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MOSSEL BAY NEWS AND VIDEO - A resident of Mossel Bay, Paul Botha (36), also known as Lefty the tattoo artist, says he is the first person to tattoo clients while surrounded by great white sharks.
Botha and his team prepared for weeks on end for the event, which took place on 17 July on Mossel Bay waters. In a video Botha's team took of the event, one can see how Botha tattoos his ten clients one by one, while their rocking boat is surrounded by white sharks.
"I wanted to do something original and thought, why not just try something crazy," Botha says.
He says he had to put together separate containers on the boat and prepare his work the previous night at his studio in Mossel Bay.
"It must be a sterile environment." Botha went to great lengths to ensure everything would be sterile on the boat. "I also had to acquire new equipment and a battery unit for the occasion."
He said he came up with the idea about a year ago. He first wanted to do tattooing while skydiving but decided on the shark idea instead. "I approached White Shark Africa as I have been out with them and been in the cage numerous times.
“I have much love and respect for those massive, beautiful creatures but they still scare the life out of me.
"I spoke to the owners of White Shark Africa, Craig Ferreira and Christo Kruger, about my idea and from there everything else started." Botha tattooed a small shark tooth on ten people - six South Africans and four foreigners.
"We were on the water for four hours but the tattoos only took an average of four minutes each."
He says the fact that great white sharks as large as 3.5m were circling the boat made everyone's adrenaline skyrocket and "a week later we are all still so stoked".
Botha says 40% of profits from all shark-related tattoos done by any of his staff will go to the research of and protection of sharks.
Watch a video below:
One of Paul's clients' shark tooth tattoo that was done on the boat.
Paul Botha in action on the boat.
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