I had to stop and check myself when writing the title to this e-letter… is it really 2013 already?

Well, this year certainly started with a bang and we have already experienced some pretty phenomenal shark encounters which I am looking forward to sharing with you all, particularly with Blue sharks and Ragged-tooth sharks.

Most summers Apex runs an expedition called Sharks of Southern Africa. This expedition focuses on finding and diving with as many different shark species as possible. On this expedition we have a spot up our East coast where we dive in a Smooth Hammerhead pup nursery and we also find bronze whalers sharks and ragged tooth sharks in shallow areas.

December and January are normally a great time for our Pelagic Shark trips that take place off Cape Point. The warm Agulhas Current is normally very close to Cape Point so not having to travel 20 to 30 miles from Cape Point always makes the day easier and the water temperature is normally warmer. This often means that we can come across interesting species and situations; it’s like going on a marine adventure.

Dear Shark Lovers

Firstly, Happy New Year to all of you! We hope that 2013 is a great year filled with sharks and wildlife adventures!

This December Chris & I had an amazing 3 week expedition to Antarctica. I have written a blog about our trip which you can find on our blog page however a few excerpts are below.

December is also peak time for the Pelagic Shark trips and this month we had a very interesting encounter which you can read about below.

The great white shark is without a doubt the most interesting and mesmerising shark in the ocean. It’s ferocious and aggressive nature is what makes this shark feared by millions, but its beauty is undeniable and its presence in the waters surrounding the Western Cape is famous worldwide.

Chris & I are fortunate to meet many well-travelled wildlife enthusiasts, photographers and film makers that join us on our shark expeditions. Without fail, when we ask them what has been the highlight of their adventures almost all will name South Georgia Island. As such for many years we have dreamed of having the opportunity to visit this famed wildlife destination.
In November/December this year we were privileged to accompany a group of wildlife enthusiasts from Rockjumper Birding Tour’s aboard the ship “The Akademic Vavilov” with One Ocean Expeditions.

After a long great white shark season Chris and I are often very ready to spend time in the bush, not that we are wanting to get away from the sea but very often the season has changed bringing strong wind and unpleasant conditions in Cape Town.
So, for this reason we normally try to spend some time in the bush with terrestrial predators. This time period is also the peak of the dry season and after many months of no rain some interesting situations can develop between predators and prey.

Shark cage diving Gansbaai has become known as one of the most unique activities in the world - where the chances of viewing the great white shark is exceptionally high all year round. Since Gansbaai is predominantly a shark cage diving hotspot, witnessing a great white shark breaching is an unlikely occurrence.

Typically September is a very quiet shark month and bearing in mind we had a very slow period in May and early June, we could be forgiven for expecting that we might be in for another dip in sightings.

Would you eat a bowl of soup if you knew that is was made with minced endangered species? What about if it was also packed full with neurotoxins that can cause degenerative brain disease? Still hungry?

This is the case when it comes to shark fin soup, primarily a Chinese delicacy. The soup itself has no color, taste, or smell and requires addition of chicken, beef, or pork broth to add flavor. However, the cartilage from the shark fin provides texture to the soup. So, why consume it? Because it is a cultural sign of wealth and traditionally consumed at celebratory events including weddings.