Here’s an update from Kirsty:

Over the next few weeks / months I will monitor the behaviour of three species of sharks at two feeding sites (at 10 m and 4 m) within the Shark Reef Marine Reserve. Three weeks in and slow progress has been made in ensuring everything is in place in order to begin data collection. First it was the process of trial and error to get the camera positioned in just the right location to record each feeding station. Then came a week of incredible surge over the reef making the 4 meter feeding station inaccessible and even a couple of the 10 meter feeds to be abandoned . On Thursday it was the presence of a tiger shark looming behind me which was slightly disconcerting and needless to say my attention quickly turned away from the reef sharks which suddenly seemed almost puppy like in comparison! Although my heart rate rose initially, her slow and graceful movements left me in awe and on a natural high for the remainder of the day! A dive which I doubt will ever be topped!

Yet work must go on and Friday saw a more sedate dive with boxes ticked and data collected. With just a couple more tweaks to be made and with fingers crossed that the weather and sea conditions will now be kind I will hopefully be able to get stuck into the depths of my project. Watch this space for updates!