A few years ago in June I headed for Sennen Cove, Cornwall, armed with my camera, wide angle lens and underwater housing hoping to get shots of basking sharks. I had been trying to capture a portrait of the world’s second largest shark (which can grow as long as a double decker bus!) for several years. Under the right conditions it is possible to see lots of these sharks aggregated together feeding, but conditions can quickly change and I had on several occasions travelled half way around the country only to be bitterly disappointed.
Sennen Cove is well known for its basking shark sightings and for once my timing was perfect. The cove had been battered by a storm for several days which was quickly followed by warm and settled conditions triggering a large plankton bloom. Around twenty basking sharks were in Sennen cove, unmistakable as their large dorsal fins sliced through the water.
Although Basking sharks are harmless plankton feeders they have still been known to lash out with their tails if startled. One of the best ways to photograph basking sharks with minimal disturbance is to be quietly dropped by kayak in the vicinity of the shark and allow them to get used to your presence. I slipped off the kayak, put my mask and snorkel on and let the current gently drift me into the vicinity of the feeding sharks. Suddenly the dark shadow of a shark only just visible in the green murk appeared briefly before disappearing. Back on the surface I noticed the shark’s fin abruptly change direction. I quickly put my head underwater again. Seconds later its huge gaping mouth appeared out of the blue, heading on a collision course directly towards me. When I pushed the shutter the shark was less than half a metre away from me!
