The Science of Shark Attacks

Every year there are over 100 shark attacks worldwide. Those who come face to face with the ultimate predator rarely escape unscathed. Understanding how and why they attack is our only chance of surviving this natural born killer. But can we predict their behaviour and avoid their attack?

Near Cape Town, on the Southwest tip of South Africa, the coastline pounded by the planet's most violent sea. Here, the Indian Ocean meets the Atlantic, creating the notorious Cape of Good Hope feared by mariners worldwide. But beneath the waves, lies a greater danger. There are over 350 different species of shark that patrol our seas, but three are especially dangerous to man. The Bull, the Tiger and perhaps the most feared of all the Great White. Growing to over 20 feet in length and weighing over 3 tones- Great Whites have few enemies.

33 year old local, Craig Ferreira, has been fascinated with the behaviour of the Great White for nearly all of his life.

"If we can really learn enough about the white shark's interaction with humans, we can provide positive input or really substantial information to the general public that use the ocean."

Craig hunts for Great Whites in a stretch of sea known as 'shark alley', 10 miles off the southerly tip of Cape Town. Already a veteran of cage diving, Craig now pushes the envelope even further. He dives with the Great White unprotected to study how they react to humans in open water. It's a high-risk experiment. Great White's are intelligent hunters and pick their prey carefully - they don't get to grow to 20 feet in length by being reckless…or too timid.

"What you've got to remember when diving with them is that these animals take out huge seals, they take out other large sharks, they eat and kill big sharks, so if that shark decides to do something, you've got absolutely no chance at all, and obviously as a result you do have close encounters."