How many fatal shark attacks to stop you diving

How many fatal attacks in an area to deter you from diving

  • 1 per year

    Votes: 2 0.9%
  • 2 per year

    Votes: 12 5.7%
  • 6 per year. One every second month.

    Votes: 13 6.1%
  • 12 per year. One every month.

    Votes: 10 4.7%
  • 1 every week

    Votes: 25 11.8%
  • I don't care and believe that shark finning or culling is morally wrong.

    Votes: 89 42.0%
  • I find this poll disturbing and hopelessly flawed.

    Votes: 61 28.8%

  • Total voters
    212
  • Poll closed .

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I voted 1 per year. Maybe one per infinity if it were a diver (even one on the surface like a swimmer--yes, we go there frequently). Of course, I haven't heard of any for sure yet at any of the specific places I dive. I would guess that if I heard of ONE, in reality, I probably would continue to dive that spot with my eyes wide open (as they always are). So, I don't completely disagree with tridacna--I wouldn't go as far as calling the poll dumb, but I think we all know sharks exist and can kill you. And I think we all will keep diving regardless--The poll seems to ask if more shark attacks happen in a specific locale would you stop. So I guess it is valid. Of course, the poll was successful in causing the usual explanations of the tiny % of attacks on divers.

The problem is that by voting, you have contributed to his ultimate goal which is to show that people are afraid of (and deterred by) sharks.

Ergo, they must be eradicated when they are perceived to be a dangerous nuisance to swimmers and/or divers.

There is no way to vote in the poll that conveys your (and my) real feelings about this. Your vote just adds to the number who have stated that they will not dive because of sharks.

This guy is a serious proponent of shark culling and all the data that we provide to him in this poll serves to further that agenda. See his previous posts.
 

Confirmed Unprovoked Shark Attacks, 1580–2013


Region
Total
Attacks
Fatal
Attacks
Last
Fatality
United States
(Excluding Hawaii)
1055
36
2012
Australia
704
202
2014
Africa
339
93
2013
Asia
129
48
2000
Hawaii
129
10
2013
Pacific Islands / Oceania
(Excluding Hawaii)
126
49
2011
South America
117
26
2013
Antilles and Bahamas
70
16
2013
Middle America
57
27
2011
New Zealand
49
9
2013
Europe
49
27
1989
Réunion Island
33
17
2013
Unspecified / Open Ocean
21
7
1995
Bermuda
3
—
Total:
2,881
569
2013


In 433 years and 22,516 weeks of reporting there have been 569 reported fatalities world wide for an average of .02527 fatalities per week. (for the record there have been an average of .12769 attacks per week in the same time period)

Are shark fatalities and their trending really that big of an issue? Statistically there would have to dramatically increase for years to move the decimal point from 100ths to 10ths

Since this is ScubaBoard, and this chart doesn't segregate into the type of activity underway at the time of the attack, it serves no purpose in this discussion.

---------- Post added February 18th, 2014 at 12:15 PM ----------

Last of all, What about Orka (killer whale) attacks? or Giant Squid Attacks? or Giant Pacific Octopus Attacks?

Or how about Heart Attacks, which probably kill more divers than any other type of attack known to man?
 
As far as I know, there has not been a fatal GWS attack in our waters over the last 50 years (which pretty well approximates the amount of time I've been diving here). However, I don't do open ocean swimming, paddleboarding or surfing. No attacks in our waters on them either though.
Nine, but who's counting? :)
Authenticated White Shark Attacks '90s
 
You didn't have a box for "No amount would deter me".

I very seldom or never think about it. And if I do it's more of a fantasy to be able to get that close to something that magnificent.
I live and dive in a very shark infested area, so if I worried about it I would never dive.

I think that's why there are more posts than poll takers.

If I was going to be nervous about The Landlord it would not be while SCUBA Diving.



Bob
-------------------------------------
I may be old, but I'm not dead yet
 
When hunting for animals ceases to be an activity or a sport and is categorized as an attack then I'll begin to worry about animal attacks on humans.
Don't get me wrong I love fishing and hunting, but I don't consider a shark bitting a surfer, swimmer or any other human being in the ocean an attack!
 
I suppose the first one on me is going to stop me.
 
I'm way more worried about those pesky land sharks.

[video]http://www.spike.com/video-clips/gytf2i/land-shark[/video]
 
. . .
Assume that the attacks occur on people in the water undertaking the normal spectrum of activities including diving. . . .

No. I can't answer the poll by making a pointless assumption. You would have to separate out attacks on divers from attacks on people undertaking other activities. If for some reason sharks started attacking divers, I would be concerned.
 
Sorry I'm not voting on this one. First of all no clarification of what activities are going on. Location are we in deep water ie 60+ft or coastal waters like 20ft that can easily be stirred up by waves. Are the bodies been recovered or were injured when the were brought a shore and died due to injuries?

Shallow water + hig surf +low vis+ surfers/swimmer= some is going to be "tasted" With something like the big 3 "man eating sharks"(bull,great white, and tiger) even a minor nip to taste is a massive injury and if the person/body is recover you have been tasted and well how should /i say this found disgusting. Pretty much we are like tooth picks to them. To break even with their metabolic needs they would probably have to eat a human a day.Compared with other choices n the menu they will 99.999999% choose that.

Sorry for being blunt.
 
As humans, we take risks everyday. I don't stop driving cause it might kill me, I don't stop drinking or eating cheese burgers, it goes to reason that I will accept the risk of diving if the pleasure of it is great enough. The risk of a fatal attack on a recreational diver is so low as it is, why all of this fear mongering? I think, like few have said, that the OP is just looking for excuses for a mass genocide of oceanic proportions. :sharkattack:
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/peregrine/

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