Shark Week 30th Anniversary: Celebrating Air Jaws Back from the Dead
When we began filming the very first Air Jaws: Sharks of South Africa show for Shark Week back in 2001 we brought the now-famous breaching Great white sharks at Seal Island in False Bay to the world’s attention for the very first time. At the time most people were not aware that it was possible for this nearly one-ton super-predator to breach completely out of the water and this spectacular behavior left millions of people spellbound.
Now, 18 years later, and with a grand total of 8 different Air Jaws Documentaries produced for Shark Week, the Air Jaws Team gathered in New Zealand this past April to film the latest installment, Air Jaws: Back from the Dead.
The Air Jaws franchise has been the most successful series of shows for Discovery Channel’s Shark Week so in celebration of Shark Week’s 30th Anniversary, we would be putting together a highlights package of the greatest moments of Air Jaws.
Of course, no Air Jaws show is ever complete unless a seemingly impossible-shot or first-time-ever-filmed moment is achieved. Our team was made up of the usual suspects that is Jeff Kurr, Chris Fallows, Tony Sacco, Andy Brandy Casagrande, Heanu Marais, Donna Ansari, and myself; and we were ready to make history once again!
In order to achieve the objectives a high spec’d seal decoy was constructed and a new Seal Sled also makes an appearance.
While filming in New Zealand you will be taken back to the various shows as Chris & Jeff reminisce about the classic Air moments. In the mix are some of the most memorable Air Jaws moments that are mentioned below…
Air Jaws: Sharks of South Africa
Was it possible that Great white sharks could breach so frequently out of the water?
And what an absolutely lucky break did we have when a Brydes whale carcass washed up in False Bay giving us an opportunity of observing nearly 40 different Great white sharks feeding on a whale carcass.
Air Jaws 2: Even Higher
Filming the Great whites from underwater moments before they breached into the air and being able to watch the cork-screw action at nearly 25 mph at the penultimate moment. We bring in a specially made seal decoy named “Georgie” to help capture the shot. The team then travel to South Australia and capture on film a breaching Great white shark in this area for the first time.
Ultimate Air Jaws
This Emmy-nominated documentary sees Chris getting close to great white sharks both underwater in a submarine as well as on the water in a kayak.
Air Jaws Apocalypse
Here we meet the famous and allusive male Great white shark known as “Colossus” for the first time. Chris also get up close and personal to a breaching great white shark on The Seal Sled.
Air Jaws: Fins of Fury
The team travels to New Zealand for the first time where Chris interacts in the famous WASP with a massive great white shark called Fred.
Air Jaws: Night Stalker
The Team filmed Great white shark behavior at night and captured breaching at night at Seal Island in False Bay.
We hope you all enjoy Air Jaws: Back from the Dead during Shark Week 2018!
If you enjoyed this blog, you might also like Air Jaws: The Hunted and Air Jaws: Apocalypse.
