Tiger sharks are common along the Florida coast. While sometimes dangerous, they can be beautiful to observe as they navigate beneath the water. Some people, like Kinga Phillips and Shane Reynolds, are comfortable diving and swimming with them. When Shane isn’t in a wetsuit, he can be found above the surface dropping a camera into the water. This offers a unique view of tiger sharks near Okaloosa Pier.
Okaloosa Pier is near Fort Walton Beach, Florida, between Pensacola and Panama Beach. The shallow, clear water makes for great shark-watching. Shane Reynolds is an Underwater Cinematographer, Drone Pilot, and Surfer. He is the mastermind behind Color Earth Pro Productions. You may also recognize him from his appearances on various shark programs.
This year, Shane and Kinga Phillips volunteered to assist Okaloosa County with data collection. At the base of the pier is a transponder from which they retrieved data. They also used the opportunity to film the shark activity.
Tiger sharks congregate near Okaloosa Pier because food is plentiful due to a phenomenon known as “school-induced hypoxia.” When schools of bait fish become too large, they crowd, and some drop dead to the bottom due to lack of oxygen. The tiger sharks feed on the dead bait fish under the pier. With plentiful food, the tiger sharks will continue to return year after year.
Although tiger sharks can be dangerous, they pose little threat to humans when food is plentiful. Their average length is around 14 feet, but they can grow up to 20 feet and weigh as much as 1,000 pounds. They are opportunistic feeders and will eat just about anything. As with any potentially dangerous wild animal, respecting their space is essential for co-existence. Please share.
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