Sand Tiger Sharks

[Scubamedicjoe]

oh petting them well let me see if I can find the one wear I was stupid and brave enough actually pet one most time they will speed away but this one let me pet it luckily there was someone close enough to get a picture. I look for it tonight and post !!!
I must say I do NOT RECOMMEND this.

 

[deco_martini]

No sharks are like puppy dogs. Sand Tigers are # 4 on the International Shark Attack File's list of unprovoked attacks.

1. White
2. Tiger
3. Bull
4. Sand Tiger

I think most sand tiger attacks are attributed to indo-pacific grey nurse sharks. The sand tigers off NC are a distinct population and may indeed be more docile whether its due to genetics or environment.

I've been on the Spar. I made sure to tuck my arms in, stay in the open, and not directly approach the sharks. Yes, they do approach you sometimes. Sometimes quite aggressively (I think most people mistake this for "friendliness", as if sharks have the concept of a human-shark bromance).

I don't think the breeding population off the American Atlantic coast is as dangerous as its relatives around the globe though.

 

[parabolic]

Wow, I didn't think my pictures would light off this extensive discussion of shark behavior. But since it did, I will throw in my $0.02. I was on the Spar for a grand total of 28 minutes, so any generalities I might make about what I saw there would be unsupportable. OTOH, I have been swimming with and photographing sharks for thirty years now and I have seen many types of behavior, so I feel qualified to at least offer opinions based on experience. And that opinion is that the sand tiger sharks I saw on the Spar were totally disinterested in my presence. Unlike hammerheads, they also did not seem bothered by my bubbles. Yes, I was approached very closely on several occasions, but that did not seem to be the result of any interest in me, rather I just got in the way of where they were going (on several occasions, intentionally). A few times, when they got too close for a photo, I gently pushed them away. That brought absolutely no reaction that I could discern. These sharks simply did not care in any way that I was there.

 

[Walter]

How did I know, when I saw your name, that you would contradict what I said?

Possibly because you knew equating sharks with puppy dogs was silly and I'd call you on it if I saw the statement.

You are correct that diving with Sand Tigers is something that can almost always be done without incident, especially if you keep your head and don't do anything stupid. No shark routinely preys on people, but many are potentially extremely dangerous. The Sand Tiger (Grey Nurse) is one of those that is potentially extremely dangerous.

Define "unprovoked" please.

OK.

The International Shark Attack File defines a provoked attack as one in which actions of a human incited the interaction between shark and human. Examples of provoked attacks are: (1) a fisher bitten while unhooking a shark or removing one from a net, (2) a diver bitten after grabbing a shark, (3) a bather bitten after inadvertently kicking a shark or a surfer bitten after landing on a shark after "wiping out," and (4) a diver bitten in a aquarium while feeding a shark. Unprovoked attacks are incidents in which the shark initiates the interaction in its natural environment without human provocation.

 

[packman]

Great pictures. We are lucky to have our population of sand tigers off the coast...so stable and predicable that you can go to certain wrecks and expect to see sharks on them. Our shark population is generally docile and are quite disinterested in the divers. As far as they are concerned, we are noisy, freaky looking things that they would rather avoid. However, spearfishing is a popular activity offshore. The shark's demeanor does change when faced with a stringer full of fish and nothing but the diver between them and a free lunch. On top of that, our sand tigers can get to be a pretty good size...it's not uncommon to see sand tigers out there 10-15 feet long.

In general, however, as long as you're not carrying a bleeding, wriggling fish with you and you are respectful of the sharks (no tail grabbing), there's no danger in swimming with them.

 

[packman]

One of the diver operators out of the NC Coast somewhere had a video they had shot from their boat of a great white around and under the boat. If I find it, I'll link to it.

I've heard, 1st person, from two divers, not known to each other, that dive the NC area a lot and for years, about there is always and annual sighting.

We get an annual run of tuna offshore and it's not uncommon for GW to follow the schools.

 

[deco_martini]

Wow, I didn't think my pictures would light off this extensive discussion of shark behavior. But since it did, I will throw in my $0.02. I was on the Spar for a grand total of 28 minutes, so any generalities I might make about what I saw there would be unsupportable. OTOH, I have been swimming with and photographing sharks for thirty years now and I have seen many types of behavior, so I feel qualified to at least offer opinions based on experience. And that opinion is that the sand tiger sharks I saw on the Spar were totally disinterested in my presence. Unlike hammerheads, they also did not seem bothered by my bubbles. Yes, I was approached very closely on several occasions, but that did not seem to be the result of any interest in me, rather I just got in the way of where they were going (on several occasions, intentionally). A few times, when they got too close for a photo, I gently pushed them away. That brought absolutely no reaction that I could discern. These sharks simply did not care in any way that I was there.

That could be observer bias. A shark approaching you closely may not be due to disinterest. I definitely had a few get within inches of me when I wasn't between the shark and any destination. I definitely had the feeling that the shark was letting me know that it was aware of my presence and was not intimidated. There was one rather large sand tiger in particular on the Spar (so thick in the middle that its tiny head seemed photoshopped on, biggest shark we saw on the wreck) that cruised directly to me and then within inches of my face simply to turn around and go back to its hover position on the wreck.

It definitely felt like the encounter I had with the resident hammerhead in the Georgia Aquarium. Upon entering the aquarium, he likes to show up and do a close flyby on one or more divers to remind you whose pond you are in.

I did not feel scared on the Spar, but I maintained a healthy respect for the resident sharks and remembered not to mis-attribute shark behavior as "friendly". The only time I really felt nervous was when one shark swam between my legs directly under my crotch. But come on, with teeth like sand tigers have, you have to be nervous there.

 

[Air One]

The Sand Tiger (Grey Nurse) is one of those that is potentially extremely dangerous.

"Potentially extremely dangerous" ?!?!?
What do you mean ?
If you swimm around ?
If you dive around ?
If you bump them ?
If you insult them ?
If you try to swallow them in a single mouthful ?

Do you have evidences for saying this ?
Is this an evidence ?

A number of requiem sharks in the genus Carcharhinus likely are involved in many more attacks than they are credited in this list and, if the list could reflect that reality, Carcharhinus bites would push such species as the sandtiger, hammerhead and nurse sharks towards the bottom of the list.

Before to dive with them, my children and me, I've read a little to make up my own opinion :
Those sharks are not dangerous.

 

[parabolic]

That could be observer bias.

So are you saying that your observations, including those in an aquarium, have no bias?

 

[paddler3d]

[/IMG]

What wreck was this? What time of year also?

I'm going to have to put this one on my list!