All shark and no bite

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PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS & VIDEOS - What happens when you combine two surfers, a pod of dolphins, a great white shark and a drone?

Well, you get breath-taking footage of a peaceful interaction between man and nature, that has amassed more than 230 000 views on social media.

The video in question was captured by local photographer, videographer and digital creator, Sharyn Hodges, on a beautiful sunny Plett morning this past Sunday, 20 August.

Hodges was simply out capturing footage as she usually would, when she spotted something special – a pod of dolphins swimming off the coast, and in the process noticed a great white shark in the middle of the pod. The dolphins were circling the shark, diving under and over him.

"I had a decision to make, bring the drone home for a battery change or stay for another five minutes. I came home in a stress and flew out again," she said.

"At this stage my heart was pounding and I was so stressed. I was shaking whilst taking the footage and screaming. For what, I have no idea."

She had no way of letting the surfers know of the magnificent creature approaching them, so all she could do was look on helplessly through the eyes of her drone.

"Moment of truth. The shark approached the surfers - my controller was shaking in my hands. I was freaking out! But the shark just casually went up to the surfer and turned away, but then it looked like he was turning back towards the surfer, but a couple of dolphins made sure he was headed in another direction. I am lost for words."

What Hodges had captured was an encounter which, while not uncommon for surfers, is very rarely seen on video. She knew she had something special, and the world knew it too.

VIDEO: Unbelievable Ocean Encounters: Surfers Share Waters with Great White and Whales in Plettenberg Bay

Viral sensation

Hodges posted the video on her Instagram account later the same day, and it spread like wildfire, garnering 232 000 views by Wednesday morning. One thing Hodges really wanted to do though, was get in touch with the surfers involved, and that's where social media played its hand once more.

You can watch the video here.

It didn't take long before she reached the two surfers, both locals - James Fermor and Lorenzo Incendiario.

Both Fermor and Incendiario are avid surfers who grew up in Plett and are familiar with Plett waters and all its 'residents'. Fermor had already been out on the water for about two hours before he was joined by Incendiario. "It was my first time on the water in about a month and a half, but it was such a beautiful day, crystal clear water," Fermor said.

A late sighting

Incendiario had only been on the water for roughly 15 minutes when the encounter occurred. "I probably had three or four waves, was just waiting for the next set and then we saw the dolphins approaching," he says.

"There's been so much wildlife activity lately that you wouldn't really be on the lookout for everything that moves in the water. It's very common to swim with dolphins, so your mind doesn't immediately go to 'oh-there-might-be-a-shark'."

It was around this time that Fermor spotted the shark. "I saw the dolphins, watched them, and then all of a sudden said to myself: that's not a dolphin."

Fermor had spotted the shark when it was only a few metres away, and estimates the shark to have been around 4m long.

"I immediately propped my feet up onto the board to get them out of the water, and let Lorenzo know that there was a shark," he said. "I waited for him to swim on a bit and then began paddling away - slowly."

In the video one can see the shark swimming off, and then almost turning back to the duo but ushered away by the dolphins. Both Fermor and Incendiario consider the dolphins to have been protectors of sorts.

The two of them also describe the encounter as an incredible experience, and while not either's first meeting with a shark, it was the first time it was captured on video. "The first thing I thought afterwards was: man, I really hope my mom doesn't see this video," said Incendiario.

Sharyn Hodges

James Fermor

The shark was spotted swimming amongst dolphins in the Plett waters.

A surfers myth

The video is being praised high and low, largely due to the fact that it is a video showcasing a positive interaction between a shark and humans. It also blows out the water the theory that "where there's dolphins there's no sharks" which, according to local marine biologist Melissa Nel, is simply a surfers' myth.

"The Bottlenose Dolphin and [great] white sharks share the inshore waters of Plett during winter and it is not uncommon that their paths cross," says Nel who has been surfing all her life.

"We have had dolphins and sharks in the water together during a surf on many occasions. A surf in winter in Plett rarely goes by without a shark encounter. If we have eyes on the shark, we usually watch it pass by, otherwise we get out, wait for it to pass by and get back in the water to carry on surfing."

Nel is the volunteer coordinator and researcher at the Ocean Research Conservation Africa (Orca) Foundation in Plett, and is conducting post-graduate research through the Cape Peninsula University of Technology.

She has been working with the Orca Foundation since 2019, and is very familiar with the behavioural patterns of sharks in Plett. According to Nel, it is common to see sharks from Robberg during April/May, peaking in July and then slowly decreasing in sightings towards October.

The shark was spotted swimming amongst dolphins in the Plett waters.

A lot to learn

She hopes that people will draw valuable lessons from Fermor and Incendiario's experience.

"I hope that it serves as a reminder to our community that white sharks are not to be feared," Nel said. "These majestic creatures are driven by curiosity and coexist in our shared marine environment. It's important to understand that peaceful interactions with sharks are possible."

Her optimism wasn't without a realistic warning though. "However, whenever we venture into the ocean, we must be fully conscious of the inherent risks associated with ocean activities. If one is not prepared to acknowledge and manage these risks, it's advisable to refrain from entering the water. By fostering respect and awareness for the ocean's inhabitants, we can continue to enjoy its beauty while ensuring our safety."

It's your turn, what now?

If you're a surfer, then you're probably wondering by now: what should I do if this happens to me? According to Fermor, Incendiario and Nel, the key is to remain calm as best you can.

Fermor says you should try and get your feet up on your board, and Incendiario advises surfers not to splash at all. Nel echoed their advice. "Panicked movements will only intrigue the shark and trigger his curiosity," she says.

Nel has more advice. "Firstly, I would like to suggest that surfers make use of beaches where there are spotters keeping an eye out for you. Keep your eyes on the shark for as long as possible and try make a barrier between yourself and the shark using your board or any other equipment."

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Lorenzo Incendiario