Have you heard of Chris Fallows? If you love Great Whites, then you
undoubtedly have. Chris is a well-known shark specialist and the
discoverer of the now-famous breaching behaviour that the incredible
predators use to hunt. He and his wife, Monique Fallows, run a shark cage diving company called Apex Shark Expeditions which operates in the scenic region of False Bay.
In 1989, Chris started tagging sharks and established a catch and release programme with local fishermen that effectively resulted in the release of more than 1,500 rays and sharks. From 1992-1996, he worked at Dyer Island, before co-founding African Shark Eco-Charters in False Bay.
1996 was also the year when Chris and a colleague discovered the shark’s breaching behaviour in False Bay – the shark torpedoes its entire frame out the sea and then launches itself on unsuspecting prey. Chris and Monique started Apex in 2000 – a company that prioritises the shark’s well-being and aims to educate the public about these often misunderstood fish.
With over 1,300 trips to Seal Island under his belt, Chris is an expert on Great White behaviour and, together with his team; he has catalogued 5,500 predatory events, which is the largest database of its kind in the world.
You can also read Chris’s scientific papers to familiarise yourself with the behaviour of sharks or opt to go on one of his special ‘Sharks of Southern Africa’ tours, which are specially designed to cater for shark and wildlife enthusiasts. If you are interested in shark cage diving in Gansbaai or False Bay and want to go with a responsible company that emphasises the well-being of the animal, then you can’t go wrong with Apex.
Chris will be speaking and signing books at the Two Oceans Aquarium on the 27th February. The event promises to be an unforgettable one and includes a welcome drink, snacks and a tour of the Aquarium, which currently houses in excess of 3,000 living sea animals.
The Aquarium showcases the phenomenal diversity of life found in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans and has numerous colourful and informative displays for guests to enjoy, including the seal enclosure and penguin zone. It was established in 1995 and has grown from strength to strength; now recognised as one of Cape Town’s most treasured tourist hot spots.
Original Source: Apex Shark Expeditions
