'UNUSUAL SIGHTINGS... TIGER SHARK AT ELPHINSTONE!!'
By Elke Bojanowski PhD.
This months diveguide column falls into the category of "UNUSUAL SIGHTINGS" unusual indeed, since it is the first time for me to come across one of these in 5 years and 3 months of working as a diveguide in Egypt.
A female tiger shark, Galeoverdo cuvier, has taken temporary(?) residence at the well known divesite of Elphinstone (or Abu Hamra) for at least 2 weeks now. First reports were rather sceptically received, especially since the guests that claimed to have seen it originally, first said they saw an oceanic whitetip shark (and I can hardly imagine 2 shark species looking less alike) Anyway, after discussing body proportions and colour markings, the buddy pair then decided to have encountered a tiger shark. No picture proof, so there was plenty of doubt.
A couple of days later though, one of our diveguides confirmed this sighting, he spotted the tiger on the north plateau.
Which leads me right up to the "events" of Monday, 13. July 2009:
On all three dives on the north plateau, we were lucky to see this apparently highly pregnant female tiger shark!!! Quite sneaky, coming from behind and veering off as soon as heads are turning towards her unless you steeply rise towards the surface with quick fin and hand movements, that definitely got her attention, and she followed to come and take a closer look. Again, upon stopping and turning towards her, she moved away, which is exactly the moment, the photograph was taken.
Her length is probably around 3.5 metres, and looking at her girth, she might be getting ready to give birth soon.
It is not the first time, that tiger shark sightings are reported from this divesite between Marsa Alam and Port Ghalib, but it is far from common. The best chances for encounters with this particular shark species are normally off Sinai, at Ras Mohamed or in the Strait of Tiran.
Let's see how long she will tolerate the mayhem of divers and boat engines around Elphinstone!
By Elke Bojanowski PhD.