Shark Whisperer: Diving Instructor Puts Sharp-Toothed Creature Into Trance

By Rebecca Lewis @RebeccaSLewis

FOR most people swimming with Caribbean Reef Sharks would be enough of a challenge but this diver went one step further - by placing the large fish into a trance

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Shark whisperer, Miguel Angel Somavilla, 43 from Spain, lures the sharks with bait.

Once close, he touches them on the Ampullae of Lorenzini - sensory organs that help detect electric fields in the water - which puts them into a trance-like state.

Miguel touches them on the Ampullae of Lorenzini to put the sharks in a trance-like state

Most people would be terrified to be so close to a shark

The Bahamas-based diving instructor at Reef Oasis Dive Club displayed his talents for photographers, Caroline and Nick Robertson-Brown, from Manchester.

Miguel said: “I have been close to animals all my life. I love to observe their behaviour. I started when I was a child with dogs.

Miguel wears a chain mail suit to keep him safe from shark bites

Once the shark is in a trance, Miguel is able to guide it around the seabed

“I moved to Costa Rica for four months and I did my shark training there.

“I’m absolutely not afraid of sharks.”

He attracts the sharks with fish - and then puts them into a daze

Should the shark wake from his daze disorientated and angry Miguel wears a special chain mail suit to protect him from bites.

The water around Grand Bahama is teeming with Caribbean Reef Sharks and there is no danger for divers who want to explore their habitat - as long as the sharp-toothed animals are not provoked.

Only a few sharks will choose to 'accept' Miguel's touch

Caroline and Nick, who run diving expeditions as ‘Frogfish Photography’, said: “We met Miguel as part of this trip which was setup for us to dive with sharks in as many locations in the Bahamas as possible in the short time we were there.

“We wanted to see as many different types of shark dives that are offered on these islands.

“The Bahamas is a wonderful destination for those that want to see sharks up close in clear blue warm water.

Miguel has worked with sharks for a number of years and is able to interact with them

Photographers Nick and Caroline Robertson-Brown watched Miguel in action

“If used for research, removing hooks and fishing line that damages the sharks mouth and other beneficial reasons for the sharks, then this talent of Miguel's is great.

“He is very respectful of the sharks, and does not feed them, so that the impact on the shark of what he does is reduced.

“Sharks are such wonderful, and mis-understood, animals and so we like to take images that will change people's perspective of them, showing them up close to divers.”