The Dorsal Fin

In what appears to be a promotional video of some kind for Omega watches, professional golfer Greg Norman (aka The Great White Shark) was filmed cage diving with white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) off Australia’s Neptune islands. Norman is sponsored by the watch company as an “Omega Ambassador.”

The video was shared on YouTube by swisshousellc

YouTube user mvanh80 recently added the video above, which features a predation event of great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) on a petrel (a seabird). The video, according to its description on YouTube, was shot on July 9th, at South Australia’s Neptune Islands, which is a popular great white shark diving hotspot.

While I’ve seen plenty of footage of tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) preying on seabirds, I think this is the first bit of footage that I’ve encountered which features a white shark feeding on a bird.

Anthony Hoy recently added the above video report to his YouTube channel. Hoy focuses on the great white shark cage diving industry at Australia’s Neptune Islands and addresses the debate about whether or not cage diving practices “train” white sharks to associate humans with food, thereby increasing the likelihood of attacks on humans.

The report features accounts from tour operators including Rolf Czabayski and Rodney Fox who both contend that their operations do not endanger bathers nor increase the risk of attacks at Port Lincoln beaches. Both dive operators perform their dives at the Neptune Islands which is over 40 miles from Port Lincoln.

Additional accounts from John West, Operations Manager of the Taronga Zoo, who states that sharks can be trained in a laboratory environment. Dave Buckland, an abalone diver, contends that shark cage diving could result in sharks being more comfortable approaching boats and divers. Ken Penalurick, another abalone diver, told Hoy that he believed that sharks were becoming more aggressive, based on his experiences.

While the video report includes arguments on both sides of the debate, most of what is presented on both sides is based is essentially anecdotal evidence, with no real scientific research or data presented to support either side of the debate.

YouTube user jentinkertaylor posted this promotional video for Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions. While the video is a promotional piece, it does feature some nice footage great white shark (along with several other species that can be found around the islands) footage from the Neptune Islands that is definitely worth a look.