Just a quick vid, showing some diving we did off Cape Point.

Enjoy

Hey Guys

I have finally gotten printed a few pieces of clothing printed.

Please have a look.

The T shirts are R120

Green sleeved shirts are R140

Hoodies are R250

This excludes shipping

Seal diving T shirts and sleeves shirts

Cowshark diving T shirts

Its all very well getting in the water sharks, but its important to understand what they are and who they are. Here is some information gleaned from the web and scientific papers about our Sevengill Cowsharks as well this family of sharks.

What is a Cowshark?

Cow sharks, or the Hexanchidae, are a family of sharks characterized by extra pairs of gill slits. There are probably only two seven-gilled genera, Heptranchias and Notoryhncus

Cow sharks are considered the most primitive of all the sharks, because their skeletons resemble those of ancient extinct forms, with few modern adaptations. Their excretory and digestive systems are also unspecialised, suggesting that they may resemble those of primitive shark ancestors. Their most distinctive feature, however, is the presence of a sixth and, in two genera, a seventh, gill slit, in addition to the five found in all other sharks.Cow sharks are ovoviviparous, with the mother retaining the egg-cases in her body until they hatch.

There are just four species of cow shark, in three genera

• Genera Heptranchias
  • Sharpnose Sevengill shark Heptranchias perlo
• 
• Genera Hexanchus
  • Bluntnose sixgill shark, Hexanchus griseus
  • 
  • Bigeye sixgill shark, Hexanchus nakamurai
  • 
    
• Genera Notorynchus
  • Broadnose sevengill shark, “Notorynchus cepedianus
  • 

    Jean Tresfon

The Broadnose Sevengill Cowshark, Notorynchus cepedianus

This is the Cowshark we find along our coastline and the specie dived with at Millers point. It is called a number of names Cowshark, Sevengill shark or the full length Broadnose Sevengill cowshark, which has one too many descriptive nouns for my liking. We mostly just refer to them as Cows ! Not a very frightening name to attract shark divers. This shark is the only existing member of the genus Notorynchus, in the family Hexanchidae.

What does it look like?

The Sevengill Cowshark is gray or brownish with spots. It is very common in the kelp forests around the Cape. It is easily distinguished from the other common kelp dwelling species, the spotted gully shark, by its lack of dorsal fin and rounded head.

Steve Benjamin swimming with a Sevengill Cowshark by Jean Tresfon

Sevengill Cowsharks can be found on the continental shelf, often in shallow water. Occuring very close inshore, in bays and estuaries, with larger individuals ranging into deeper waters offshore and deep channels in bays. In tropical to temperate waters; except North Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea. Southwest Atlantic: southern Brazil to northern Argentina. Southeast Atlantic: Namibia to East London, South Africa. Western Pacific: southern Japan to New Zealand. Eastern Pacific: British Columbia, Canada to Chile. Record from India maybe erroneous.

Distribution map of the Sevengill Cowshark

What do Sevengill Cowsarks eat?

The sevengill shark, Notorynchus cepedianus, is a versatile and common predator that has often been overlooked as an important marine predator capable of feeding on a wide variety of prey species. Stomach content analyses were performed on specimens from California, USA, and southern Africa to investigate whether dietary differences occur in relation to sex and size. Of the 531 specimens examined, 365 (68.7%) contained prey items. The dietary trend with growth and maturity shifted from fish to sharks (chondrichthyans), with marine mammals becoming increasingly important in the larger size classes of N. cepedianus . Small N. cepedianus (<120 cm total length, TL) fed primarily on teleosts, whereas larger sharks primarily consumed chondrichthyans. Marine mammals made up about one-third of the diet of N. cepedianus >220 cm TL, while teleosts declined to 6% and 13% for male and female sharks, respectively. A decrease was observed in the dietary overlap of each successively larger size class. Ontogenetic changes in the diet of N. cepedianus may provide insight into understanding how adults enhance the survivorship of their young, who are often less experienced at foraging for prey and are more vulnerable to predation.

Sevengill Cowshark tooth

When are Sevengill Cowsharks sexually mature ?

Maturation in male sevengills begins at about 140 cm total length (TL). Most males mature at approximately 160 cm TL. Male sevengills have viable sperm throughout the year and seem capable of reproducing year-round. Females have a complex and prolonged maturation period and mature at a size in excess of 218 cm TL.

What are the threats to Sevengill Cowsharks?

In south africa these sharks are caught as part of the demersal shark fishery as well as a species targeted by recreational fishermen. Cowsharks are not protected and anyone can capture and kill a shark as long as its not in a marine reserve. These sharks are sometimes used as bait in the White shark industry.

In South Africa Cowsharks are the apex predator in their habitat, and once the reach maturity only a great white shark or Ocra would prey on them. The following is an abstract details such an attatck by Orca’s in Argintina.

On 21 December 1998, four killer whales (an adult male, two females or immature males, and one juvenile) attacked a group of sevengill sharks (Notorhynchus cepedianus) off the coast of Caleta Malaspina, Chubut, Argentina. Persecution, catches, and tossing behavior were performed by the two females or immature males in the inlet. Next day, carcasses of several sharks were found on the beach adjacent to the attack area. Seven of them were intact and sized approximately 2.5 m in length. The presence of complete sevengill shark carcasses on the beach suggests that they were attempting to avoid capture by the killer whales by stranding on the beach. Attacks on sevengills by killer whales in Caleta Malaspina are frequent in some years, especially from mid-December to mid-January when the sevengill seems to use the inlet as a nursery ground. The observation of the same male feeding both on pinnipeds in Peninsula Valdes and on sharks in Caleta Malaspina may indicate that at least some groups in the Southwestern Atlantic could regularly feed on both fish and marine mammals. This is the first report of an attack of killer whales on sharks off the coast of Patagonia, and the first report of toss- ing behavior in sharks.

Where  can I dive with these sharks?

The best place to dive with these sharks is in Castle Rock Marine reserve at  Miller’s point, Cape Town. This part of the peninsula coastline is below the Swartkopberge mountains. The small rocky peninsula of Miller’s Point juts out rather abruptly into the bay and provides a sheltered site for the slipway from which most of the boat launches in this area are made. There is sufficient reasonably level ground for extensive parking areas off the main road, including boat trailer parking.

Map to the Cowsharks of Cape peninsular, Cape Town

This area is characterized by granite reefs with sandy patches between them, and almost flat sand bottom further out. Many of the reefs are fairly large areas of massive ridges, gullies and occasional loose boulders on top, and some of these boulders are huge. The cowsharks stick to the kelp channel just 50m from the shore. One can shore dive or boat dive this site (Source)

Jean Tresfon

When can I dive with these sharks ?

There sharks are present year round with the best periods being Spring and Autumn. The best vis is during winter but storms can make conditions undivable for long periods. During summer there are many sharks but the strong trade winds make the visibility quite poor. Due to the relatively protection of the site it is divable most days of the year. We have had great shark dives in vis as low as 2m !

Water temperature during winter is usually between 13°C and 17°C, though it has been known to drop as low as 11°C, so a good suit is also needed here. In summer the temperature may rise above 20°C, but is more likely to be around 17°C to 19°C. (Source)

What should I do while diving with Sevengill Cowsharks ?

Sevengill Cowsharks, although generally docile, are large predatory animals capable of inflicting bodily harm to humans if provoked. Therefore a strict code of conduct must be adhered to when diving with the sharks.

• – No touching.
• – Divers should not interrupt swimming patterns of the sharks
• – Avoid boxing in of a shark,  between two divers, or between a diver and a rocky outcrop.
• – No bait or chum is to be used when diving with the sharks.
• – Buoyancy control – you may get in a shark way or bump into a shark if you cant yet dive correctly.

Jean Tresfon

The Cadiz Freedom Swim is considered to be one of the toughest, most extreme long distance cold water sea swim races in the world – 7.5km across the famous Robben Island channel, known for its bitterly cold water (around 13 degrees) and strong, unpredictable currents.

We launch early on Sunday morning to avoid the chaos at Oceana slipway. I picked up my swimmers, team “2 shrimps and a sea monkey”. We joined the pack of boats floating just offshore of Robben Island. Every type of craft with an engine was waiting in anticipation for the swim to start. Here are some pics form the day…

The swimmers start

The team finished 4th in the relay division with a time of 2:37.27. The fastest time was 1:48 by Tryon Venter.

It was an amazing day and huge respect to all the swimmers that did the swim. It was tough, with quite a few not making it.

For results click here

I put this short film together after a great days diving. We spent the day looking for yellowtail (Seriola lalandii) and I manage to film and shoot a fish. There were alot of ragged tooth sharks on the reef and one came up to try eat my yellowtail, which was nice to capture on film.They are only interested in the fish and can be easily pushed away.

Please have a look, the film speaks for it’s self ……………….

If you liked it, please let me know and PASS IT ON ……. I want to make some more of these

Cheers

Steve

The conditions over the last few days have been phenominal. We headed out to the seal colony to be greeted by amazing conditions and an abnormal amount of seals in the water playing. Here are the images to show you what I mean

Caught in a playful frenzy

Lauren, Emma and Lee about to join the seal pups

Lauren de Vos writes – Soaking up the warm rays of an unexpectedly summery day, we dodged the crowds thronging the beaches around Cape Town and headed out on the Animal Ocean boat to spend an afternoon snorkeling with seals in Hout Bay. It had been a long time since any of us had been out in the ocean and our chatty enthusiasm was encouraged by Steve as he guided the boat towards Seal Island; all of us taking deep gulps of the salty air and whooping with delight as we cruised over the azure water that glittered all around. Wrapped in as much neoprene as we could muster, without losing all of our ability to move, we were more than ready to brave the cold water! Goggles on, snorkels in – and with much laughter all around – we plunged in amidst the gently waving kelp, sparkling bubbles … and dozens of seal pups, their tiny torpedo bodies zooming past us as we kicked our flippers and dived deeper. Exhilaration, fascination and enchantment was evident on every one of our faces as the pups swam fearlessly over to investigate our strange forms, our goggles mirrored in their big, dark eyes. It was all action as we played together, us in our neon-lemon snorkels, and the seal pups’ small, dark shapes flitting in between our delighted group. Of course, there was plenty time to dive down to investigate the bright blues, purples and reds of the anemones clinging tenaciously to the rocks. We excitedly pointed out slow-moving nudibranchs to each other, and marveled at the myriad of life and colour swirling around us. It was a breathlessly happy group who reassembled later on the boat, peeling off our layers of seal-like wetsuit and sharing stories of what we’d seen. An afternoon of sunshine, salt water and seal pups? There’s nothing like it!

Hanli Prinsloo and the curious pack of pups

I chatted to James this afternoon while he lay in hospital after breaking his lower back (L1).

I know that there are many concerned friends so first off he isnt paralyzed but will be in a back brace for at least 2 months.

He said that after hitting the sand bank he knew his back was broken. He let himself be washed ashore where he waited for anyone to walk past and move hit up the beach. Rescuers tried to carry him off the beach and even brought 4×4 vehicles but this proved to bumpy.  He was later airlifted out and taken to hospital.

We are all holding thumbs for a good recovery

James Taylor at Mavericks (www.jamestaylor.com)

Last week Tuesday, 11 interns from the volunteer Adventure Corporation (VACorps) went out to False Bay to join Steve Benjamin, and Animal Ocean. The weather turned out to be absolutely perfect, for a day on the water. After launching the boat from Miller’s Point, we set off towards Seal Island to check out the seals. About 15 minutes into our trip, we spotted diving Gannets in the distance and decided to check it out. What we found however was a 1000 strong, pod of common dolphin! The water was white with moving dolphin, and the sound of 1000 dolphins echoed all around us. What and incredible experience! It didn’t stop there though however, after a stop at the biggest Cape Fur seal colony in the area, we then made our way over to Pyramid Rock for a dive with the Cow Sharks. The water was top to bottom visibility, pancake flat, and we were surrounded most of the dive by at least 15 Cow sharks, ranging from 1m to 2.5m. These impressive creatures let us swim amongst them for a good 40 minutes. What a day to remember! (Text from VACorps newsletter)

Volunteer Adventure Corps

I put this short video together to try show you what diving in Cape Town can be about. I also wanted to thank all the great people who share my life and passion for life, be it on the water or land. Live life to the fullest everyday…….

Have a look…