BahamaBlueTV: Diving with Sharks at Night

Interview with Mark Rackley cameraman and freediver/shark diver

As one of the most extreme underwater cameraman in the world, Mark Rackley, an experienced freediver, can hold his breath for over five minutes to depths of up to 150ft! Rackley likes to get up close and personal with his favourite underwater subject: the shark. Rackley is not only a fearless shark diver, he is also their advocate, and wants to dispel the misconceptions surrounding this misunderstood sea ‘monster’.  Mark worked underwater for Bahama Blue filming reef sharks and reveals what it was like to interact with these ancient creatures in the depths of the Bahamian ocean, after dark.

What was it like diving with sharks at night?

It was great! An unbelievable experience to have all those Caribbeans (sharks) around. Any time you are working with wild animals, it gets crazy, there are all kinds of different scenarios you go through. It’s definitely more challenging at night because they can see you but you can’t see them.  It’s basically pitch black at night and you just have your personal lighting. You can only see the creatures that enter into the dome of the light, everything else is shadowed.

Nightime Shark

What role did the local Bahamian community play?

They were a great help and indispensable to have with us. We worked with a local charter, Stuart’s Cove.  It was a challenging shoot but so much fun being in the water and the whole crew was helpful.  That makes it a lot easier when everybody is putting their heads together to solve problems as we surfaced.

Were there any surprises during the shoot?

The big Black Groupers! 60 pounds plus! They were getting cleaned at a cleaning station. That was probably the most exciting event. I am a spear fisherman, but you don’t often see that.  To get up close just see how beautiful they can be…wow!

The grouper fish lives in the drop offs in the Bahamas. It was amazing to see sharks and groupers swimming together.

Grouper New

Why do you like shark diving?

I have done this my whole life and will continue. I like the excitement. There is something new and different every day. People enjoy watching the footage I take and I like watching it too!

It’s a great way to connect with the environment and this unique ecosystem.

What are the major misconceptions people have about sharks?

Some people are afraid to jump in the water because they think a shark is just going to bite them. But that isn’t the case at all. They are after food, not because they have a malicious intent to kill a human. That is the biggest misconception.

They each also have their own personalities, some are definitely friendlier than others.

What fascinates you about sharks?

First of all, all of the animals in the water are fascinating, but yeah sharks are so precise at what it does, and interesting looking. The way it swims through the water is just a beautiful!

How did you feel swimming in the dark with sharks?

It’s a whole different feeling. You kind of get beside yourself and ask, “Is this for real?”  I don’t take doing this for granted, not one day. There are consequences and dangers every time I get in the water.

How can people learn to respect sharks?

By enjoying the stuff that Bahama Blue is doing, this visual documenting the Bahamas makes it real for people. That helps.

Swarm of Thimble Jellyfish present clearly against darker nighttime waters
Swarm of Thimble Jellyfish presents clearly against darker nighttime waters

Thanks Mark! More about Mark Rackley@ www.markrackleyproductions.com

Experience day and night on a CORAL reef colony, and find out who is best hidden away when the sun goes down and the come sharks out!

Bahama Blue is a six-part documentary series created by award-winning producers Ian Herring and Maija Leivo of Parallax Film Productions. Bahama Blue airs in Canada May on the Love Nature channel and also on Animal Planet around the world.

Interview with Andy Casagrande for World Oceans Day

Andy Casagrande on set of Bahama Blue
Andy Casagrande on set of Bahama Blue

In the lead up to World Oceans Day on June 8, we spoke with award winning cinematographer Andy Casagrande. Andy specializes in wildlife and natural history documentaries around the world.

Andy’s vision is to inspire people to care about our planet and its vanishing wildlife. For Bahama Blue, Andy filmed numerous underwater sequences with animals like Sperm Whales, Blainville’s Beaked Whales, Manatees, Octopuses and Sharks.

People are always curious about his experiences with the last. Here are Andy’s thoughts about diving with this often misunderstood creature, the shark:

Diving with sharks can be a rather dangerous activity for obvious reasons. Sharks are wild predators that specialize in hunting and feeding on prey that sometimes resembles the same shape & size as a human. Thus, it’s not hard to understand why diving with sharks can be a bit daunting. However, on most occasions, if you use common sense and don’t dive in murky water, don’t dive with bait, avoid contact with the sharks and simply don’t freak out, you can enjoy these surreal underwater encounters with these living sea monsters.

When I say sea monsters, I’m not saying sharks are monsters, quite the contrary. Sharks are simply marine predators that have been around millions of years hunting their food to survive. They are not malicious and menacing, they are merely existing.

I have been diving with ‘dangerous’ sharks worldwide for the past 15 years, with my specialty being Great White Sharks, and luckily, I have never been bitten by a shark. I say ‘luckily’ because yes, luck does play a factor. The bottom line is that every single shark out there is an individual and they all have unique and vastly different personalities. If you are diving with a friendly shark, life is good and you can peacefully share the same liquid space with a majestic top predator. However, If you are swimming with a not-so-friendly-shark or perhaps a hungry or territorial shark, then you should make your safest and calmest exit from the water and stick to watching Bahama Blue instead!

Bahama Blue (c) 2014 Parallax Film Productions Inc.

Every year thousands of people flock to the Bahamas for a relaxing vacation on the beach. Other folks want to add some adventure to their travel. How do you remain safe if you decide to go on a Shark Dive?

Andy has some Ocean Awareness tips for these travelers:

Five Tips for Safe & Successful Shark Dive

1)  Avoid diving in murky water with sharks as this can lead to sharks mistaking you for food.

2)  Dive with experienced shark guides and dive operators and always dive with a reliable dive buddy.

3)  Don’t get too close to the bait – or you just might become the bait yourself 😉

4)  Bring a camera or a small stick to act as a prod, in case the sharks get a bit too “friendly”.

5)  Avoid touching the sharks and use common sense to stay safe and have fun!

Thanks Andy!

World Oceans Day is June 8. This year’s theme is Healthy oceans, Healthy planet.

Saturday May 23rd is the World Oceans Day Tweet Chat with Andy Casagrande. Send us your questions via www.twitter.com/BahamaBlueTV or to our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BahamaBlue

Bahama Blue is a six-part nature series produced by Parallax Film and broadcast on the Love Nature channel in Canada.