‘Jaws’ moment puts teen in spotlight

TALI FEINBERG

The clip, shot at Robberg Beach in Plettenberg Bay, shows a massive great white shark swimming below surfers in crystal-clear waters. The people seem oblivious, although at one point, a paddle skier sees the predator and moves away. The shark never attacks, and eventually swims in the opposite direction. It’s a breathtaking recording of man at the mercy of the natural world.

The video, which Zachary Berman took on 23 June, appeared on BBC News and hundreds of other news outlets, and has had at least 80 000 views on Instagram and 65 000 views on YouTube. Between interviews with news networks CNN and ABC, Berman made time to talk to the SA Jewish Report. He attends Bishops Diocesan College and lives in Cape Town, but has been staying at his family’s holiday home on Robberg Beach since March, just before the lockdown began.

“I’ve been coming here my since I was born, and I’m inspired by my cousin Robbie Berman, who has flown drones over this beach for many years. My parents have taught me a lot about the wildlife in the area, and I’ve always loved filming dolphins, whales, and sharks,” he says. He decided to post some of his videos on Instagram under the profile @crazy_nature2.0, which includes beautiful footage of whales and dolphins. But it was the video of the shark that grabbed the world’s attention.

“There are a lot of sharks along this beach as there is a large seal population. The sharks live here, and swim up and down the bay. This one was massive, more than four metres long. I’ve never seen one so big before,” he says. “I think it was looking to attack, but didn’t have enough depth in the sea to get power. As soon as we saw it, we called the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), and I ran down to the beach to try to get the surfers’ attention.

“When they came out of the water, they were absolutely shocked and flabbergasted. They had no idea the shark was so close to them or had stayed near them for so long. However, soon after, they got back in the water!” And the next day, Berman caught another breathtaking video of a great white shark swimming near surfers.

The NSRI has since used the video to raise awareness of the danger of great white sharks in the area. Berman is glad it has done so, “as the sharks are often near the surfers, who don’t listen to the warnings”. He says that a shark has never attacked a surfer at Robberg before, but thinks it may happen if people continue to take risks. He has swum in these waters, but usually in summer, when the sharks aren’t as active. “This is their feeding time,” he says.

“The behaviour seen in this drone footage shows that the shark is aware of the surfers and is investigating them,” Sarah Waries, of the City of Cape Town Shark Spotters programme, said in a statement, quoted by CNN.

“It’s important for people to remember that great white sharks are naturally inquisitive predators, and that although shark bites are rare, water users must understand the inherent risk associated with sharing the ocean with these animals and change their behaviour accordingly to avoid encountering sharks.”

Berman says the water isn’t usually so clear – it often depends on the weather. However the wildlife is always abundant, and he has also filmed birds. “We see blackbirds migrating over the sea, but you can’t get too close with the drone, or they will attack it!”

He has been flying a drone for a year and a half, and says he has much more footage that he will soon post on Instagram. At the moment, it’s still a hobby, but the future looks bright. He’s taking the attention in his stride, although it can be overwhelming at times. However, he’s happy that “so many people care about wildlife”.