Sharkproject Switzerland’s representative Anke Apelt is here to check up on shark research and of course also to do as many dives as possible.

BOOT Exhibition
In January 2020, just before COVID changed everything, I was visiting the boat & diving exhibition BOOT in Düsseldorf, Germany. I was there to promote our dive centres at Kihaa Maldives and the opening of our second base at Brennia Kottefaru. While at the show we received excellent news. The Maldivian government approved the blacktip reef shark research license for Gibbs Kuguru. This is also where I met PhD candidate Gibbs in person for the first time. All previous contact was via email and FaceTime.

FESPO Fair
The next stop of my promotion tour was the FESPO a Travel & Tourism fair in Zürich, Switzerland. Sharkproject Switzerland was an exhibitor at the FESPO. The organisation is a major contributor to Gibbs Kuguru’s study, so he suggested a meeting with Anke Apelt. For 5 years Anke is volunteering for the Sharkproject Switzerland and is its board member since 2020. She is involved in many projects but took special interest in the blacktip reef shark research.

Due to COVID both islands where our dive centres are located were closed. Still in December 2020 Anke managed to visit us at our newly opened dive centre at Brennia Kottefaru and we did around 20 dives together.

In the meantime, Gibb Kuguru’s shark study was on hold. Long distance travelling was difficult but also trips between local islands within the Maldives, was at one stage impossible or discouraged.

The Research Begins
Finally in October 2021 Gibbs came to Kihaa Maldives to commence his research. Now Anke is here as a representative of Sharkproject Switzerland to see first-hand the research work Gibbs is doing and the progress he has made. But she is also here as a friend and as a diver.

Sharkproject Calendar
If you have already seen some of Marc’s underwater photos and want to see some more, have a look at the month of July in the Sharkproject Calendar of 2022. You will find Marc’s split picture of a black tip reef shark including a short summary of the study that Gibbs is conducting. Anke invited Marc to include his picture in the calendar.

400 logged dives
Yesterday Anke has completed her 400th dive at DhonfanThila! Four grey reef sharks came along for the occasion.

Congratulations to Anke, a PADI Rescue diver. It was a pleasure to share so many dives with you.