Schofe goes diving with sharks
Last year we did an item on This Morning about bucket lists. After the item Holly innocently asked what was on my bucket list?
Next thing I knew, agents had been contacted, flights had been booked (oh, and sun cream purchased) and I was jetting off to South Africa with my wife Steph for the adventure of a lifetime. I had always wanted to visit this beautiful country, so this trip gave me the perfect opportunity to mix business with a lot of pleasure and bring home some incredible memories.
Part 1: Schofe goes diving with sharks and Behind the scenes of Schofe's shark diving adventure
Part 2: Schofe abseils down Table Mountain
Part 3: Schofe meets the real-life Crocodile Dundee
Part 4: Spot the two-tonne rhino, Schofe!
During the series Schofield’s South African Adventure we visited Cape Town where I joined a Djembe drum group; haggled (very badly) for a gift for Holly; and abseiled off the jaw-dropping Table Mountain. We also visited Founders Lodge and Amakhala Game Reserve for perhaps the ultimate safari. In addition to the giraffe and many other stunning animals, I got to take part in an anti-poaching operation – cue helicopters, men with huge guns and me administering an injection to a rhino – words really don’t do it justice, you’ll just have to tune in.
It was however, diving with a Great White that was top of my bucket list and boy did I get to tick that one off in style. Seeing them from the deck of the boat was amazing, but then actually getting into the water with them, with only the bars of the cage between me and one of nature’s deadliest predators, has to be experienced to be believed.
Seeing Great Whites that close, surpassed my every expectation; their speed, grace and elegance travelling underwater takes your breath away; or at least it would if you weren’t holding it to see the sharks.
I have always been fascinated with Great Whites and seeing them in their natural environment has only increased my admiration; however, I also learned some horrifying facts such as, we are killing between 30-70 million sharks EVERY year for everything from ‘shark fin soup’, their meat, even ironically their jaws for trophies. I hope once you see the film you will feel as passionately as I do about protecting their future.
We hope you enjoy our shark film, and indeed the whole series, as much as we enjoyed making them. If you do enjoy, it we made a short bonus ‘Making Of’ film, which can be seen soon!
All the best
Phillip
P.S. A big thank you to my amazing crew; Geraint Warrington and soundman Rich Whitley.
The producers would like to thank
Alison Towner, Cari du Preez and all the team at Marine Dynamic.
Richard Peirce for his shark expertise