Is that the best place for a dip? Incredible video shows fearless South African diver swimming just inches from Tiger sharks
- Photos show Lesley Rochat swimming with Tiger sharks in South Africa
- Dressed in only a bikini, she comes within inches of the deadly creatures
- Ms Rochat, who founded AfriOceans, aims to promote shark conservation
- Hopes to stop the use of drum lines in Western Australia and South Africa
For most people, swimming with sharks without a safety net is the stuff of nightmares.
But for Lesley Rochat - known as the 'shark warrior' - diving with the deadly creatures is one of her 'greatest joys'.
These incredible photos show the fearless free diver swimming with Tiger sharks off the coast of South Africa in a bid to promote conservation.
Scroll down for videos
Naked: During the photo shoot, Ms Rochat even posed naked in the ocean while attached to a shark hook - with dozens of the sea creatures swimming around her. Above, the diver prepares to be attached to the hook
Attached: Ms Rochat, pictured on the large underwater shark hook, described the photo shoot as 'extreme'
Practice: The free diver and campaigner practices with the hook in a swimming pool prior to the photo shoot
Dressed in only a bikini, she is captured coming within touching distance of the creatures, which are considered one of the most deadly species in the world.
She can also be seen swimming alongside Lemon sharks, known for their powerful bite, and Caribbean reef sharks, which can grow up to 10ft long, in other locations.
The photos were taken as part of the campaign 'Get Hooked on Conservation, Ban Drumlines', which aims to stop the culling of sharks using drum lines in Western Australia and South Africa.
A drum line consists of a floating drum with two lines attached to it. One line is joined to an anchor on the sea bed, while the other attached to a large baited shark hook dangling underneath the surface of the water.
Brave: Lesley Rochat is captured swimming with Tiger sharks in South Africa in a bid to promote conservation
No protection: Dressed in only a bikini, the free diver comes within touching distance of the deadly creatures
Diving deep: She also swims alongside Lemon sharks, known for their strong bite, and Caribbean reef sharks
Plea: The photos were taken as part of the campaign 'Get Hooked on Conservation, Ban Drumlines' (left), which aims to stop the culling of sharks using drum lines in Western Australia and South Africa. Right, Ms Rochat
In January this year, West Australia's controversial catch-and-kill order saw the first shark shot to death after being discovered on a baited drum line off Meelup Beach, near Dunsborough.
Ms Rochat, who founded the firm behind the campaign, AfriOceans, claims that an organisation in South Africa has also been culling sharks using nets and drum lines 'for decades'.
During the photo shoot, the conservationist even posed naked in the ocean while attached to a shark hook - with dozens of the sea creatures swimming around her.
Joyful: A drum line consists of a floating drum with two lines attached to it. One line is joined to an anchor on the sea bed, while the other attached to a large baited shark hook dangling underneath the surface of the water
Surrounded: In January, West Australia's controversial catch-and-kill order saw the first shark shot to death after being found on a drum line off Meelup Beach, near Dunsborough. Above, Ms Rochat swims with sharks
Among friends: Ms Rochat, who runs the firm behind the campaign, AfriOceans, is pictured diving with a shark
Action: The free diver claims an organisation in South Africa has also been culling sharks using drum lines
On her blog, Ms Rochat, who has been diving with sharks for more than 15 years, described the shoot as 'extreme'.
'It was challenging because of the open ocean conditions, plus being naked, having to pose kinda dead hanging from a large hook while holding my breath and hoping the 30 plus sharks were in place! (sic),' she wrote.
'Shark culling is not new in South Africa, the KwaZulu Natal Sharks Board have been using shark nets and drumlines for decades.
Campaigner: Ms Rochat said she understood that there was a risk she might be bitten by the sea creatures
Fighting for sharks: However, she said she was determined to change people's perceptions of sharks. Left, another campaign poster with the caption: 'Catches Anything, Kills Everything'. Right, Ms Rochat after the shoot
'Up to 600 sharks plus hundreds of other marine life, including dolphins and whales, are caught by these barbaric killing devices every year.
'The ocean is the domain of sharks and we are merely guests in their world. We have no right just because a few of us get killed by sharks annually to go out and start suffocating and shooting sharks to death.'
Ms Rochat added that she understood that there was a risk she might be bitten by the sharks - but that she was determined to change people's perceptions of the creatures.
Most watched News videos
- Russian soldiers catch 'Ukrainian spy' on motorbike near airbase
- MMA fighter catches gator on Florida street with his bare hands
- Rayner says to 'stop obsessing over my house' during PMQs
- Moment escaped Household Cavalry horses rampage through London
- New AI-based Putin biopic shows the president soiling his nappy
- Brazen thief raids Greggs and walks out of store with sandwiches
- Shocking moment woman is abducted by man in Oregon
- Sir Jeffrey Donaldson arrives at court over sexual offence charges
- Prison Break fail! Moment prisoners escape prison and are arrested
- Ammanford school 'stabbing': Police and ambulance on scene
- Helicopters collide in Malaysia in shocking scenes killing ten
- Vacay gone astray! Shocking moment cruise ship crashes into port