Concerned about sharks? Odds?

[Deefstes]

After what I thought was almost an attack on us, I started reading the International Shark Attack File website. During my reading, I saw something (I'm trying to find it again) that said a shark attack did not necessarily mean there was physical contact with the shark. At that point, I filed a report with the International Shark Attack File. I was immediately contacted by someone from the organization about the attack and some months later by Director George H. Burgess about the attack.

It has been over 4 years since this all took place, so my memory of it is not sharp, but at no time did anyone at the International Shark Attack File even remotely suggest we were not attacked.

I think we might be dwelling on a matter of semantics here. From reading your report, which was fascinating by the way, the closest suggestion of an actual attack I found was that a Bull Shark closed in on your buddies rapidly at a 45° angle ascent and made a 180° turn and swam off when you yelled "no".

I'm sure you gave a more detailed report to the International Shark Attack File and that they had better reason to view this as a shark attack but to me the above doesn't really sound like a shark attack.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to play down your experience and I am sure it must have been pretty harrowing, but from what I read in that report, I can't bring myself to view it as a shark attack.

Like I said, probably semantics so no point labouring the issue.

 

[Swheeler25]

Some friends of mine recently went on a shark cage dive in the Atlantic. They ended up snorkeling outside of the cage, because the sharks did not want to get close to them while they were blowing bubbles. Once they started snorkeling, the sharks investigated by rubbing up against them. They did not feeel that the sharks were being aggressive towards them, despite the water being chummed.

Wow. Gutsy. What type of sharks were they swimming with? When I hear "Cage" only one species comes to mind, and to think they got out of the cage with chum in the water just blows my mind.

 

[Deefstes]

Yeah, not the kind of thing I'd be comfortable doing.

 

[Walter]

Like I said, probably semantics so no point labouring the issue.

I agree. At the time, I thought I had just missed an attack. After research, I discovered it was considered an attack by some experts in the field. It really does not matter to me what it is called. I am glad all three of us escaped injury. It has had a lasting effect on my diving. Before that day, I had no fear of sharks. I had faced them down several times before. Today, I do have a (healthy?) fear of sharks. I don't particularly like being around them and I have an irrational fear of diving in the Gulf. I have dived with sharks many times since. I have dived in the Gulf many times since. I do not have the same care free attitude towards diving that I had before. Before a dive, that incident is rarely far from my mind. During a dive, I rarely think about it. That dive changed me, I don't think those changes have all been for the better.

 

[NC Wreck Diver]

A shark will only attack you, when you are wet. FACT!

Catch one on a rod and reel. They bite in the cockpit of the boat too............

 

[fnfalman]

Like Steve Zizou, I carry a Glock 17 while diving.

 

[Splitlip]

G-30 here.

 

[drbill]

A shark will only attack you, when you are wet. FACT!

What if you are diving dry? Do dry suits deter shark "attacks?" Tee hee.

 

[WoodyLompoc]

My wife called a few nimutes ago to let me know that she and my son made it out of the water ok. The good news: neither the horn nor the angel shark they spotted attacked.

 

[rk288]

I've been told that sharks don't like scuba divers under water because we are big, ugly and we make alot of noise. My experience so far is limited up close to nurse sharks one we were photographing under a rocky out cropping was quite large and certainly wanted nothing to do with us; bolting at the earliest opportunity.
Next spring our liveaboard trip will probably be quite a different story with the mention of Hammerheads and other known aggressive species. During these dives I will plan for my son and I to be with a diver who has a lot of experience diving with sharks. I'll also make sure it's part of the dive plan...I won't be wasting any time around the ladder either...