Page 14 - KZN Business Sense 7.2 - eBook

Let’s go

swim with some

SWIMMING WITH SHARKS sharks, no scuba,

no cage, just us and

Andy Coetzee in South Africa on an Easter on Aliwal Shoal, uses this had of sharks, the sharks in the
weekend visit to the coast, than method judiciously to attract and can truly
all the annual shark fatalities in sharks closer, so that the start to appreciate crystal-clear
magine someone says to the world. freediver and snorkeler guests how beautiful these
you, “Let’s go and swim can swim among the sharks marine predators are.
Iwith some sharks, no scuba, So, this is all about without restrictions. water.
no cage, just us and the sharks perception. The movie ‘Jaws’, Andy Coetzee has
in the crystal-clear water.” and the current media hype Aliwal Shoal has a plethora spent many years freediving
hinting that anything that of marine animals to freedive with large marine animals Freediving with sharks is
What would you do? looks like a shark is a killer with, especially the sharks. from Great Whites, Tigers, amazing since freedivers use
The overwhelming reaction has fueled this viewpoint. Blacktip sharks (Carcharhinus Bulls, Makos, Silky, Orcas and only one breath to submerge and
is a fear-based perception of To me, this is a skewed limbatus) are the prevalent Whales from many parts of swim silently and weightlessly
what sharks are, prior to the portrayal of sharks worldwide. species year-round with the world. amongst the sharks. Truly a
swim. This is always completely Considering that we, as a the added bonus of Tiger Wetu Safaris and Freedive liberating feeling. 
reversed post swim. A sense human race, kill more than sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) Aliwal conduct freedive
of wonder, appreciation and 100 million sharks per annum and the Bull Shark/Zambezi courses, adhering to Contact Andy Coetzee to book your
joy exudes from the freedivers for food, it is the sharks that (Carcharhinus leucas) often strict safety protocols and shark dives
once they have spent an hour are in fact terrified of us. And making appearances in the techniques, ensuring the T: +27 82 547 5554
swimming amongst the sharks. rightly so. warmer summer months. certified freedivers are E: andycoetzee5601@gmail.com

If a person had only been Using bait to attract sharks Andy Coetzee and Wetu competent and comfortable Wetu Safaris: Cassie Weinberg
exposed to images of car on Aliwal Shoal is a tourism Safaris have guided many in the water. Freediving is the T: +27 76 590 0253
E: mailwetu@gmail.com
accidents, depicting it as a draw card and has been hugely hundreds of people on current ‘greener’ and more
killing machine, I am sure beneficial in disproving the these cageless shark dive environmentally friendly style Freedive Aliwal: Libby Meyer
T: +27 76 873 0942
that they would be terrified of myths that go with sharks. experiences. Most people are of diving today. It is one of the E: libbymeyer7@gmail.com
travelling by vehicle. The fact Wetu Safaris, a permitted and so relieved that they have fastest growing recreational
that more people are killed conservation focused operation overcome the fear that they sports in the world. W: www.wetusafaris.co.za

Recent freedivers were GG Alcock and Kai Broughton

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