Way too funny.
I was formerly a partner with Jim as a Captain and dive boat operator in the late 1980s. Belive me when I tell you he does feed and dive with Tigers, Hammerheads, and Bull Sharks. The Discovery Channel Shark week had an excellent special showing him bringing in many large Tiger Sharks to dive with his guests at NIGHT!!
He has been doing this for over 20 years and does an excellent job reading sharks, however, he has been biten himself. Just last month one of his customers had a Tiger shark swim off with his dive camera in it’s mouth (which the owner used to fend off the shark).
The shark that bit this guy is the most dangerous shark that frequents Bahamian waters in my opinion. Bull sharks are much more aggressive than Hammerheads or even Tigers. Of course if a Tiger decides to bite, it will create truama similar to a Great White bite.
While Captain Abernathy is an expert at what he does, I still think it is a mistake to feed sharks. It is hard to resist when so many people are willing to pay for the experience. The problem is that sharks will congregate in the feeding areas, rather than naturally speading out keeping the reefs healthy. There is also the danger of the sharks becomming too used to human contact and becomming aggressive. Other boats go to and dive in the same areas and don’t have expert guides to brief them on safety procedures. It is a dangerous practice for the diving community as a whole and is unhealthy for the sharks.
Where ya based out of skipper? I used to tie up on Hendricks Isle in Lauderdale, and sailed over to Better in the Bahamas every chance I got.
Clarification: “Way Too Funny” in my previous post referred to the Timothy Treadwell picture and caption: “This guy’s brother?”