Shark venture dives back in

A businessman who has NZ’s great-white cagediving market to himself tells Blair Jackson there’s room for more in the water.

New Zealand’s sole great white shark diving operator is hopeful the start of the season will see a tourism boom after years of legal uncertainty.

Mike Haines won the right to run his Shark Experience business from Bluff after a court battle that ended in October when the Supreme Court ruled the adventure activity was legal.

The first dive of the season takes place tomorrow and Haines said bookings were down on previous years.

‘‘They are improving, but we still get asked a lot of questions based around the legality of it.’’

The chance to don a wetsuit and brave the waters of Foveaux Strait to see the great whites costs about $570 for an inexperienced diver.

Haines said there was room for other businesses to open, but the fact Stewart Island is in the shark’s migratory pattern also means new ventures should stay around Southland.

‘‘There’s room for a couple of operators, no two ways about it. If someone else wanted to start up I’d be more than happy to help them.’’

Niwa fisheries scientist and marine ecologist Dr Malcolm Francis has 40 years’ experience in marine studies.

‘‘I can’t think of any other places that would have enough sharks,’’ Francis said.

However, previous shark diving operators scarred from years of legal uncertainty say they have no plans to re-enter the industry.

Adriana and Peter Scott operated Shark Dive New Zealand from Bluff up until September 2018, but decided to shut up shop after the Court of Appeal found cage diving to be illegal.

They said the reversal of the decision in October was a bittersweet victory.

They had no plans to get back into the industry, but agreed it would benefit from competition.

Adriana said there was room for up to five operators.

Shark cage diving was only possible around Stewart Island where the great whites gathered.

‘‘With or without shark cage diving, the great whites will be at the dive site. As it has been for millions of years.’’

For many, it’s the ultimate bucket-list experience, she said.

‘‘We provided this experience to many people who had terminal diagnoses and this has been extremely rewarding to us.’’

‘‘Our biggest reward, though, is educating people that sharks aren’t crazed maneaters going around seeking out victims to eat.’’

The Director-General of Conservation issued a licence to Shark Experience.

However, a costly court battle played out over several years after Pauamac5 Inc, which represents commercial paua divers, claimed the use of berley and bait attracted greater numbers of sharks to the area and produced more aggressive behaviour, potentially endangering life.

In Australia, the only opportunity to dive with great whites is at Port Lincoln, about seven hours’ drive from Adelaide.

Ben Yuan, marketing coordinator for one of the three operators in town, Adventure Bay Charters, said two types of customers were drawn to Port Lincoln to dive; backpackers looking for an exhilarating experience, and environmentalist and wildlife tourists.

Adventure Bay Charters hosts between 8000 and 12,000 divers each year and Yuan said the other two operators catered to about the same number, or slightly more.

That’s about 25,000 divers who journey to the remote South Australian town, each paying up to A$560 (NZ$590) for the experience.