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.

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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.'

