SHE calls them the labradors of the sea and there is nothing Deborah Bowden, 26, of Birkdale, likes to do more than get up close and personal with the Grey Nurse shark.
The University of Queensland PhD student has recently been awarded a $6400 grant through the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife to discover the shark's breeding grounds.
Her ultimate aim is to have the area protected, in order to preserve the endangered species.
Her research is being supported by the Grey Nurse Shark Research and Community Engagement Program and has involved volunteers through Seaworld and Australia Zoo.
The research involves Australia Zoo's vessel Croc 1, aboard which Deborah is traveling to potential Grey Nurse gestation sites, scuba diving to photograph the sharks and habitats, and set baited remote underwater video cameras.
"This isn't something you can do alone, so the volunteers are vital to the project," she said.
Deborah said by targeting gaps in the knowledge of the gestation of Grey Nurse sharks, she might be able to significantly aid the conservation of the species.
"This isn't one of those suck it and see projects.
"Once I find the site, I want to look at what attracts the shark to that area the bottom topography, other species and how long they remain there."
Along the way, Deborah said she hoped to dispel the myth that sharks were "scary predators".
"They are majestic and interesting animals that are harmless to people. That's why they are popular with the aquarium industry. They are slow moving, friendly, you can get close to them and they put on a great toothy smile for the camera," she said.
Deborah extends her fearlessness around sharks to other species.
"They are more curious than anything. They like it if they can see you and you can see them. I have never once felt threatened."
Deborah's love of sharks started when she went for scuba diving lessons at age 16.
"I grew up in Brisbane so got to spend lots of time in Moreton Bay (a favourite place is Flinders Reef off Moreton Island). Most people are really surprised when I say what I do," she said.
Deborah is asking divers who have seen or photographed grey nurse sharks along the east coast to share their information with her via the Grey Nurse Shark Watch website www.reefcheckaustralia.org/grey-nurse-shark-watch.html.
