The one that got away

This summer Kelly Tarlton's has launched its shark cage experience - a quick, easy and safe way to get up close and personal with the predators of the ocean. The East & Bays Courier was invited to take the plunge and describe the experience to our readers. Names were drawn from a hat and reporter Melanie Verran was the lucky candidate.

 

"You guys are lucky. You're getting in right before the shark feed," says guide Maddy Seaman. "They're only fed twice a week."

Nice one. Very funny. She is joking. Isn't she? Apparently not.

So I'm about to voluntarily jump in an enormous fish tank with a whole bunch of famished predators. Fabulous!

Fresh in my mind are the final words of my workmates - reporter Sarah Moyes' helpful advice on how to fight off an attacking shark and Michelle Cooke's kind offer to write the front page story of my death, should it come to that.

There's no going back now. Having signed our life away on the legal disclaimer, five of us thrill-seekers are kitted up in wetsuits, wet shoes, masks and snorkels, before we slide ourselves into the awaiting cage.

It's a simple concept - a clear perspex bottom with sides made out of netting, giving the impression that you're taking a sneak peak at the underwater world behind the safety of a water polo net.

Our guide Liz Scott perches herself on the corner of the cage and expertly manoeuvres us around the tank using the ceiling beams to pull us in the direction of anything fishy.

And there's plenty of that.

At first, we gingerly peak through our masks, breathing through the snorkels but staying mainly upright in our enclosure. Liz points out some impressive kingfish - the kind that would have a keen angler frothing at the bit.

I can see the East & Bays Courier team watching and waving from the tunnel below. But out of the corner of my eye, I see something long, sleek and grey heading our way. It's a 3-metre broadnose sevengill, moving gracefully through the water with others in its tow.

You can't help but wonder, with just one swish of that tail, would it all be over?

Moving slower but with what seems a sense of authority, is a wobbegong, Kelly Tarlton's only Australian carpet shark. She resembles a heavy, camouflage rug as she hovers over the tank floor.

It's a rarity to see the usually lazy Wobby, described by aquarium curator Andrew Christie as "the grumpy old grandmother", moving about. She knows it's nearly time for a feed.

At this point, the fear has subsided and been replaced by pure excitement and a sense of privilege to be sharing the home of these incredible creatures, if only for a short while.

My four companions must be sharing this realisation; aware that our time is nearly up, we get more adventurous, holding our breaths and clinging to the bottom of the cage to make sure we don't miss a thing.

A giant stingray - weighing a whopping 250 kilograms - glides beneath us, probably just an arm's width from our net, not that I'm willing to prove it.

It was the stingers that I'd been fearing the most, but Andrew assures me later "they're like big pussycats". But this is coming from a man who talks casually about burping a 2.4-
metre wobbegong.

I'm glad I met him when I was back on dry land.

The sevengills that I thought looked stunningly graceful are known to pack hunt a 250kg fur seal in the wild. And the stingray is big enough to swallow a human head.

The shark cage experience is Andrew's brainchild and he takes pleasure in seeing the smiles and looks of awe on his customers' faces when it's all over.

"It's a way that people can race in, get up close and see these pretty bloody impressive animals," he says. "And they do come up close."

The whole experience is missing just one thing. The Jaws theme song might add to the suspense, I reckon.

"We wanted to put it on before you get in the cage," Andrew says. "We haven't quite got approval for that one yet."

The shark cage experience runs five times a day from Wednesday to Sunday until March 28. Participants need to be at least 10 years old and 1.3 metres tall. Take advantage of the introductory offer of $49, which includes entry into the aquarium. The experience takes around 50 minutes, of which 15 are spent snorkelling with the sharks.

Bookings are essential. Call 531-5065 or visit www.kellytarltons.co.nz.

- © Fairfax NZ News