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25/05/2009: "SHARK BITES BOAT - Revisited UNSEEN FOOTAGE"
When it happened a couple of friends thought it was a publicity stunt. One organized a 'lie-detector' test on me (over the phone).
The other long-term diving friend believed we had somehow made a shark bite the boat, also as a stunt.
Unfortunately for anyone who did not believe it could happen, bad luck mates. You've guessed wrong.
Here's a short piece of video with Trina Fleischman showing the shark bites on the pontoon of Ben Cropp's dinghy.
What has emerged is the species of shark involved. Peter West (NUMA) seems to have been correct from the beginning. Pete believed it was one of the dreaded Lemon sharks. (A twin dorsal specie that is a mix between a Grey Nurse and a Bull shark - and with a nasty temperament).
What confused us that day was the presence of some 15 large tiger sharks, obviously attracted by an injured stingray, turtle or dugong - speared by traditional hunters before we arrived.
The original story written when it happened is contained in ARCHIVES.
For a 5:19 (mins.) version of the above clip, including the first interview on national breakfast TV, copy and paste YouTube link to your browser
