Jupiter, FL

Jupiter has quickly become one of my favorite places in the sunshine state! Due to its proximity to the gulf stream, the water is warm and teeming with wildlife.

During this quick trip, I checked a big one off my photo bucket list. I photographed the Lemon Shark Aggregation that happens every year between December and April. Leading up to this trip, I dreamed of up-close interactions with these beauts and that's just what I got!

Below is a portrait of a Lemon Shark as it investigated my camera. When he realized that I was not a food source, he casually turned away and glided past me!

About Lemon Sharks

The Name:

The name "Lemon Shark" comes from the yellowish hue on the back. This is to help camouflage the shark when they are on the sandy ocean floor in coastal regions.

Description:

The Average Lemon Shark is around 7-10 Ft in length. They have short, broad snouts and extremely long dorsal fins. The fins are really noticeable when you are in the water with them....It actually makes them look a little clumsy at times .

Behavior:

Nursery sites are usually along shallow waters and in mangrove areas. The pups stay in the shallows until venturing off into deeper waters. Adult Lemon Sharks are very social and tend to be in groups of around 20 sharks. The groups are based on size and sex. Once in the water, if you pay attention you can definitely see a hierarchy among them. It's really amazing to see them interacting with one another and us!

"The brain of a lemon shark, being comparable in relative mass to that of a mammal or bird, suggests they have the ability to learn from social interactions, cooperate with other individuals, and have the potential to establish dominance hierarchies and stable social bonds. "

Below are a few group photos!

Feeding:

"Lemon sharks approach their victim with speed only to brake suddenly using their pectoral fins upon contact.[15] The animal then jabs forward multiple times until it has a good grasp of its prey in its jaw and proceeds to shake its head from side to side until it tears off a chunk of flesh. A feeding frenzy, or large swarm of other sharks, then forms as the individuals sense the blood and bodily fluids released from the prey."

Electroreception is like a sixth sense for sharks. The pores around the eyes and nose detect electrical currents that their prey puts out. Below is a close up photo I got of a shark lunging at a chunk of fish! Also click through to see close up pictures of the sharks electroreceptors!

With each time I experience sharks in the wild, I grow more and more comfortable. I have also realized that there is a worldwide community of people who regularly dive with all different species of sharks. It is very clear that we, as humans, are not on the menu. With that being said, it is important to have respect for these animals and the ocean. At the end of the day, they are wild predators and we are in their environment.

How to See Lemon Sharks and What to Expect

Charter Boats and What to Expect:

There are several different charter boats in Jupiter that will take you out to experience sharks in the wild. For this trip, I free dove with Ryan Walton and Captain Tony Crumrine.

It takes about 20 minutes, by boat, to get to the dive site off of Jupiter. Once there, the guide gets into the water and starts the processes of chumming . This is the point where I like to hop in the water. The current is really strong, so you do drifts. The boat is not anchored and floats along relatively close to the group. On this particular trip, it took a couple of minutes for a group of sharks to show, but I have had dives in Jupiter where I see a shark swimming the second I jump off the boat!

Throughout the year, different migratory species make there way through these warm waters. At any given time of year, it is possible to see several different species of shark. On this trip, we had a brief moment where a female Tiger Shark came in. As soon as she saw humans she turned and left. I wish we got a better interaction, but I was really happy to see my first Tiger Shark in the wild.

Here is another one of my favorite Lemon Shark portraits.

Getting Creative!

This was my first time in the water with Lemon sharks. They are really docile animals, but there were so many of them that it was a little intimidating at first. I photographed with an ultra wide angle lens, so looking through the view finder is very deceiving. It's like looking in a rear view mirror. Objects are closer then they appear!! It was about halfway through our drift when I got really comfortable with close shark interactions. At that point, I had achieved the shots that I envisioned prior to the trip, so I started to get creative! I focused on different parts of the shark, getting detail images, and shooting from different angles. I converted the images from this part of the dive to black and white, and I love how they turned out!!

Overall, the trip was a blast! If you live in the U.S., it is a really easy destination to get to. Certain times of year you can really get good deals on flights, and the dives themselves are priced fairly! I can't wait to get back! It's also a great pit stop on a trip to say.. Tiger Beach?

**A shot of me getting the shot..... and the shot.**