ending dives with sharks circling?

[highdesert]

Do a quick exit? I suppose it all depends upon your perception of the danger. We did a week in the Bahamas this fall and pretty well sucked our tanks dry on the hangbar, enjoying the Sharks as they came by.

One's perception of danger can change based on the exhibited behavior of said sharks. Are they lazily circling, simply checking you out? Great, hang out and enjoy! Or are they approaching within arm's length then retreating in a repeated, agitated manner, or doing the "bump and run" as skankpile notes above? Now it's exit time. Pay attention, and use common sense.

If it comes to having to defend from a shark that's aggressively charging, bang them hard in the nose, which is covered with sensitive receptors. A nice big camera housing is your friend here. In the worst case, if you're grabbed, go straight for the eyes if you possibly can, but in any event, fight hard! Don't try the play dead thing. Attacks are rare. Don't "expect" they're going to get aggressive, or they'll sense your uneasiness. Stay calm unless you're really required to take action.

 

[Splitlip]

Getting bumped by bullsharks was cool? You are either stupid or crazy.....and those traits are not mutually exclusive.

I don't think he meant it was "cool" getting bumped. I was surprisingly cool when I encountered a Bull while surfing with my 13 year old daughter. I was cool, but it was far from being cool. I am by far more concerned with sharks surfing as opposed to SCUBA.

 

[Kourtjestr]

Not sure if I'd be as calm as eveyone in this thead seems to be. How often do peoble see dangerous sharks during a dive? Just wondering how common it is. Just got my 13yr old son his Basic Cert this last summer, we had planned a dive charter this summer at Myrtle Beach SC but Ireane put a end to that. Any way, we saw tons of shark ads. Sharks this, sharks that, blah blah blah sharks everywhere, well he and his mom just worry worry worry about sharks. Never got to disprove the issue that shark sightings are in my opinoin very rare? Any one care to share their experiences?
Thanks
Dennis

Was in the Keys for a week in the end of Oct, in the water quite a bit - only saw 1 shark, and it was hanging on the bottom. As I was on a snorkel tour with my wife, I decided to leave it be.

 

[racerx_]

interesting thoughts here..

have to say "Don't thrash around like a wounded seal?" made me laugh at my desk though although its probably not bad advice haha

 

[vladimir]

Stay with your buddy, closer the better. Keep an eye on the sharks. If they come in close enough, hit them as hard as you can with whatever you have. You can keep your back to your buddy's helps to protect your rear. Make sure the sharks know you are watching them and if/when they get close, lunge forward for them in an aggressive manner. I swear that screaming for the boat brings them to you on the surface.

As an aside, and in reference to the recent proliferation of threads attempting to define advanced diving, let me say that in my opinion, fending off attacking sharks is an advanced skill.

 

[Doc]

As an aside, and in reference to the recent proliferation of threads attempting to define advanced diving, let me say that in my opinion, fending off attacking sharks is an advanced skill.

But those with this advanced skill are not necessarily advanced divers.

Was in the Keys for a week in the end of Oct, in the water quite a bit - only saw 1 shark, and it was hanging on the bottom. As I was on a snorkel tour with my wife, I decided to leave it be.

Maybe that was a Nerf Shark. They're quite spongy.

 

[Kourtjestr]

Maybe that was a Nerf Shark. They're quite spongy.

I'm going to go with a big NO on that one.

 

[DivemasterDennis]

All the serious suggestions in the thread are good, and the rest are entertaining. In my experience, unless you were feeding the sharks, (or the boat was), they are not likely to follow you to the surface, though it could happen. My advice is enjoy the encounter- because seeing large predators is a unique treat at most dive sites. When the objective of the dive is to locate sharks, when you do it is not fear that hits, but excitment. Just stay calm, hands and arms in close. It is extremely rare for a person in scuba gear who has not been feeding sharks to be bit by one. If you feed sharks, in my book you deserve to be bitten.
DivemasterDennis

 

[Kourtjestr]

It is extremely rare for a person in scuba gear who has not been feeding sharks to be bit by one. If you feed sharks, in my book you deserve to be bitten.
DivemasterDennis

I would agree - if you are dumb enough to go to a top predator that is bigger, stronger, and faster than you, and then associate yourself with food for it.... What did you EXPECT was going to happen? I don't go out to a pride of lions dressed like a Big Mac....

 

[Guba]

And going salmon fishing in bear country smelling like bacon grease isn't too bright either.

The rules seem simple...when in the domain of an apex predator, one should do everything possible not to have the appearance of food. Or, as I tell my students, "don't put yourself on the menu!"