Hammerhead bite - California

[markmud]

Why don't the media ever mention the spearfishing part of the story when it comes to shark bites?

Hi Mike,

For the most part, the media is ignorant (collectively). Some members of the media are quite knowledgeable about certain topics, but not other topics. The majority of the members of the media are just plain ignorant about anything besides journalism.

The next time their is an aircraft incident, listen to the reports. The media collectively does not know what an aileron, a leading edge device, a trailing edge device, a flap (was that redundant?), a speed-break, a horizontal stabilizer, or a vertical stabilizer is, or does. Do they know the correct definition of a stall? And no, the engines do not stop thrusting in a stall. They don't understand the critical nature of maintaining the proper angle of attack of the relative air flow over the foil.

I am not a pilot, but at least I have a basic knowledge of flight principals and A/C parts.

Should the press have a C-Card for an industry before reporting on an incident? I think so...they don't need to be a SCUBA diver, but they should have some aptitude before reporting on SCUBA, spearfishing, and free diving incidents.

Or whatever incident.

markm

 

[Bob DBF]

For the most part, the media is ignorant (collectively). Some members of the media are quite knowledgeable about certain topics, but not other topics. The majority of the members of the media are just plain ignorant about anything besides journalism.

You overlook that journalism today is not about presenting the facts to the public, but telling a story that reflects the author's views and scares the public so they will come back for more "information".



Bob

 

[socaljohn]

As I heard it from a reliable source... he was hunting and trying to get his catch back to the boat. He did not lose his hand.

That makes sense, story in local paper yesterday about agressive (press's word) hammerhead attacking guy in kayak...he had his catch trailing in the water.

 

[DandyDon]

That makes sense, story in local paper yesterday about agressive (press's word) hammerhead attacking guy in kayak...he had his catch trailing in the water.

As well as a story about aggressive killer whates: Pod of Killer Whales Seen on Video Chasing Boat Off San Diego Coast | KTLA
Even tho there are no cases of wild orcas killing humans.

 

[drrich2]

The audience doesn't know a lot about scuba diving, and that most of us don't spearfish. There's also the issue of relevance. To us, spearfishing being involved means this doesn't reflect a significant danger to how most of us dive. A journalist might not get that; he might wonder if our point is that spearfishing is dangerous or somehow 'invites' shark attack.

Richard.

 

[Bob DBF]

As well as a story about aggressive killer whates: Pod of Killer Whales Seen on Video Chasing Boat Off San Diego Coast | KTLA
Even tho there are no cases of wild orcas killing humans.

Looks to me like they were playing in the wake of the boat, if dolphins do it everyone loves it. Because the boat was slowing down and going to them to look and then take off, the Orcas didn't have to work hard to get to the wake to surf it like dolphins will. Orcas have a lot more mass to move around, probably why it hasn't been seen before.



Bob

 

[DandyDon]

Looks to me like they were playing in the wake of the boat, if dolphins do it everyone loves it. Because the boat was slowing down and going to them to look and then take off, the Orcas didn't have to work hard to get to the wake to surf it like dolphins will. Orcas have a lot more mass to move around, probably why it hasn't been seen before.

Bob

Yeah, if those orcas had wanted them, the boat would have been sunk.

 

[Bob DBF]

Yeah, if those orcas had wanted them, the boat would have been sunk.

Or eaten.


Bob

 

[drbill]

Several incidents with hammerheads in southern California but to the best of my knowledge all of them involved divers or kayakers that had fish. My experience with hammerheads is like that of many others... shy. Dangerous? Nowhere near as "dangerous" as several other species. But then I haven't found great whites in my waters all that dangerous either. Inquisitive perhaps.