Rob Mason reports on Dearne Valley Divers’ ambitious project to film elusive British sharks off a beautiful beach in the Hebrides
UKDIVING
Aerial image of Vaul Bay, Tiree
The Tope of Tiree a BSAC shark expedition
Success! A tope shark captured on remote camera
Rob Mason reports on Dearne Valley Divers’ ambitious project to film elusive British sharks off a beautiful beach in the Hebrides
The beach seemed almost too perfect to be real. White sand stretched into the distance, backed by rolling dunes of machair, while turquoise Atlantic waters shimmered in the summer sunlight. It felt like I’ d stumbled upon a little piece of paradise.
I reached for my drone, keen to capture the scene from above. As I was setting up, a local approached and casually asked a question that would change everything.“ Are you here to film the sharks?” Sharks?
Until that moment, I had no idea that hundreds of tope sharks regularly gathered in the waters around this beautiful, remote corner of Tiree. I was fascinated. Could this natural spectacle provide the inspiration for an expedition that would bring divers together, creating a sense of purpose within the club? At the time, it seemed more than a little absurd.
Fast forward to 2026, and that idea suddenly took on a new significance.
I suspect most diving clubs experience it at some point: that moment when the excitement and variety of branch life begin to feel a little repetitive, and the sense of adventure can become harder to maintain. Enthusiasm can ebb and motivation can
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