Description
Book SynopsisThe popular image of sharks is of a dorsal fin cleaving the surface as it rushes to its next kill, but this is a limited caricature. There are over 500 species to choose from, most of whom are far more frightened of humans than vice versa. In this beautiful book, diving veteran John Bantin recounts many tales of his diving with several species of sharks and other marine animals over the last 4 decades. Accompanied by his own stunning photography, the captivating, spectacular and sometimes shocking encounters show the reader what it is like to get up close and personal to these bizarre and beautiful creatures. The sharks covered range from the great whale sharks to the small blacktip reef shark, in locations extending to all corners of the globe.
Trade Review“John’s memory for detail is impressive, and he brings many a scene to life with subtle flashes of colour that many writers in this genre are not capable of summoning. I’d recommend Shark Bytes to anyone with an interest in sharks and diving.” (Scuba Magazine) “Along with his “wow” close-up photographs on nearly every page, Bantin describes his encounters with many sharks”. (Undercurrent Magazine) “Shark Bytes is a wonderful collection of first-hand encounters with sharks by diving verteran John Bantin, accompanied by his compelling imagery”. (Dive Magazine) “Accompanied by compelling imagery, this beautifully written book draws you deep into his underwater world: shocking, inspiring and certainly exciting adventures come to life as the words surround your imagination… Overall, Bantin knows how to tell a story, his thoughts organized, his descriptions detailed, and both a fantastic sense of humour and compassion carries his narrative. Shark Bytes takes the reader on a magical journey to discover the wonderous diversity of the underwater world. This is a must have book!” (Scuba & H2O Adventures Magazine, March 2019)
Table of ContentsIntroduction; 1: The Great Hammerhead; 2: Early Experiences in the Bahamas; 3: Whitetip Reef Sharks; 4: The French Connection; 5: Grey Reef Sharks of the Indo-Pacific; 6: Beveridge Reef; 7: Hammerhead Madness; 8: Dirty Rock, Cocos Island; 9: Nurses and Leopards; 10: The Oceanic Whitetip; 11: Photographing Oceanic Whitetips; 12: Bottlenose Dolphin; 13: Silky Sharks and Dolphins; 14: Whale Sharks; 15: Tagging Whale Sharks; 16: Whale Sharks and the Thruster; 17: Safari or Circus?; 18: Bull Sharks; 19: Tiger, Tiger; 20: The Tasselled Wobbegong; 21: Shark Diving in the Golden Triangle; 22: The Sha’ab Rumi Shark Club; 23: Panic at Gordon Rocks; 24: Australian Rules; 25: A Dive on the Wild Side; 26: Maldives After Dark; 27: Manta Mania; 28: Dugongs: Mermaids of Years Gone By; 29: British Sharks; 30: What Eats Sharks?; 31: Shark Feeding: Right or Wrong?; 32: Is the Only Good Shark a Dead Shark?; Tailpiece: Sharks Keep Messing With My Wallet