Tagging Tiger Sharks | SharkFest | National Geographic

Yeah, we're just going to keep chumming, I think, and tee it up now. Paige has another chance to tag in a wahoo tiger shark before they gather in.

As soon as I jumped in while she's prepping the camera, I said, "Paige, this is your shot, this is your shark." I am really trying to just let the rest of the noise that's going on in my head kind of fade away, and I am on a level of focus that I have not experienced before in my life.

"It's here, she's here, it's good." I looked over, and she's already swimming down. She's literally like at that one point right behind the shark where he can't quite see the back of his dorsal fin. My heartbeat in that moment was so loud in my ears; it was like I couldn't hear anything else.

Seeing it go on right where it needs to be, the shark had no idea until Boom! The clamp went on, and I was just so relieved. I was just like, "Yes!" I was like, "We did it!" We didn't know what the shark was going to do after the bag was put on his dorsal fin, and then he comes back.

"Here comes this tiger shark with a bright orange little package," and we were just like, "Ah, now we're on his camera!" You know, it's so cool; now the shark's filming us.

For Paige, this is the culmination of years of preparation. God, the sense of relief that I felt once I saw that the camera was on was huge. I'm super proud of her; she has worked her butt off for the last few years to make sure that this thing is deployed on a tiger shark, and she nailed it.

Paige has proven that it doesn't disturb the shark's natural behavior in the slightest. I mean, the fact that he came back around validates the method of tagging. It was exciting enough to see from the shark's point of view, but then I see that he actually went and swam up to another tiger shark, which is just insane.

It brings the proof of concept full circle. It takes a uniquely skilled team trained in the right way with the right equipment, and we have that team. I have no doubt that Paige has the ability to pull this off. I'm definitely ready for Maui.