AndrejGajićusuallydivesalone.Atnight.Inshallow,murkywater.Hedivesinthissettingbecausethat’swhereandwhenhe’llfindsharks.AndGajićneedstofind sharks.
Gajićismorethanjustadiver.He’saNationalGeographicExplorerandamarinebiologist.Hisgoalistounderstandhowpollutionaffectssharksandskatesandrays(flatfishcloselyrelatedtosharks).Todothisheneedstoworkbothinalabandinthe water.
DifficultDive
ManyofAndrejGajić’sdivestakeplaceatNeumBay.It’sontheAdriaticSea.It’sahotspotforsharks,rays,andskates.It’salsoagoodplacetoobservethesenocturnalcreatures.
Thewaterhereisthickwithsediment.Gajiccan’tseehishandsinfrontofhisface.Hewaitsuntilhiseyesadjust.Then,hecanmakeoutsomeshapes.Hisvideocameracarriesapowerfullight.Heswitchesiton.Thenheseesthem.Smoothhoundsharksswimincirclesneartheseabed.Heisavisitorhere.Hemustnotmakeanysudden movements.
Gajićexaminesanunbornsmoothoundshark,searchingforsignsof deformities.
Alesserspotteddogfishrestsonthe seabed.
Bewatchful!That’sGajić’smotto.MostofthemarineanimalsGajićseeshavenointerestinpeople.Buthispresencemustnotcausethemstress.Hewatchesthebodylanguageofthesharks.Isheseeinganysuddenmovementstowardhim?No.Thesharksappearcurious.Buttheyarenotthreatenedby him.
Astheyswimaroundhim,helookscloselyattheirjawsandteeth.Hestudiestheirgills,skin,andmuscles.He’slookingforanysignsofdisease.Thesharksappearhealthy.Buttotrulyknow,heneedstolookmuch deeper.
SharksintheAdriatic
Thereare33speciesofsharksintheAdriaticSea.Catsharks,dogfish,andsmoothhoundsareplentiful.Thesharksarefairlysmallandliketostayneartheocean floor.
Intheopenwater,Gajić’steamhasmetlargerbluesharksaswellaslightning-quickmakosharks.Makosmayhaveburstsofspeedupto18.8metersasecond(68 kilometersor42milesan hour).
Europe
Bosnia-
Herzegovina
Adriatic
Sea
Mediterranean
Sea
Neum Bay
Malta
