“Tiger Beach Freedom” – setting the record straigh
When I wrote the other blog earlier today I did not fully realize that it looked as if it was directed at Jim Abernethy of Scuba Adventures.It was not.In fact, I consider Jim as a most professional operator in the shark diving world, definitely one of the best world-wide. I also know him as a very passionate sharkman.What I wanted to transmit in my blog is that I, the old Wolf, need unrestricted diving freedom the way I need air to breathe. That is just my personality, and that is why I have never joined a club or a structured association.While Scott Smith of the Dolphin Dream lets me freedive with no strings attached, which I consider a very generous attitude, I realize that there are other ways to look at safety issues. “Safety” is a very relative concept, hence interpreting it will always be highly subjective and never “right”.Take Neal Watson, for instance: This shark operator who claims to have expert knowledge thinks that diving with Caribbean Reef Sharks is “much less dangerous” than diving with tiger sharks. Well, all I can say is that I am much more apprehensive of an agitated 5 ft Caribbean Reef shark than I am of being close to a 14 ft tiger shark in a baiting situation.Back to Jim – Jim is known for his way of running a tight ship, and he has countless fans who would never, ever switch.Scott, on the other hand, has followers who feel very comfortable with the way he leads his excursions to Tiger Beach. I am one of those.To erase the slightest doubts about my full appreciation of Jim, here is what I wrote about him not long ago.
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