Eric Cheng from Wetpixel.com has published a press release from the Shark Angels explaining the details of a fatal shark attack which happened in Bahamas yesterday. The scuba diver involved, Mr. Markus Groh, was fatally wounded while diving from the M/V Shearwater, owned and operated by Jim Abernethy, the highly-esteemed pioneer of cageless shark diving in tropical waters. Other newspapers have reported the attack to be off Fort Lauderdale, which is reported incorrectly.
The Shark Angels, which is a team of young conservationists recently joined forces with Rob Stewart, director of theaward-winning documentary Sharkwater, to experience the Tiger Sharks ofthe Bahamas firsthand while filming the production ‘Shark Angels’. The Angels have commented that this death is the first reported fatality resulting from an incident between a shark anda scuba diver during a commercially organized shark diving expedition.
Mr. Jim Abernethy, owner of the M/V Shearwater has 35 years of experience diving with sharks, and has maintained aclean safety record until this point. He has brought thousands ofdivers into the water to safely experience shark interactions.The Angels have also stated that Mr. Abernethy is a responsible, safe dive operator who has spent more time in the water than anyone with the sharks of the Bahamas.
There is a testimonial page on wetpixel.com at this link, where the public can put in some positive words for the dive operator and condolences for Mr. Groh’s family.
