Cheryl-Samantha Owen

I have just returned from an expedition to the northern Kwa-Zulu Natal coast to find and photograph the infamous Zambezi shark (Charcharhinus leucas). Joining Mark Addison (Blue Wilderness), Thomas Peschak (photographer) and Charles Maxwell (underwater cameraman) we spent a week in the water trying to coax these phantom sharks close enough to see their beady eyes. On each dive they descended further leaving me to watch as their tails disappeared beyond the edges of visibility. Having witnessed their behaviour I cannot understand how they were titled wanton killers of the sea and not scaredy shark. No matter that conditions were not in our favour (the wind was blowing from the wrong direction  hence the game fish were not running) and the Zambezies were incredibly frustrating, if you give enough of your time to the ocean she always rewards you with surprises. Mine turned out to be an inquisitive and playful whale shark. Feeding on a cocktail of plankton she hung vertically in the water column gulping and sieving through gallons of the rich inshore soup. Most of the whale sharks I have encountered tend to loose interest rapidly and descend at a pace that makes photography difficult. This whale shark was a player – turning towards the boat and not in the least camera shy.