Friday 10, Sep 2010
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On the third leg of the Whyalla to Port Lincoln Journey we checked in at the stunning new landmark of Port Lincoln, the Port Lincoln Hotel.
This place has breathtaking views of the township and Boston Bay and was also a one stop shop for us in that we were able to wine and dine here all in house which was a time saver given our jam packed schedule. The hotel is another establishment that is part of the seafood and beyond rewards card program and chef David Perdo prepared some absolutely delectable local kingfish, prawns, bluefin tuna and oysters.
Our Guest former Miss Universe Australia Erin McNaught had an underwear modelling shoot coming up in a weeks time and was delighted to be able to eat such tasty yet healthy protein to help hone her physique.
That afternoon we joined up with local character Doddy who’s infectious laugh soon had us in stitches again. Doddy is a born and bred local that regularly admitted “We are different over here”.
He’d yell out to friends across the water with a “wolloo olloo olloo” and they’d respond back with the same. It was a real eye opener for Erin and Clara who are used to the personal focus and hustle and bustle of Sydney and all that comes with it. It was great to see the girls were having an absolute ball in the country as were the rest of our team.
Doddy took us to the famous “Salmon Hole” in the Lincoln National Park and we caught some nice salmon including Erins PB a stunning 3 kilo specimen. We watched a 7 foot long bronze whaler harass a distant school of salmon and took in the amazing scenery. Erin was in her element by the sea side and remarked that catching the salmon off the cliff face was the highlight of the trip fishing wise.
While it was a day worth celebrating we all got an early night as the last and biggest day of all loomed: diving with the great white sharks.
Boarding the cage dive charter boat in the darkness the next morning one thing stood out: the cage was huge yet in the pamphlet it looked small compared to the sharks. Just what were we getting ourselves into?
The 150 minute trip to the Neptune Islands was an interesting one for me. We passed some spots where I have caught good sized bluefin but we couldn’t fish because we had to make it in time for everyone to complete the shark cage dive. I had to tell myself “Focus Robbie...we are here to see sharks.”
Our ride Calypso Star offers the cage dives as day trips and we pulled up next to Rodney Foxes boat who offers 3 day trips. I caught a glimpse of the great Fox standing at the stern of his boat watching the sharks. We were in the thick of it now; this was great white shark country.
Within minutes of dropping anchor a 4 meter long white came up to the tuna frame on the rope and eventually got the courage to latch on and proceeded to go berserk with a series of chomps including one that grabbed the back of the boat. Vicious stuff that!
The first set of four tourists suited up and went in for their 45 min stint. This was repeated over the next 8 hours and from the fly bridge we saw half a dozen different sharks come in to feed or investigate around the cage.
The sharks would often sniff about for bit before realizing that the tuna on the rope was the main source of blood after which they would eventually lock onto it; especially if the skipper pulled it away from them
Erin, Clara, Josh and I cage dived last and while we did see one 4 meter shark up close it felt quite safe and peaceful down in their world. A lot of that had to do with the fact that the cage was between us and them…
It was a very cool experience to look such a beast in the eye and I can see why some freedivers are happy to swim with them when the water is clear and they can stand their ground. That being said if the sighting happened as a surprise during a casual dip I don’t think anyone would be quite so calm!
The Neptune Islands are one of the worlds best great white shark hot spots and there is no question that these creatures are much easier to find than they used to be before they became a protected species over 10 years ago.
The whole experience is still sinking in for all of us; nothing can really describe what it is like to be in there with a real life beast like that. It was indeed the trip of a lifetime for all of us.
For more info check out:
www.regionalexpress.com.au
www.eyrepeninsula.info
www.portlincolnhotel.com.au
www.sharkcagediving.com.au
See you on the water.
Rob Paxevanos.
Robs Column Proudly Sponsored by the Hellenic Club of Canberra.
