I barely escaped alive...

(Photo by Jim Abernethy.)

I had a terrifying experience today. I was stalked, terrorized and even had to fight off a vicious attack. My heart raced as I narrowly escaped the predator – barely making it away unscathed. Others, I knew, hadn’t been so lucky.

I spent the day diving with sharks. Caribbean Reef Sharks to be exact.

But it wasn’t while I found myself surrounded a dozen sharks quickly darting around me from all directions coming close enough to brush my fins. Hardly. Sharks are not viciously cunning, nor do they prey on humans.

No, after being in the water with what are considered “man-eaters”, I found myself scared of a bird.

Not just any bird – a parrot named Zoe Bird. A mean parrot who has a chip on her shoulders – and just plain doesn’t like anyone other than her Dad. Upon entering the empty house of my host, Jim’s voice rung out in my ears “If Zoe Bird let herself out of the cage, DO NOT go in. She will attack you.” Much to my dismay, not only had she slyly let herself out of the cage (and barely left the door open, tricking me into believing she was still in the cage), she was quietly awaiting my arrival in the guest bedroom.

Squaking, feathers flying and lunging at me with a very, very sharp beak, I was driven from the house in a panic, happy to have gotten outside without Zoe Bird drawing any blood.

Funny. Most people would think diving with sharks is the dangerous situation. In fact, house pets are far more threatening.


(Photo by Jim Abernethy.)

Three Charlies and an Angel

(Eric, Raquel, Julie, Jim, Matt's Brother, Matt, Cannon)

If you can't actually be in the water with sharks, then the next best thing is to share shark stories all night long with others who have as much of a passion for sharks as much as you do!

Today, I headed to West Palm Beach for an amazing opportunity: I got to hang out with three of my favorite people – and three hot shark studs. A photographer, a shark diver (and photographer), and a scientist…

Eric Cheng is one of the most talented underwater photographers I know. Just check out Wet Pixel and quite certainly you will agree. And he is humble, kind and the type of guy you just want to be around. I met him during the Shark Angels project and we have been friends ever since.

Matt Potenski is a whale shark researcher who spends half his year in Tanzania satellite tagging whale sharks. He is working with Ecocean to ID the sharks and also creating a program for the locals to get involved in the identification of the sharks. The other half of the year he works with Doc Gruber… well, that was until he retired.

And Jim Abernethy is a dear friend and someone I have a deep, deep admiration for. I have gone on the record many, many times ranting about Jimmy, so you can just google it instead of me going on and on. But, suffice it to say he is one of the most passionate sharkies I know…

We spent an evening catching each other up and sharing shark tales… And this angel got to spend a night with three of her “charlies”.