Has anybody here seen a great white locally?

[LIVES4SHARKS]

http://www.sharkattackfile.net/species.htm
http://www.sharkattackfile.net/incidentlog.htm

The thing about sharks...humans are not their natural food source. The problem is when we make ourselves look like a predetors food source, we are bound for trouble. Awareness and common sense usually are what is needed when we are in their territory. For those who have encountered them up close, I am envious of you! usually, most sharks are more afraid of us then looking at us as a tasty meal!

Happy Diving Y'all!
Carolyn
ps... I love the shark pics that look like they are smiling! Nice one Orangelion03! I actually have that in my pic file and have used it on my 360 page. Take care!

 

[shoupart]

I agree! I think it'd be quite a remarkable experience to see one of those all of a sudden, on a dive. It'd probably be startling and probably scary, but what a great story it would be afterwards! I think most of the posts here show that pretty clearly.

 

[shoupart]

Quote:I was body surfing with some friends at Dana point in 1981 and noticed a small beach patrol helicopter buzzing overhead flying in circles, there was a lot of activity on the beach several hundred yards away from where we were. Later found out that a surfer was bitten in half by a Great white and the helicopter spotted it swimming away, the pilot estimated it to be 20 feet in length. Scared the hell out of me, didn't surf for a long time!!

I didn't see this Dana Pt incident in the shark fatality link that was posted elsewhere in the thread. Are you sure the surfer died? If so, I wonder if there are other unconfirmed fatalities that didn't make it into that listing for one reason or another.

 

[orangelion03]

No, not me! I just remembered that there was a post here on the board, in the Hawaii travel section I think...a group diving the Molokini wall had a GW give them the once over. One of the divers got a decent picture. I'll have to search and see if I can find it.

 

[riguerin]

Quote:I was body surfing with some friends at Dana point in 1981 and noticed a small beach patrol helicopter buzzing overhead flying in circles, there was a lot of activity on the beach several hundred yards away from where we were. Later found out that a surfer was bitten in half by a Great white and the helicopter spotted it swimming away, the pilot estimated it to be 20 feet in length. Scared the hell out of me, didn't surf for a long time!!

I didn't see this Dana Pt incident in the shark fatality link that was posted elsewhere in the thread. Are you sure the surfer died? If so, I wonder if there are other unconfirmed fatalities that didn't make it into that listing for one reason or another.

I question the accuracy of this account, too. Prior the 2004 attack in San Clemente, there has only been one other recorded attack by a GWS in Orange County - the 1985 non-fatal attack on a surfer at Seal Beach. To my best knowledge, despite several sightings per year (many go unreported) , the 2004 attack is the first recorded here in South county.

FYI ... the DFG also maintains a website that includes a comprehensive list of GWS encounters along California.

 

[Gombessa]

Santa Rosa is one of the islands I haven't dived and I wish I could remember the part they didn't like. It was very specific.
Jim

Scary. Any of these jog your memory?
Brockway Pt
Sandy Pt
Cluster Pt
South Pt
Johnson's Lee
Ford Pt
East Pt
Skunk Pt
Carrington Pt
Talcott Shoals
Bee Rock
Rainbow Reef
Marty's Reef
Little Wilson?

 

[Mauifish]

Quote:I was body surfing with some friends at Dana point in 1981 and noticed a small beach patrol helicopter buzzing overhead flying in circles, there was a lot of activity on the beach several hundred yards away from where we were. Later found out that a surfer was bitten in half by a Great white and the helicopter spotted it swimming away, the pilot estimated it to be 20 feet in length. Scared the hell out of me, didn't surf for a long time!!

I didn't see this Dana Pt incident in the shark fatality link that was posted elsewhere in the thread. Are you sure the surfer died? If so, I wonder if there are other unconfirmed fatalities that didn't make it into that listing for one reason or another.

I noticed the fatality at Dana Point not listed also, I did not see the body though from what I was told there was not much left, I don't know why it is not in the report.

 

[Mauifish]

I question the accuracy of this account, too. Prior the 2004 attack in San Clemente, there has only been one other recorded attack by a GWS in Orange County - the 1985 non-fatal attack on a surfer at Seal Beach. To my best knowledge, despite several sightings per year (many go unreported) , the 2004 attack is the first recorded here in South county.

FYI ... the DFG also maintains a website that includes a comprehensive list of GWS encounters along California.

Been thinking a lot about that day back in late part of 1981 since this post started, I see that there is no fatalaty listed concerning Dana Point at that same time though there is a fatalaty in Northern CA @ the same day that all the activity I was at Dana Point. Thinking about it, here is what I now believe. A 20 foot GW was spotted by the helicopter and the life guard station was notified, as the spotter helicopter circled a huge crowd gathered on the beach. My friends and I went to investigate and of course going on hear say, we heard that a surfer was bitten in half very close to where we were. It has been @ 25 years and I am just learning that the surfer that got eaten was in Northern CA. We were in the immediate vicinity of of a 20 foot GW and that was all, all these years I thought that surfer was eaten right down the beach from me that day, what a relief! Funny how people miscommunicate things, thanks for helping me straighten out my story.

 

[Divmstr223]

 

[Mauifish]

Yeah, realy!! dohhh!!