Gaansbaai and Shark Diving

Cape Town, november 21, 2011
The trip to Haansbai was absolutely beautiful. We drove through the mountains, and along the coast thru some really idyllic places. The day was overcast and it rained for some time along the drive. We stopped at one point to observe some right whales along the coast and I couldn't help but notice that the seas were pretty rough. I had taken some Dramamine the night before but that doesn't necessarily guaranTee anything (see conneaut walleye trip).
We arrived at a beautiful little town that kinder reminded
Me of the new England coast, small, colorful houses along a rocky shoreline.
We were briefed that it was going to be a rough day at sea and were given every opportunity to back out, with full refund and even gas money back to cape town, a two hour drive we had just completed. The sun was just starting to come out but the wind was still gomy pretty good. Adding additional concern is that the winds were coming out of the southeast. Usually, they come from the west southwest and the reef where the sharks gathered was protected by an island that would diminish the waves considerably. Neither I nor anyone else declined to take the trip.
The swells were, well big, ok, enormous. I'm guessing 15-20' but the resonance,or gap between them, was not so bad. Slow rollers will give you nasty seasickness.
When they asked for volunteers to hop on the first cage, I jumped at the chance. I didn't want to be feeling sick layer and have to decline. I suited up in my wetsuit, a sexy site indeed, I was the first one in the water and it was chaos. Trying to breathe, keep your head afloat and avoid bashing into the sides and top of the cage was a busy job and unfortunately, I could not shoot Many shots underwater. You would keep your head above water and then the crew would scream,"down left (or right)" and you would hold your breath and go under water in these huge swells. Just as you got your wits about you, a shark, a huge shark would glide by. They were so smooth underwater that they didn't seem threatening. I could have touched them multiple tones they were so close but they asked you not to touch them. I can honestly say, I never felt any fear. They were so powerful and beautiful.
The conditions were tough and we ended up heading back to shore. I never got sick but at one point,in the cage, I thought I was going to blow chunks. For some reason, getting on the boat and going to the upper deck made me feel better. This goes against everything I've ever known about boats but on that day, it worked.
On the way home, I had the driver drop me off at the waterfront to have a few drinks....