Deep Scratches and Fresh Wounds on a Female Great White Shark

Great white sharks are considered to have “adaptive intelligence” and learn lessons as they try out new behaviour – a trait which is presumably very useful to an apex predator. Adaptive intelligence seemed to be at work here as this white shark learned that he could “sneak up” on the throw lines without the wranglers on the back deck seeing him. That is, until he brushed up against a sacrificial zinc on the hull of the Nautilus and scratched himself, which in turn seemed to end his experimentation with this new type of behaviour.

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Shredder – Our Favourite Tattered and Beat-Up Great White Shark

White shark sightings and behaviour today were very good although I would describe it as the slowest day of this trip. We had a steady stream of sharks swimming past the cages. Sightings included “Snow White,” “Shredder,” “Rocket,” 1 medium female that we couldn’t identify (even with the help of Mauricio, our favourite Mexican shark scientist), and one very big and very clean and beautiful momma female that we think might be “Sarah.” Unlike last year, we haven’t seen much of “Bruce” –  he has been by a couple of times but has not been making daily visits the way he did last season.

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4 different great white shark sightings this morning

Our first day at anchor on this trip with the great white sharks of Guadalupe Island has been very good and productive. 4 different shark sightings this morning, including our 3 favourite groupies – Bruce, Chica and Shredder. These particular white sharks really seem to like the Nautilus Explorer.

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