Dear Rob,
I just want to say thank you for the wonderful life altering experience, here is a little letter I wrote so maybe you can put it on your website.
I would just like to let you know about my totally amazing experience with African Shark Eco Charters.
I needed to get out of JHB (Rat Race), and decided to go and visit some friends in Cape Town, whilst deciding to do this I felt an urge to go a little wild and without thinking I phoned African Shark Eco Charters and made a booking and paid for it the same day so I couldn’t change my mind. I can’t even put my big toe in the sea let alone face my fears of sharks…. too many Jaws movies when I was little I tell you!!
The big day arrived and I was excited and scared at the same time. I was picked up from where I was staying and greeted with a warm welcome. (Talk about service)
I was assured the whole time that safety comes first and that it will be a good experience.
As we arrived at Simons Town I was introduced to the others that were joining us on the trip. I had never been out to see before, and was glad I took my tablets to avoid any embarrassment of feeding the fish/sharks.
We were briefed on safety and off we went. It was a fantastic day, the boat trip was smooth and comfortable, there is even a toilet on the boat and it was so spacious. (10 points with the ladies)
I asked numerous questions trying to hide how nervous I was about seeing sharks and in the process realized how naive I was (ouch for my ego) Hey you live and learn.
I was told you have a better chance of dying of a bee sting, dog or snakebite and eating shark then being attacked by one. (I calmed down) I was also told that humans are killing between 20-30 million sharks a year through commercial and sport fishing. Compare that to 10 deaths a year, which is small in comparison to the millions of people that enter the water and their territory.
Well with that aside I decided to sit back and enjoy the ride.
It was an amazing day and luck was certainly on my side, we saw plenty of playful seals waddling around and barking and swimming around the Island, very interesting to see and watch. Rob explained that we had a 95% chance of seeing the Great White ….durrr –dim – durrr –dim…..He was spot on. Wow they were beautiful and so majestic, still scary, but beautiful.
One shark was frequently popping its head out the water and Rob was telling us their names…and the reasons why they got their names. "Stoute" (Afrikaans for Naughty) was one of them, "that can a like to be a good name ek sê!!" I thought that was appropriate they are so fast and I was counting my lucky stars I was on the boat.
It was so exciting to see such power and beauty and to realize they aren’t the monsters and bloodthirsty killing machines the media and movies make them out to be, I actually felt sad for them in a way.
We had a yummy lunch and straight after that we got to see the legendary “flying shark”, wow, it was the best thing ever to see. (Don’t forget to take your camera otherwise no one will believe you) I still can’t believe my eyes; I felt so many emotions I cannot describe. Just plain and simply the best experience ever. On our way back we even saw a Southern Right Whale, what a day to remember forever. It was life changing.
Thank you Rob.
Colleen
|