Shark Bite risk

[billt4sf]

I got thinking about the risk of shark attacks while diving so I decided to look up some stats. From Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shark_attack

"Even considering only people who go to beaches, a person's chance of getting attacked by a shark in the United States is 1 in 11.5 million, and a person's chance of getting killed by a shark is less than 1 in 264.1 million.^[20][21] In the United States, the annual number of people who drown is 3,306, whereas the annual number of shark fatalities is 1.<sup>[22]

"The Florida Museum of Natural History compares these statistics with the much higher rate of deaths from other, less feared causes. For example, an average of more than 38 people die annually from lightning strikes in coastal states, while less than 1 person per year is killed by a shark.[15][16] In comparison, 100 million sharks are killed every year by humans.[17][18][19]"

This relaxes me greatly. Actually the last statistic is the most stunning one!

Still, I do question whether it is a good idea to engage in shark feeds while diving.</sup>

 

[Nemrod]

OK.

Worrying about the extreme un-likelyhood of being bitten by a shark is simply a waste of cognition. I have a few phobias, despite being a pilot, I do have a mild fear of heights. I am not afraid of bees but any sort of wasp, well, it is not pretty. Combine a wasp, in an airplane at 5,000 feet AGL, well, that is really not pretty at all, just ask my wife! Both stem from incidents in my childhood. Phobias are irrational fears, meaning they are unfounded or over exaggerated, sorta like most peoples Post Jaws Syndrome ridiculous fear of what is actually a wonderful creature, the amazing shark. You are lucky to see one.

At one time I wondered if sharks might associated "feedings" with divers and that at some point it could cause an unwanted situation. Sort of like feeding bears. But, see, bears are highly intelligent mammals and fast learners. Sharks on the other hand, not so smart, just a pre-programed machine, yeah, you can teach a flatworm how to get through a maze but how long will he remember something that is not in it's hard memory. Sharks are amazing creatures but they are not all that smart, could be wrong. I doubt they would make a long term association.

N

 

[Hatul]

Stay away from shark-infested waters and you'll be OK.

 

[Doc]

What were we nationally most concerned with in the days before the planes struck the towers on 9/11?

"Massive Shark Infestation off Florida Beaches"

 

[vladimir]

OK.

Worrying about the extreme un-likelyhood of being bitten by a shark is simply a waste of cognition. I have a few phobias, despite being a pilot, I do have a mild fear of heights. I am not afraid of bees but any sort of wasp, well, it is not pretty. Combine a wasp, in an airplane at 5,000 feet AGL, well, that is really not pretty at all, just ask my wife! Both stem from incidents in my childhood. Phobias are irrational fears, meaning they are unfounded or over exaggerated, sorta like most peoples Post Jaws Syndrome ridiculous fear of what is actually a wonderful creature, the amazing shark. You are lucky to see one.

At one time I wondered if sharks might associated "feedings" with divers and that at some point it could cause an unwanted situation. Sort of like feeding bears. But, see, bears are highly intelligent mammals and fast learners. Sharks on the other hand, not so smart, just a pre-programed machine, yeah, you can teach a flatworm how to get through a maze but how long will he remember something that is not in it's hard memory. Sharks are amazing creatures but they are not all that smart, could be wrong. I doubt they would make a long term association.

N

Sharks are pretty good at associating feeding with boats, it seems, so it wouldn't be a reach to think they could make the same association with divers. I did a liveaboard to the Coral Sea around 1999 on the Spoilsport. The highlight of the trip was what they called the "scuba zoo," where they put the divers in cages and fed the sharks. I went back the next year and they had discontinued the shark feed. When I asked why, they explained that the sharks in this remote area had begun assembling upon the Spoilsport's arrival in anticipation of the feed. When shark-finning boats showed up in the area, either coincidentally or by design, they were greeted by enthusiastic sharks&#8212;until the shark population was depleted.

 

[eponym]

I got thinking about the risk of shark attacks while diving so I decided to look up some stats.

Annual Risk Of Death During One's Lifetime, 2003

Cause	Annual Deaths	Lifetime Risk
Heart disease	652,486	1 in 5
Cancer	553,888	1 in 7
Stroke	150,074	1 in 24
Hospital Infections	99,000	1 in 38
Flu	59,664	1 in 63
Car accidents	44,757	1 in 84
Suicide	31,484	1 in 119
Accidental poisoning	19,456	1 in 193
MRSA (resistant bacteria)	19,000	1 in 197
Falls	17,229	1 in 218
Drowning	3,306	1 in 1,134
Bike accident	762	1 in 4,919
Air/space accident	742	1 in 5,051
Excessive cold	620	1 in 6,045
Sun/heat exposure	273	1 in 13,729
Lightning	47	1 in 79,746
Train crash	24	1 in 156,169
Fireworks	11	1 in 340,733
Shark attack	1	1 in 3,748,067

Sources: All accidental death information from National Safety Council. Disease death information from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Shark fatality data provided by the International Shark Attack File.

Lifetime risk is calculated by dividing 2003 population (290,850,005) by the number of deaths, divided by 77.6, the life expectancy of a person born in 2003.

© International Shark Attack File
Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida

 

[Kitty_Kat]

Just dive in spots where there are plenty of surfers! You'll be fine!

 

[dumpsterDiver]

What were we nationally most concerned with in the days before the planes struck the towers on 9/11?

"Massive Shark Infestation off Florida Beaches"

[video=youtube;tVA3EbhcAbI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVA3EbhcAbI&amp;feature=share&amp;list=UU1utDku8vJ RJYgBZImLyLJQ[/video]

 

[vladimir]

Lifetime risk is calculated by dividing 2003 population (290,850,005) by the number of deaths, divided by 77.6, the life expectancy of a person born in 2003.

That methodology is what renders the statistic meaningless. Taking the huge number of people who never step in saltwater out of the denominator will give you a somewhat more meaningful figure. Unless you are worried about being attacked by a shark while sitting on your tractor in Iowa.

 

[3D diver]

I drive 3 hours for 1 or 2 hours of diving and am probably safer in the water.

As for that list...I've survived a heart attack, cancer and being hit by a car on my bicycle. Hope not to try the rest.