Phi Phi Shark watch guide
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Phi Phi Island Diving | Diving and snorkeling around Phi Phi
Shark Watch On Phi Phi Island. This article provides a guide to a good tour off shark point off Long beach where many come face to face with one of their greatest fears, namely sharks in the flesh...! This tour intrigues snorkeller and divers a like. Objectives1. The aim to create a low impact tour that does not affect the shark watching area to the detriment of the local reef. 2. To provide safe, well structured, and informative shark watch tours by giving detailed and interesting briefings for the customer. During promotion. Check customers; • Are over 12 years old./Can Swim/Can Snorkel • Understand that this is a group tour that requires some listening skills and the customer will be asked to follow the instructions of the guide. The Briefings They should be in 3 sections, and spaced so that customers can get digest the information and remember to act on the most important messages. Repetition must be used to get the customer to remember to stay close in a group, be quiet and move smoothly. Gear Briefing. The aim is to snorkel quietly and smoothly so as to maximize the chance of seeing the shark. Mask • Describing how to put on and adjust the Mask is essential. • Show the baffles, and explain how the mask should suck on to the face. • Show how to adjusting buttons and straps. The pressure of the water should push the mask onto the face, so the strap needn't be too tight. • The Mask can be cleaned with toothpaste to maximize the chance of the glass not misting up. This gives the necessary confidence to the customer so they know what they are doing, they have the right gear for the job. Fins. Wearing; Fins should not be tight and should not be slipping off the heel of the foot. Technique; This is the area where most noise is usually made. The heel should not break the surface of the water too much as this causes splashing and noise. This gives the necessary confidence to the customer so they know what they are doing, they have the right gear for the job. Wet suit. Explain; they helps by • Extra buoyancy of the wetsuit makes it easier to swim. • Helps protect the body in the shallower areas against rock and coral • If there are jelly fish in the water it helps stop their irritating sting. This gives the necessary confidence to the customer so they know what they are doing, they have the right gear for the job. Shark Information Briefing The customers feel more confident when they know something about the shark because emotionally sharks have been associated with danger for a long time. It is therefore important to reduce fears and calm this negative emotion with uncontroversial fact and figures. The Black Tip Shark is found all over the world. The 10 sub species are found as far apart as the Carribean the Great Barrier Reef and since the Suez canal opened at the turn of the last century in the Mediterranean as far as Lybia. The 10 sub species have varying traits and are known to nip snorkellers ankles in the Carribean. The Black Tips of the Andamn Sea are timid and shy away from human contact, though are inquisitive if they think they are in no danger. They skim the broken reef looking for parrot fish, mullet and squid at sunrise and at sunset. Up to 2 meters, this shark is impressive. The larger ones hang off the reef and rocks in the deeper water. The smaller ones can be found in less than 0.5 meters of water. Females are generally fatter than the male. Females give birth from 2 -8 pups in September to November. Black tips are found in many areas on Phi Phi island but none more regular or more concentrated than at Shark Point. The black tip Sharks will not swim under snorkellers and so it is important for all customers to stay in a small cluster groups, no more than 2-3 meters apart from 2 other people at one time. Tour Briefing This is the most important part of the tour. Explain; • The Place.. • Shark point often gets currents. The tides can be as much as 4 meters exposing rock and coral at low tides. Our tour tries to use this to our advantage. • The shallows can be less than 0.5 meters, so be careful on the rocks. • The shark like to roam over the broken coral as it is easier to chase their prey. The broken coral is caused by the action of the low season waves pounding the reef. • The Technique. • Taking control. The guide must take control if a close group is to be formed. • Getting in. Tell the customers to stay near the boat and wait till everybody gets in. • If the group is in a line it creates a wall that the shark won't pass. Sharks won't pass underneath snorkellers. By staying in a close group the inquisitive shark will swim around the group. See map • To stay in a group needs group awareness. Explain that while looking around they must some how be no more than 2-3 meters from 2 other people to maintain a close cluster. • Once the group is up tide it should stop, form a close group and float down stream or down tide. • Staying close using minimal swimming, splashing or talking, optimizes the chance to see the shark. • The Route. There are many routes but new guides should practice the basic route before moving on to the variations. See map • Problems on tour. • Explain that if a customer has a problem they should contact the guide. • If they are separated from the guide they should either • Go to the guide • Go to the boat • Go the nearest rock • Go to the shore Many tours start off from Tonsai Bay in Phi Phi Don and visit shark point by longtail boat making this tour not only exciting but convenient to the main Phi Phi Hotel area.
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