Chris Knight / mediadrumworld.com

Swimming with Tiger Sharks

By Rebecca Drew

BREATH-TAKING images have revealed a fearless British photographer getting up close and personal with 1,000-pound tiger sharks in the Bahamas.

Jaydrydenphoto.com / mediadrumworld.com
Jaydrydenphoto.com / mediadrumworld.com

The series of spectacular images show the photographer facing the 13-foot-long shark head on and even reaching his hand out towards the deadly predator.

Mike Bolton / mediadrumworld.com
Mike Bolton / mediadrumworld.com

Other shots of the sharks show them swimming along the sea bed and willingly allowing their photographs to be taken.

Chris Knight / mediadrumworld.com
Chris Knight / mediadrumworld.com

The spectacular photographs show photographer Chris Knight from Windsor, UK relaxing with the sharks at Tiger Beach, Bahamas.

Mike Bolton / mediadrumworld.com
Mike Bolton / mediadrumworld.com

“This is a truly unique place where you can almost guarantee to see Lemon, Reef, Nurse and of course the Tiger Sharks which is the main reason we go there,” said Chris.

“It is an easy shallow dive in usually clear water with a sandy bottom.

“This means you have a clear view all around and you can just kneel on the bottom and wait for them to come up to you.

“I love being in the water with large and potentially dangerous animals, when they are calm around you and they let you share a moment with them it is a truly special feeling.

“A few shots were taken of me and the sharks by Jay Dryden and my friend Mike Bolton and this shows you just how close I am getting to these huge but gentle predators.”

Chris Knight / mediadrumworld.com
Chris Knight / mediadrumworld.com

Tiger sharks have gained themselves a man-eating reputation because they are not fussy and will eat mostly anything they can find. Tiger sharks are also harvested for their fins and skin to produce vitamin oil.

Chris Knight / mediadrumworld.com
Chris Knight / mediadrumworld.com

Chris says that the sharks are misunderstood by most and says he would like people to admire them instead of fear them.

Chris Knight / mediadrumworld.com
Chris Knight / mediadrumworld.com

“A lot of the large predators and especially the sharks that I dive with are very misunderstood,” he explained.

“I would like people to look at the pictures and see the same beauty in sharks that I see and I hope that in some way it will lead to people wanting to find out more about them.
“A lot of people still think of sharks as mindless killers that will attack at any given opportunity.
“I want them to realise that someone actually took those photos and in most cases in order to get the shots the photographer had to be within an arm’s reach of the shark.
“I would like them to know that I have been doing this for around six years now and I still have two arms and two legs and a big smile on my face.”