Tiger Beach was a huge success. It was so great - everyone on the trip was a repeat guest. All 12 have joined me at Tiger Beach before. Such an amazing and humbling feeling to have people want to join us on our adventures, but to come back again... there are no words for how great that feels.
Taylor giving a resting lemon a back rub.
I was torn on what and how to write up a blog for this trip. Tiger Beach means so much to me. TB is where I truly began my journey into the shark world. The place is special. Special for the animals that call this place home, and special to the people who have had the chance to dive here. There is so much beauty that happens down there, and I learn so much on every trip. The sharks here are all so different, each with their own personalities. I continue to ask myself why they do the things that they do. For example, why do the lemon sharks always choose to stop and rest right next to us divers? How do they see us divers? What do they think we are? Why do they feel safe around us? I have so many questions.
I mean, maybe the lemons are just following our lead, and since we are all kneeling in one spot, they decide to do it too? I know they are simple-minded animals, driven primarily by instinct. I try not to anthropomorphize them, but sometimes there is no proper way to explain what is happening with these animals. It is stuff that even the scientists have trouble explaining. I have learned so much about the lemon sharks here, they are fascinating animals, and their behavior is so curious to me. I need to do a vlog just on their behavior. Maybe on my next trip out there with them in December, I will create something? We will see.
The notorious Jitterbug. She has a heart shaped head, which should signify that she is a sweetheart… but it is a lie! lol
As for tiger sharks, it was an EPIC week of diving. A total of eight different tigers spent the week with us, including the Queen herself - Emma, and the notorious Jitterbug, the mischievous bad girl of TB. The weather was fantastic, we had great seas all week, and low tide was not too bad. Typically low tide brings in dirty green water, with very low vis. But the vis was not that bad, and we were able to dive all the dives still. We even went out for three dusk/night dives.
Thanks to the excellent weather, we managed a total of 18 dives this week, which is a lot. We had tigers on all our dives except on our first-night dive; they were a no-show. The following two-night dives, we had tigers. The first-night dive, we had one tiger - Emma, and the second we had with five tigers, which was a first for me. We have never had that many tigers before on a night dive. It was an intense dive for all of us, especially me, because I have all these souls in the water that I worry about. All the big girls showed up for this one, and all the smaller ones left. We had Emma, Maui, Carrie, Marilyn, and Jenn. All of them are big freaking sharks!
Not just tigers on our night dives… all the kids want to play!
The dive started as a dusk dive, which almost all our night dives start that way. But of course, it ended in pitch black. I admit my heart was hammering, and I felt fear. Not only was visibility severely limited, but it was hard to tell where the tigers were coming in from. I was not just worried for myself but our guests as well. It is so hard to keep an eye on the waters behind them, to make sure nothing sneaks in, which of course, happens on a night dive.
Big beautiful Emma!
It is tough enough keeping an eye on the tigers during the day, especially when there is a lot. But when visibility is severely restricted, the intensity and emotions of what we are doing goes up. I am so glad we had an extra safety diver in the water with us at all times. That different set of eyes down there helps a lot. Ryan and Finch were helping me this week to keep things safe. They are freaking rock stars in my book.
And with Jitterbug back to her usual mischievous self, having those extra eyeballs helps a lot. It was intense and fun, and a dream - and a nightmare, all rolled up into one. I love the fire you feel inside when the tigers are excited, and they remind you that they are apex predators, which demand all your respect - all your senses are on full alert. It is so much fun and a great way to feel truly alive.
I can’t believe I am posting this pic… but Tu-Tu Tuesday is a thing on the DD. A tradition I have not embraced, but my beloved guests have. It would be a disservice to them to not include this image in my write up.
One of my favorite things is when you get back on the boat after a dive like that, and you hear everyone sharing stories, all of them laughing, jumping out of their skin with excitement, with an ear-to-ear grin. I live for those moments, and I am filled with so much gratitude. Not only that everyone comes back from the dive safe and happy, but also because they all just experienced a life-changing moment that will stay with them forever… Damn, I love my job!
Thank you guys for reading. Until the next adventure my friends!
Thank you, thank you, thank you - to these amazing souls who joined us out here. Miss and love you guys! Until next year.
