Journal of the fiftyninth day on board

30th June, 1999

Time: 5,10 We have spotted a fin on the surface, two in fact. We are above the Levant reef about 10 miles from Lampedusa. The shark swam slowly around the boat. Franco, it was his turn, saw it clearly even if he didn’t recognise the type and assured us it wasn’t a 'pesce luna', a fish which often swims near the surface with its triangular dorsal fin out of the water and can easily be confused with a shark. I woke up straight away.

Time: 15,30 We carry on chumming intensely. Its been 8 hours since I've been watching the surface of the water and the monitor (the one transmitting the images taken under the boat). I keep turning my head but I've still seen nothing. This doesn’t mean much as the shark, if it is nearby, could come back at any time.

Time: 18,00 We carry on.