Lemons and Tigers and Bulls, Oh My!

With looks that can kill, she'll make any diver question their decision to take a chance underwater without a cage. Then there's the moment when you almost get hit by her tail fin. In a blink, she caught her saw-like teeth on the anchor line. She wrestled with it violently before finally freeing herself, then she took off skittishly. But it didn't take long for her to return.

Tiger shark in Bimini

Tiger shark with boat anchor line caught in its mouth

I traveled to Bimini in the Bahamas specifically to dive with hammerhead sharks. The dive team was based out of Neal Watson’s Scuba Center. During one of the excursions, our group was graced by a party-crashing tiger shark, which made for a more active and somewhat unnerving experience. The above description is of the tiger that joined our group as we were swarmed with the more docile hammerheads. When commingling with sharks outside of a cage, tigers are the only species that give me pause. Their eyes are ink-black, their mouths large and gaping, and they are bold and curious making frequent swim-bys. 

Close encounter with tiger shark in Bimini (no zoom)

There were plenty of shark sightings even before getting into the water. I was standing on the dock near the dive shop and blissfully gazing down at the clear turquoise waters. Several bull sharks were swimming wildly as one of the dock hands fed them fish scraps. This was a common sight during the day. To many people this would be a terrifying sight. As for me, I was like a kid in a candy shop. I was there to see sharks and Bimini did not disappoint. 

View of bull shark from the dock near Neal Watson’s Scuba Center

The hammerheads were plenty on this trip. We didn’t have to wait long for several to show up to the chum bucket for a morsel to eat. We kneeled on a comfortable sandy bottom at around 30 feet below the surface. At that depth, we had excellent natural lighting. As is normal protocol on many shark dives, we were given white PVC pipes as a means for protection. The pipes are not used for hitting sharks, but for creating space between us and them when they start to approach. It’s in part to deter them from the temptation of investigating (innocently) with their sharp teeth.

Hammerhead shark with chum bucket in background

Hammerhead shark in Bimini

We were also joined by a few lemon sharks and nurse sharks. Nurse sharks are generally very low-key and tend to keep their distance. They mostly rest on the sandy bottom. At one point our friendly neighborhood tiger came towards me. I was asleep at the wheel, so to speak, and she lightly bumped my abdomen. One of the dive leaders quickly came to my side and gave me the underwater signal for OK to ensure I was… ok. And I was. I was more entranced than anything as I watched the tiger come towards me. Without feeling any sort of threat, I suspected she would swim right by, but she chose to check me out instead.  

Diving with hammerheads was a dream come true and an unforgettable experience. The tiger that joined us was the cherry on an already heaping ice cream Sunday.

Hammerhead shark in Bimini