and switched to digital in 2001.

When did you start diving and is it hobby or work for you?
I started 1981. It is my hobby and fortunately has become my job. I am marine biologist and own two dive centres at Ibiza and Formentera (Spain). More information can be found at vellmari.com.

Can you describe your encounter and how you made your way to the surface?
While diving in a shark trip with Jim, a tiger shark came straight to my camera. I was ready to get a bump from the shark on my dome port, but unexpectedly open the mouth and bit my camera. I took the last photo, unfortunately out of focus, from inside the throat of the shark. The female tiger shark was biting my camera for 30-40 seconds.

After the shark finished biting my camera, he turned around and looked at me. Then the shark started swimming towards me. I immediately became aware that the shark was interested in me. I removed my B.C.D. and used the tank to protect myself. I have to clarify that I only did this for prevention. The Tiger Shark never bit my tank. After that I was able to abort the dive. I initiated the B.C.D. removal manoeuvre instinctively. As a diving instructor with more than 5.000 dives and everyday water contact I am used to demonstrate and practice this skill. After suddenly loosing my camera I felt better in having something in my hands.

Who took the blue picture of the shark chumming on your housing ?
Another diver - A friend who witnessed the action from 10 meters distance on the sandy bottom.

How did this encounter change your attitude towards shark tourism?
First of all I should clarify that I was not diving for tourism. I am marine biologist and professional photographer experienced in the interaction with shark and other big animals. I recognized that I was very close to the bait ( 3 feet / 1 m ) during sunset. This is a time when sharks become more active. Tiger Sharks have are counted among the largest predators and suffer from a bad reputation of eating anything that comes in their way. However I had the impression that he confused my silver shining housing with wounded fish. It has not changed my attitude towards sharks at all. After this experienced I have done two more boat trips with Jim & Anna Abernethy. One of the trips involved 6 days at Tiger Beach, diving with Tigers and having fantastic experiences.

comment by the editor: Tiger Beach is the name of a dive site where you have a 90% hit rate of diving with tiger sharks. We will try to visit during our October trip with JASA and still have a slot if you are interested to join us.Click here to make a reservation.

Do you think the electronics of the camera made you more attractive than the other divers?
No, I do not think so. I think the main reason was me being very close to the floating bait we "offered" to the shark. Also I extended my arms to get a closer shot. I think the shark thought that I am offering food to him. The colour of the housing, the setting sun and light conditions underwater might have finalized this misinterpretation. And remember that sharks usually feed during dusk. I have enclosed three more photos of the sequence I took before the shark took my camera which, I think, illustrate the sunlight situation very well.

Will you continue to book shark trips?
Of course, I have gone again with Jim and Anna in May and in June 2004. On this trip we went with two operators only for filming the tiger shark. And we have spent more than eight hours a day with tigers. In October 2004 I am going to the Red Sea for filming and photographing the Oceanic White Tip Shark (lat. longimanus) and in November 2004 I am going to Guadalupe for the Great White Shark diving. Also I intend to dive with the great white without cage, as some people already have demonstrated it safely.

Would go back to the place to meet "spot" again ?
As mentioned before I have been on two more trips and I am going back in three weeks for more shark trips. Day by day as I am diving and observing the tigers and other shark species (bulls, great hammerheads, oceanic white tip...) I gain more experience. I am learning a lot and I am absolutely sure that is possible to dive between the tigers and other sharks without being harmed. Professional divers (biologists, photo- and videographers) sometimes dive close to the limits. The sharks are not interested in divers, but occasionally when you use bait very close to yourself with this great predators, you can have incidents. It is normal for them to bite for eating, but they not eat human beings. It is similar to war journalists, photographing in the middle of a battle, they can get hurt but are not targeted.

Thank you, Manu ...for sharing your pictures and thoughts on this encounter with our readers! They are invited to comment this article.