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Scubaverse Interviews Rodney Fox, the Great White Shark Adventurer and Protector

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When Scubaverse photography editors Nick and Caroline Robertson-Brown headed off to South Australia to collect images for their latest book, they decided that a meeting with scuba diving and Great White Shark legend Rodney Fox was too good an opportunity to miss…

In this interview, we found ourselves talking to one of the great pioneers of shark diving. For anyone who is unfamiliar with this incredible man, perhaps we should introduce him with a brief bio. Over 50 years ago, in 1963 in fact, Rodney Fox was a young, free-diving, spear fisherman who set about defending his spear fishing champion title off the coast of South Australia when, without warning, he was hit at full, striking speed by a large Great White Shark. The attack was relentless and went on for several minutes as Rodney tried to defend himself, and only after grabbing the shark’s eyes was he released. Despite needing 476 stitches and having every one of his ribs broken, Rodney survived the attack, and yet still went on to become one of the great exponents of shark conservation and protection. He was the consultant for the film Jaws and it was after seeing the damage to people’s perception of these animals that he realised he needed to help them and set about trying to convince the world that the Great White Sharks were not wanton killers.

We had been using Adelaide as a hub for our various diving excursions around the coast of South Australia and had arranged to meet up with Rodney and Kay Fox on our only free morning. Despite using sat-nav, we managed to get lost in the suburbs of Adelaide looking for Rodney and Kay’s house. We were a little embarrassed to be a few minutes late for our visit with them, but we found their house and made our way to the door. We were aware that they had just returned from a long-haul trip to China and that it was very generous of them to have agreed to see us at all. We need not have worried in the slightest, as Rodney opened the door and greeted us with a huge smile and showed us into their lounge. Kay appeared and said that they were aware we were English and so she had just been out to buy tea and cake, “to make us feel at home.”

Rodney Fox

Rodney and Kay Fox

We settled down and instantly felt at ease with these two pioneering ocean explorers who had been role models to us for many years. We were there to discuss the stories in Rodney’s book “Sharks, the Sea and Me”, which is full of amazing tales from an age of underwater discovery, and also to talk about the great white shark expeditions he, and more recently his son Andrew, have been running for film-makers, underwater photographers and shark lovers for 50 years.

N&C: When you first assisted in the production of the film Jaws did you ever imagine just how much it would affect people’s perception of the Great White Shark?

RF: No I didn’t, not at all. I had been working on producing a cage that I could use to get into the water with the sharks, so that I would be able to study them in an effort to try and understand these amazing, iconic creatures. When Hollywood approached me to help out, I saw this as a way of helping to fund my research work. It didn’t occur to me at the time that the movie would be such a huge blockbuster that would instil in the public an absolute fear of being eaten alive by these “mad, crazy, man-eating monsters.” Now, of course, anyone who works with these incredible animals will realise that this perception is such a long way from the truth.

N&C: What would your reaction be to those who say your shark trips are encouraging man-eating behaviour in the great white sharks?

RF: Firstly, I would point out that the trips, as you call them, are expeditions which are designed to educate people about the sharks and to give them an insight into the behaviour and beauty of these superb animals. People like the tingling excitement of fear which they may experience when they are in the cage, but this only enforces their appreciation of just who and what these animals are. You can see and appreciate the great white sharks by watching the television, but it is only by being there and experiencing the awe and magnificence of these apex predators that you can fully appreciate the animal. The expedition has been thought through and designed to educate the general public, and we are confident that we fulfil this brief exceptionally well. The finest ambassadors for the great white sharks, all over the world, are those who have taken part in one or more of our expeditions. These expeditions are not for those people who just want to “tick the box” and then move on. If you want a real life experience, then you have to be there and be a consummate part of it. Rather than just dip people in the water on a day trip, you actually get time to spend at the Neptune Islands, over several days, and hence you get to properly experience it.

N&C: You also bait the sharks; does that not endorse the fact that humans equal food in the sharks’ minds?

RF: Without the bait, there are no sharks for the people on the expedition to encounter. We do not feed the sharks, but rather use a constant flow of fish blood into the water, and sometimes use large pieces of fish on the end of the line to attract the sharks closer to the boat. It is very rare that the shark catches us unawares and takes the piece of fish. The sharks still need to actively hunt to be able to survive.

N&C: What is the Rodney Fox Foundation?

RF: Many people’s perception of sharks is of an evil wanton killer. The word “shark” itself has become one that is right up there with “Devil”, but more recently we have seen huge numbers of people in the waters of Australia rallying against the government’s cull of the great white sharks, and I believe the tide is turning. When we set up the foundation it was a means to help cover the costs of the research into and promotion of a better image of the Great White Shark. Our guests are paying towards the foundation for various reasons, but mostly it is used to support our research. There are various levels of sponsorship and Andrew, my son, is currently reworking the way in which we do this. Andrew is now undoubtedly the most knowledgeable person in the world on all things great white. He took over from me 15 years ago and I can safely say that he has seen more great white sharks than anyone else, anywhere.


We are very lucky indeed, as our next stop was on a tour with Rodney and Kay’s son Andrew Fox out to the Neptune Islands to experience the South Australian Great White Sharks for ourselves. Before we left, however, we asked Rodney to sign our copy of his book. His dedication to us made us very proud and it began with “to another adventurist couple”.  We can only hope to follow in some of their pioneering footsteps and achieve a fraction of what this very special couple have done!

To read more about Rodney’s marine adventures, grab a copy of his book “Sharks, the Sea and Me”.

To find out more about Rodney Fox visit www.rodneyfox.com.au.

To find out more about Nick and Caroline visit www.frogfishphotography.com.

Nick and Caroline (Frogfish Photography) are a married couple of conservation driven underwater photo-journalists and authors. Both have honours degrees from Manchester University, in Environmental Biology and Biology respectively, with Nick being a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society, a former high school science teacher with a DipEd in Teaching Studies. Caroline has an MSc in Animal Behaviour specializing in Caribbean Ecology. They are multiple award-winning photographers and along with 4 published books, feature regularly in the diving, wildlife and international press They are the Underwater Photography and Deputy Editors at Scubaverse and Dive Travel Adventures. Winners of the Caribbean Tourism Organization Photo-journalist of the Year for a feature on Shark Diving in The Bahamas, and they have been placed in every year they have entered. Nick and Caroline regularly use their free time to visit schools, both in the UK and on their travels, to discuss the important issues of marine conservation, sharks and plastic pollution. They are ambassadors for Sharks4Kids and founders of SeaStraw. They are Dive Ambassadors for The Islands of The Bahamas and are supported by Mares, Paralenz, Nauticam and Olympus. To find out more visit www.frogfishphotography.com

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Spooktacular Underwater Adventure: Oyster Diving’s First Halloween Scuba Party at Mercers Lake

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halloween

Last Thursday, Oyster Diving transformed Mercers Lake into a hauntingly unforgettable underwater realm for their inaugural Halloween Scuba Party. Approximately 20 intrepid divers plunged into the darkness, weaving through a mesmerising scene of spectral decorations, glow sticks, and eerie underwater pumpkins.

halloween halloween

After the thrilling night dive, participants gathered to feast on a ghoulish spread of pumpkin soup, chilli con carne, and decadent fudge brownies, perfect fuel for the frightful festivities.

halloween

With a resounding success, Oyster Diving is excited to announce plans for this event to become an annual tradition. Next year, look forward to a fully licensed bar and live music, promising an even spookier celebration under the moonlit waters.

halloween

Join us next Halloween for an experience that promises to be a haunting delight!

Find out more about Oyster Diving at oysterdiving.com.

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Marine Life & Conservation

Shark Trust launches Oceanic 31 Shark Art Auction

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After a two-year tour of UK art galleries, community spaces and aquariums, the Shark Trust’s acclaimed Oceanic31 exhibition takes its final bow at the Royal Geographical Society later this month. And the unique collection of artwork, depicting 31 species of oceanic sharks and rays, donated by 31 artists, is now open for bids from art lovers and shark enthusiasts. The online auction, launched today, will close on the 7th December at 8pm (BST). The money raised will support the Shark Trust Oceanics Programme.

People can now bid on 27 of the artworks by visiting this website:

https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction

It is a chance to own a beautiful piece of original art and to support the Shark Trust. The timing of the auction also means that these would make a very special Christmas gift for any shark-lover.

The diversity of pieces mirrors that of the sharks and rays they represent. You can bid on paintings, digital creations, sculptures, mixed media and more. You can pick your favourite artist or species of shark. Or you can select the perfect artwork to make a statement in your home or office. Whichever you choose, you will be supporting the work to protect these amazing animals.

One of the pieces of art has been selected to be auctioned live by Steve Backshall at the For the Love of Sharks event at the Royal Geographical Society in London on the 29th November. In addition to this, two further pieces will be raffled at this event, giving people a chance to win an incredible piece of shark art. For the Love of Sharks is the Shark Trust’s flagship evening. A night to celebrate sharks. Steve Backshall is the headline speaker at this event that will see other prominent shark advocates join him on stage.

Tickets for the event can be snapped up here:

https://thesharktrust.org.uk/Event/flos24

Those that would like to see the Oceanic 31 exhibition have one final chance. It is being displayed at the Pavilion at the Royal Geographic Society from 26th November until the 7th December. Entry is free.

Find out more here:

https://www.rgs.org/events/upcoming-events/oceanic-31

 Paul Cox, Shark Trust CEO, Said “This exhibition has given us the opportunity to reach out to a new audience. And inspire more people with the wonderful sharks and rays on which our Big Shark Pledge campaign is based. We are immensely grateful to the 31 artists who have worked so hard to create these works.”

Bid for your favourite Oceanic 31 artwork here:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction


Banner Image: Smooth Hammerhead by Alicia Hayden

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