Eeeek! Shark, now what do I do?

[diverrick]

Slowly decend to the bottom and wait until it clears. then go up to the boat. That is, only if there is a reasonable bottom to go down to.

 

[Diver0001]

After reading some of the threads here on sharks, I have a question.... What do you do if you find yourself face to face with, lets say, a nice size bull shark?
I've seen alot of different reefies, and nurse sharks, but they couldn't have cared less that I was there, and although I highly respect them, I haven't ever feared them sharing space with them. I have yet to see a "predator" shark and I'm curious just what exactly should a diver do?

Whatever you do, don't go lowering your pectoral fins and arching your back.....unless of course you're feeling frisky. Personally I wouldn't be overly concerned unless it was enormous. Your buddy is probably a much more dangerous predator than the shark.... Just steer clear and keep close to the bottom until you it (or your buddy) isn't planning on killing you.

R..

 

[Buccaneer]

C'mon I can't be the only one who thought this was pretty damn funny. I know its an old one but it was a well written delivery. Kudos!!

Every one knows the reason divers carry knives is incase of a shark attack. Here are the simple insturctions.

1) You see a shark

2) You draw your knife

3) You cut your buddy

4) You swim away

Its that simple. Anyone want to go diving.

 

[lamont]

What I've read is:

- When confronted with a shark you should go vertical since a shark's food tends to swim horizontally.
- You shouldn't thrash around.
- If you've got shiny gloves on waving them around might cause the shark to mistake your hands for fish. Fold your hands to your body.
- Sharks dont like the bubbles you're blowing.
- If a shark bumps you, you want to bump them back -- don't act like prey, act like a predator.

 

[DBailey]

What I've read is:

- When confronted with a shark you should go vertical since a shark's food tends to swim horizontally.
- You shouldn't thrash around.
- If you've got shiny gloves on waving them around might cause the shark to mistake your hands for fish. Fold your hands to your body.
- Sharks dont like the bubbles you're blowing.
- If a shark bumps you, you want to bump them back -- don't act like prey, act like a predator.

The only thing that I would add is to avoid being in the open water. Swim close to the reef, wreck, bottom, etc.

 

[baitedstorm]

thanks for all the help, and humor!!!!! I'm not really all the worried about it, I just thought "what if, and what am I suppose to do"....I'd rather get advice now and remember it if ever needed, than to be put in a situation and not have a clue what to do.

I read somewhere on SB that I don't have to swim faster than the shark just faster then my buddy.

 

[DivemasterSteve]

I read somewhere on SB that I don't have to swim faster than the shark just faster then my buddy.

LOL plus you shouldnt have anything to worry about. most of the sharks that "would" do anything to hurt a person are "man" eatters, your a woman so just make sure your buddy is a man. :11:

steve

 

[murphdivers286]

HEY, I'm her husband and DIVE BUDDY. I don't want to be shark food. It wouldn't like my anyways, I taste like bacon!!!!????

 

[Ann Marie]

Every one knows the reason divers carry knives is incase of a shark attack. Here are the simple insturctions.

1) You see a shark

2) You draw your knife

3) You cut your buddy

4) You swim away

Its that simple. Anyone want to go diving.

Uh ho! My buddies knife is bigger than mine....

 

[drbill]

Bang stick? Wow, you just clarified what that talent-less singer means when he sings "She bangs." Right?

In 42 years of diving (I guess I can discount the first 7 since that was all in Midwest fresh water) I've never had a shark be anything but a little inquisitive. But then my dive perspective is what I see through my 1/2" viewfinder and others may have been eyeing me out of my visual range.

When I first started diving SoCal, I had concerns about great whites. So far I haven't seen one except on the surface while in a boat.

Dr. Bill