Feeding sharks

[Terrific]

Hi,

I am very new to this and am about to take lessons (much clearer when where and how thanks to this forum), but something caught my eye.

I keep seeing 'shark feeding'. I am to presume that this practice is to encourage the sharks to hang around a certain area so divers can improve if not guarantee that they will encounter them, and if this is so, isn't that showing a red rag to a bull?

I know they don't attack willy nilly, and they favour food floating on the surface, but even so, surely this brings them out of their natural cycle and associates divers with food.

I will be diving in the Med to begin with, and don't have such a challenge with sharks (I don't think so anyway)

Seeing a shark in its natural habitat would be superb, I am not sure that I would want one that was hungry or looking for a handout.

I hope its not a stupid question

Richard

 

[Vegan Shark]

Shark feeding is a controversial practice. I also much prefer seeing animals in their natural habitat, as the "natural" bit is what makes scuba so exciting in the first place, versus just looking through the glass of an aquarium.

 

[DivemasterDennis]

With you I am opposed to feeding sharks or any other sea creatures. Avoid those shark feeding dives, and as you said, if you do see one of these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat and engaged in natural behavior, it is infinitely more satisfying that a contrived setting from feeding. Best wishes on your training and then a lifetime of diving.
DivemasterDennis

 

[Terrific]

Thanks for the replies. I thought it was the kind of practice that would get frowned upon, it just seemed a little bit 'got the T-Shirt' kind of deal to me. I will presume that it is not practiced too much and any diver worth their salt would avoid such a scenario.

 

[diver 85]

I have no earthly idea what you talkin' 'bout.......


(more here..:http://s176.photobucket.com/user/GEAUXtiger/library/Fiji shark dive?sort=3&page=1)

(18 ft'er)

(14 ft'er)

 

[Terrific]

Are you serious? Is that food in your hand? I have to ask, where was that taken?

 

[Wingy]

Totally opposed to the practice - I prefer my sharks a la naturale thanks.

 

[Terrific]

and is it easy to take photos now you only have arm

 

[TMHeimer]

I'm no expert, but I would doubt that feeding sharks does much if anything to upset nature. I could be wrong, and I guess it could if done extensively in a particular spot by a lot of divers. Regardless, IMHO anyone that does this is nuts.

 

[drbill]

Well, basically there are no sharks in our waters left to feed compared to an abundance of them when I first started diving SoCal 45 years ago. Yes, we have great whites, but I'm not going to try to hand feed them a delicious sea lion!

I have participated in several dives where sharks were either fed or we chummed for them. Generally I'm not in favor of the practice, but have been involved in these dives to get decent footage for my videos.