Unravelling the mysteries around the White Shark: Five days tracking in the name of science

Mario Lebrato · Issue 31, Jul/Aug 2006 · pp. 33–37

They appear as renowned TV stars in the documentaries, being the most feared creatures in the oceans for the beach lovers since Spielberg labelled them as “man-eaters”. However, few human beings have been close to them, and even less has had the possibility to touch them. Myself, an aspirant scientist studying “Marine Biology and Oceanography” in the National Oceanography Centre (University of Southampton) came across the possibility to encounter face to face, one of the most enigmatic, misunderstood and feared predators on Earth in the waters of South Africa. This opportunity could not be qualified as a diving adventure or a photographic trip, but as a research experience for a student like me, taking advantage of the possibility of performing my still immature photographic skills during the scarce free time during the research project. Popular destinations during the last years for the…