Why did you choose this career? I have a quote that I have lived by from a very young age, “Choose a career you love and you will never work a day in your life”. This I have done, and from a very young age I visited the Sea Point, Cape Town beaches, always snorkelling in the rock pools, surfing or body boarding. I always dreamt of being a dolphin trainer and then in the 70s that changed and my heart went out to sharks. Spending much time on the Simons Town beaches and witnessing the fishermen hauling out huge Great Whites simply for the trophy of their jaws, made me more determined to want to help them. Then came the Jaws movie, which didn’t help the sharks at all; in fact it did the worst damage any movie could do.
Tell us about the highlights of your career? Firstly, I am very proud to say that last year April marked my 30th anniversary of having started an industry as the first pioneer of white shark-cage diving in South Africa, and to date remain one of four operators left of older eight operators. Still the only female daily-run operation along with my partner Margaret Tsiane. I am also proud to say all my staff have been with us for more than 15 years, which clearly not only makes us colleagues but rather family. From shore staff to boat crew to office staff we have all fought through the battle of covid and continue to move forward and restart to climb the ladder in what we are all experiencing, difficult times with many obstacles. Be this as it may.
Your journey? After leaving school I followed my dreams and studied and worked for the Department of Sea Fisheries for eight years and became a Marine Technician. In that time I was also privileged to visit the Antarctic three times, on the SA Agulhas as well as the new Afrikana research vessel.
Your time at the Two Oceans Aquarium and afterwards? During my career I was chosen out of 360 women to become the first woman aquarist at the Two Oceans Aquarium along with 15 male aquarists. I lived mostly in Struisbaai and was responsible for looking after and transporting the ragged-toothed sharks to the aquarium in huge trucks. I then left the aquarium to join the Shark Research team from the SA Museum and had the opportunity of working with Leonard Compagno, a top white-shark specialist. After a few years I decided to start cage diving and allow the man on the street the opportunity to see these magnificent creatures and change people’s perceptions of these so-called “man eating monsters”.
When did you start with shark diving? I began shark diving in April 1992, hiring a little boat with a one- man round cage and worked on my own for at least four years before others learnt this was a lucrative eco-tourism activity, and soon after the rest followed. I never realised what I started would turn into a huge industry, but was happy as the more education there was out there the more people learnt the facts about these animals. Gansbaai soon became the mecca for great whites in the world and drew thousands of tourists to our towns of Hermanus and Gansbaai, putting us on the map. To date, other countries have followed suit, opening similar operations overseas – eg Australia and Guadalupe, Mexico.
Why do you call Hermanus home? I have lived in Hermanus for 28 years, and made it my home after growing up and living most of my youth in Sea Point. My heart and soul is Hermanus, and in 2015 I won the Mayoral Award for Woman of the Year 2015, for investment of time, money, expertise and dedication into conserving the environment and sharks as well as education of youth and upliftment.
How did you cope during the difficult times? I pride myself in being able to carry on doing what I love even in difficult times. I have over the last few years started some new brands in Hermanus and am spending time learning and researching our new bronze whaler sharks that are adding to the excitement of cage diving in our area of Gansbaai. These ones are very entertaining in that they are quick in coming to the cage and stay until we leave. They are also a good 2,5 to 3 m. A great white was spotted last week in our area, and we’re hoping this winter they return in numbers. Orcas in our area have certainly been a detriment to our great whites and their leaving our area. Meanwhile very happy clients diving with Bronzies, Sting Rays, seals and penguins make for a wonderful family weekend in nature.
What is your future plans? My future plans will always be to convey my knowledge in the simplest way possible and to get to the youth as they are next up to try and save our beautiful planet and its wild life.
To whom do you look up and why? I have always looked up to Sir David Attenborough as well as Dr Eugenie Clark, one of the most dedicated shark scientists in the world.
What is your motto in life? My motto in life is to “Care, Protect and Educate”.
For more information phone 083 746 8985 or 028 313 2306 or 028 312 3287 or send an email to kim@sharklady.co.za or visit www.sharklady.co.za.
