The 1992 cageless shark-diving expedition was the world's first cageless dive with great white sharks. It contributed to changing public opinions about the supposed ferocity of these animals.
In January 1992, during the filming of the National Geographic documentary Blue Wilderness, and after surface testing of the prototype "Shark Pod" (now Shark Shield) for the Natal Sharks Board, amongst several large great white sharks swimming around the boat at Dyer Island, Western Cape, South Africa, four scuba divers: Ron & Valerie Taylor (notable Australian pioneers of underwater exploration and film-makers), good friend George Askew (Pioneer South African diver and photographer), and Piet van der Walt, (the latter two co-founded the South African cage diving industry in 1989), carried out the world's first dive amongst these animals without a safety cage, or any protection. The Prototype Valerie is seen wearing during this dive was a dummy for continuity and afforded the divers no protection.
The Taylors and Askew, recognised shark experts, were testing their hypotheses, based on many years of experiences with sharks, that these animals had a much fiercer reputation than they deserved. In fact Askew had proposed, in an article entitled "Myth or Maneater?", published in the UK magazine Underwater World back in 1978, that Great Whites did not deserve the horrific image and reputation that Jaws author Peter Benchley and film director Steven Spielberg had imprinted in peoples minds. He postulated that if the Great White knew you were aware of its presence you had a pretty good chance of not being attacked, as they rely on stealth and surprise when attacking. He wrote two more articles on the same thread in 1983 and 1991, and then went on to prove that point with the historic dive.
The divers discovered that the sharks were scared of them - despite having been excited for hours previously by lots of blood laden chum and chunks of dolphin and whale meat - and had several timid encounters after a long wait. The divers were never at any time challenged, nor made to feel uneasy. This ground-breaking "Underwater Everest" conquest convincingly destroyed the myth of the Great White being a mindless Monster, an eating machine and changed people's perceptions of these animals forever. It opened the door to more free swimming close encounters by later divers.
The Taylors felt that the Australian sharks have a slightly different disposition to South African ones, but as it is now known that great whites swim between South Africa and Australia, this may be questionable. Askew had encountered Great White Sharks three times previously over the years whilst spearfishing—the first being in 1960 when in those days it was thought that meeting one was sure death. Because he was never attacked his fascination grew. The Taylors had many years before had twice released Great Whites trapped in ropes. They were never harassed despite touching the animals.
The divers found the sharks were actually very timid and difficult to approach, although just before the dive when Ron and George were kneeling on the dive platform a few centimetres / inches above water filming, with their hands in the water, a premonition made Askew get up. As he did so and stepped back, a 4 metre/13ft Great White slid onto the platform. It would have taken his camera and arms, and maybe pulled him in if he had not got up. It stopped 75 mm/3inches from his foot before sliding back. It made no attempt to snap or lunge at him. Askew sees that incident as pure opportunism and not savagery.
The consequences of that first historic dive were the close encounters that have shown the world that great whites are not there to devour people but can be quite friendly. Since this dive a few intrepid souls have done cage-less dives, even hitching rides on their dorsal fins and touching them underwater. Anyone attempting such unfettered activity must be aware that they are still Apex Predators and very opportunistic. One should never be blasé and let one’s vigilance slip, as although` there have never been any serious incidents, there have been some very worrying moments for a few divers [like having a fin chomped!]