Lukas Charwat, also known as Chaluk, is a multimedia artist who has won countless awards for his photography and is a well-known travel blogger from Austria. In his travel report, which he kindly shares with our readers, he recounts the experiences he had on his unforgettable journey to Jupiter. While he didn’t travel to outer space, he reveals what there is to discover in the town of Jupiter, Florida.
Florida – JUPITER
I’m flying toward Jupiter. While it’s well known that humanity plans to travel to Mars, I’m actually already on my way to Jupiter – in Florida. In Miami, I go through immigration, which is now much faster and simpler thanks to electronic entry forms instead of the old blue paper ones. Unbelievably, just 32 minutes later I’m at the “Rental Car Service” and finally sitting in a very comfortable and spacious SUV. About two hours later, including a stop at Starbucks – sorry, I need my coffee – I finally arrive.
Quiet and Secretive
You won’t find large resorts or hotels in Jupiter. It’s a quiet little town with a big harbor, a great shopping center, many deep-sea fishing boats, and seafood restaurants. The Floridian flair is still present. Fishing seems to be the national sport here, at least at first glance. One boat in the harbor stands out due to its paint job – a shark mouth is painted on the bow. “They must be real freaks!” I think spontaneously. However, besides fishing, diving is also very popular in Jupiter. Sightings of large fish are possible even close to shore – and by shore, they mean 100 meters from the beach!
A dive center operates a bit differently here: You rent a scuba tank, charter a boat, or board the locally famous “Emerald Charters.” Everyone here knows Josh – except me. Who is Josh?
Leave your finger on the camera
With three scuba tanks per person, we head to the harbor the next day, where I again notice the boat with the big shark mouth. Strange – today it’s loaded with scuba tanks and has a young skipper with long blond hair. Well, what can I say: That boat is the “Emerald Charters” and our dive boat. I start to feel nervous, as I’ve only heard stories about diving in Jupiter with Josh, the young skipper with long blond hair. While I prepare my gear, Josh works on a fresh tuna, cutting it into small pieces and placing them in a box. Lunch? Not for me... When the boat suddenly stops in the middle of nowhere, he announces: “Okay, ready for the Silkys,” and the box disappears into the depths of the ocean. And I knew exactly who the fine lunch was for. I jump in after the box, finger on the trigger of my underwater camera. And it’s a good thing – the first dive with over 20 fully grown silky sharks is worth hundreds of photos – including a selfie. After more than an hour of underwater “rock’n’roll,” the dive ends and I surface. The next dive is no less spectacular – this time I’m surrounded by numerous lemon sharks and a few bull sharks. Josh uses the bait box to attract and feed the sharks, and yes, they’re quite tame. Whether this is good or bad is debatable, but it has a special purpose: As mentioned, fishing is common in Florida, which isn’t great for sharks. Many fishermen fear sharks and leave hooks in their mouths. Some sharks carry more than just one hook...
National Geographic & more
Many major magazines have now taken notice of the boat and the guide with the long blond hair. “Josh The Shark Guy” is a pioneer in animal protection, and those who don’t know the background might demonize him or simply think: “Are you nuts?” But what this “dive freak” does helps the animals and ensures their survival. Only through dive tourism is this financially possible. Dives with Josh are not for beginners or the faint-hearted. These are drift dives in open water with countless sharks. Silky sharks, lemon sharks, bull sharks, tiger sharks, hammerheads, and sometimes even great whites come very close. Many of these animals have hooks in their mouths, which cause infections and eventually death. A simple trick helps: Turn the shark on its back, and it enters a trance-like state, allowing the hook to be removed. The reaction of the animals is fascinating. Not a single shark reacts aggressively or attacks. It seems as if each one thanks you with a flick of its fin. I completed a total of seven dives with countless sharks of all kinds – all accident-free and all up close. Emerald Charters in Jupiter is a gem in dive tourism and definitely a hidden treasure. A stay here offers not only unique experiences but also helps ensure the survival of many shark species.
More information at: office@chaluk.com