Koh Tao Sharks Mistaken Identity |
Thousands of people have been diving with young bull sharks at Chumphorn Pinnacle, not to far from Koh Tao, thinking they were grey reef sharks. Two top shark experts Neil Hammerschlag and Geremy Cliff independently confirm that these are not grey reef sharks. Chumphorn pinnacle is one of the most popular and perhaps the most spectacular dive locations in the Gulf of Thailand. Its excellent diving conditions attract thousands of divers each year, drawn to this spectacular site with a chance of seeing a shark or two.
If you ask any dive professional on Koh Tao (the island closest to Chumphorn) they will tell you that the shark you are most likely to see on this sea mount (apart from the elusive whale shark) is a grey reef shark. Occasionally, someone claims to have seen a bull shark (or ‘zambizi shark’) on the pinnacle (including Robin Nagy and Richard Cambell) only to be told firmly by those who ‘know’ that ‘there are only grey reef sharks at Chumphorn, but they are big!’. From the size and shape of their sightings over the years, Robin and Richard suggested that there may be one or more bull sharks at Chumphorn. Their dive friends and colleagues remained unconvinced and we even found themselves having their legs pulled a bit for considering the idea, ‘…they are all grey reef’s - definitely no bulls’. The consensus of opinion is that the sharks at Chumphorn are too small for bulls and behave in a skittish manner, like grey reefs. Most shark sightings at Chumphorn are reported as grey reef sharks. They looked at many internet images of sharks at Chumphorn all claiming to be grey reef sharks but guess what? – they are now convinced that they are all bull sharks!
Perhaps one of the reasons the truth has never come out about the bull sharks of Chumphorn is that the name “bull shark” sends shivers down some peoples’ spine and because this species of shark is reputed to be dangerous to man, apparently one of the three species most likely to be involved in a shark attack. However, it is important that we understand the behavior of these sharks before we start jumping up and down in panic, and to examine the statistics a bit closer. On investigating bull shark attacks, we found absolutely no evidence around the world of any scuba divers being attacked by sharks unless the diver was behaving in a manner which would actively change the sharks’ behavior. Scuba diver victims were either spear fishing, baiting or feeding the shark at the time of the attack. To our knowledge, there have been no records of any divers ever being attacked by sharks at Chumphorn or for that matter anywhere else in Thailand.
‘Bull sharks on Chumphorn Pinnacle’ is fantastic news for the dive industry on Koh Tao. There are very few places on earth where you can easily dive with bull sharks. It is also extremely encouraging to observe so many persecuted animals apparently thriving in Thai waters, which is near the centre of the vile trade in shark fins. All divers and operators on Koh Tao have a responsibility to actively engage in the protection and survival of these magnificent animals. Chumphorn is perhaps one of the best places in the world to see the magnificent bull shark. It remains as spectacular and safe a place to dive as it has ever been, so please keep diving there and keep an eye out of a load of bull! Article by Richard Cambell and Robin Nagy © August 2007, first published on BigPinkShark on 12th September 2007 |
