Chris Fallows Air Jaws

 

 

 

 

 

Witness the unbelievable, a 7,000 lb Great White Shark launching itself out of the water through the air only 20 yards away. This will get your adrenaline pumping if nothing does! There is only one place in the world where you can go on a boat and trawl a try to provoke a Great White Shark to breach out of the water. Just imagine cruising along watching a rubber cutout of a seal bobbing around 20 yards behind the boat and at any time you might witness the apex predator of the oceans burst through the surface into the air.

 

 

 

Both Chris Fallows and Rob Lawrence worked with Discovery Channel to create one of the most famous shark documentaries ever created. This film named 'Air Jaws' documented the flying sharks for the first time and showed the world a new wonderful feature of the White Sharks artilerary that was previously unknown to the world. Since then Air Jaws became Air Jaws II with just Chris and now the Ultimate Air Jaws. This amazing new documentary has propelled Chris Fallows to fame and due to the demand from people wanting to go with him on a Breaching trip demand is high to Join him on a trip and spaces are limited. 

 

To obtain these images you must be extremely patient and have a lot of concentration on your object, the decoy seal. To wait for a breach may take up to an our or more and the breach lasts for only 2 seconds and then it is all over. A professional photographer went out last June and he was most unfortunate. He focused on the decoy for over an hour and the moment he moved his trigger finger to scratch his nose the shark came out of nowhere and breached the bait. You do not have any indication when a shark will breach and this make it all the more exciting!

 

 

 

 

Great White Sharks regularly breach by Seal Island in False Bay. There are certain areas around the island where the depth is perfect for a White Shark to launch an ambush on a seal. After viewing how quick and agile the seals are from the boat it sounds logical to say that the Sharks breach the seals to catch them off-guard. The seal is a slippery character and can dance its way out of the jaws of a hungry White Shark. Many have witnessed a White Shark hopelessly trying to catch a lightning fast seal that is constantly changing direction to avoid those jaws. The White Shark is a very intelligent hunter and what appears to happen is the White Shark patrols the depths watching the surface for the silhouette of a seal. Then the Shark accelerates from the bottom to surprise the completely oblivious seal.

 

In the documentary Air Jaws II many tests were done with a replica seal housing a hidden camera. The camera was constantly focused downwards and it showed the frightening scene of a White Shark speeding from the depths towards the seal before breaching it.

 

 

Many times however the shark would veer off with only a few meters to go after perhaps spotting something a bit odd with the decoy. Great White Sharks are very cautious and will only hit a target if it is sure that it is food. But when the White Shark is up for a mouth full then everyone on the boat gets a real treat.

 

 

 

 

Both operators in False Bay concentrate on breaching and surface viewing as well as cage diving if the conditions are suitable. The boat based viewing is exceptional and clients are in for a real treat if the sharks decide to perform on the day. There is also an excellent chance of witnessing a seal kill.

 

 

 

 

06h40

 

Meet crew at Simon’s Town Pier. Board the boat and receive briefing before departing to Seal Island

 

 

 

07h00

 

Depart for Seal Island looking for seals and sharks (25 to 35 minute boat ride)

 

 

 

07h35 to 09:00

 

Arrive at Seal Island just before sunrise as this is the best time to catch the action of the sharks predating on seals around the Island. Signs such as splashing where a seal jumps out of the water away from the shark to watching the seagulls gather over a kill. You will spend as much time as possible looking for this activity until the sun rises higher and activity drops.

 

 

 

9:00 – 10:00

 

When the light is much better a decoy (Fake seal) will be towed behind the boat. This time will be spent trawling around Seal Island trying to provoke a Great White Shark into a breach. This is very exciting to watch whilst watching the decoy (fake seal) just waiting for the shark to launch out of the water only metres from the boat. Be ready however as this happens in a split second.

 

 

 

10:00 – 12:00

 

The breaching activity normally is only early morning and from 10am a suitable spot around Seal Island will be chosen depending on the wind and current to work with the sharks around the boat. Should the weather and conditions permit the cage will be dropped into the water and once the sharks are around the boat the divers will have a chance to get into the water. The diving is on snorkel or breath holding and no experience is necessary.

 

 

 

12h30 

 

Arrive back in Simons Town Harbour where tea and coffee are available in the shop. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hiring of specialist equipment and cameras if booked in advance.

 

 

 

 

Usually from 7AM - 2PM (7 hours)

 

 

 

 

 

Maximum 12 to give the clients a more personalised experience.

 

 

 

 

 

The boat launches from Simons Town which is close to Cape Town. A shuttle can be arranged for pick-up and drop-off from Cape Town at a minimal cost.