Walking on Water

Shark Skrik: Dylan Lightfoot surfing at Lower Point. Photo Richard Johnson

There are so many shark warnings these days, sirens and flags that people are getting fairly nonchalant about it. Ho-hum and oh dear. Let’s give the shark a few minutes to move down the coast and then we can hit it and get so barreled. It’s not the best approach. We can all think of an example or two of when a surfer or a swimmer has ignored the sirens or warnings, with terrible consequences.

There are less shark spottings in the Eastern Cape, mainly due to fewer numbers of people in the water. But the locals keep a constant vigil, keep their eyes peeled, to be better safe than sorry, and all those other clichés. Sometimes a shadow or a dolphin might scare them. Sometimes it’s a solid three metre Great White.

“I had been surfing at Boneyards, and was paddling down to Supers,” says top-rated junior surfer Dylan Lightfoot from J-Bay. “My dad was in the water, and a couple of other guys. I checked across and saw this 3 metre Great White shark just across from me. Dorsal and tail fin, just cruising.”

Air Shark: A white shark cruising Cape waters. Not the same shark. Photo Jean Tresfon

Turning around and heading in at speed, Dylan noticed that the rest of the guys were already out of the water in those few moments, clambering over the rocks. “It didn’t seem to be too interested in me,” said Dylan, “but you never know. I just headed for the rocks, missed the top gully and climbed in. By the time I got to the rocks I noticed that in that short space of time the line-up was empty. Everyone was on the rocks.”

Dylan, who came third in the U20 division of the RVCA Junior Challenge on the weekend, and who was already wild card slot into the upcoming JBU Super Trials event at Supers, didn’t seem too fussed.

“I headed straight in, but I don’t think there was any danger at the time. Still, can’t hang around when there’s a shark in the water. So if there are any visitors around or if you’re going to hit it tomorrow, then just be careful out there.”

Lit Up: Dylan Lightfoot rips Lower Point. Best way to keep clear of sharks. Photo Luke Patterson

In overseas waters, there is much controversy, and sometimes they even resort to shark culling.

In Western Australia, there has been a government shark cull after a fatal attack at Gracetown, but this cull has now finished. In Reunion there is still a shark cull in place, and surfing is banned at all of the surf spots, including premier spots like St Leu and L’Hermitage.

Reunion has suffered a number of radical shark attacks over the last 3 and a-half years, and tourism and the surf industry have been all but crippled on the French territory island.

In South Africa, the white shark has been protected since the 80s. We don't view it as a controversy, but it's still neww, even when we get skrikked by the man in a grey suit.