How do you protect yourself

[BiggDawg]

Seriously though, I've found that the best device for keeping sharks away is a camera and a great need for shark photos. I've got lots of pictures of shark butts, but very few shark faces.

That's because sharks are generally undercover.
If they let you take their picture, the would have to shoot you.

 

[BiggDawg]

As far as the bit about cutting your buddy and then swimming like heck ... Since your buddy is thinking the same thing, what the shark sees is two divers pulling knives and having at each other for no apparent reason. The shark reasons that that kind creatures that are that aggressive are dangerous and not worth messing with. The shark avoids the whole mess.

Now, see, if I was a shark, I'd be thinking

Dinner and a SHOW!​

Does it get any better for a shark?

 

[CBulla]

So what kind of protection do you use while exploring the unpredictable and thrilling waters? I've seen various selections of knives and such, and videos with guys holding electric prods. Anyone carry those? Most of the time it seems I see folks completely "unarmed" Wouldn't they feel vulnerable?

Use the schwartz! Since your diving, try liquid schwatz! Space Balls the Sea Creature Protection Device...

All kidding aside, really its common sense. Unless your shooting it to eat or collecting it (lobsters ) there really isn't much need to go touching things.

 

[ScubaCatgirl]

The best thing you can do to protect yourself from monsters of the deep is to dive with someone much slower and tasty looking than you. Perhaps sprinke them with nutmeg or oregano before diving.

But really, the most dangerous thing you'll ever meet in the water is the nightmare buddy - my choice of protection, diving with a good buddy.

Cheese Whiz works even better

 

[Kim]

Hmmm...I suppose there's always a very outside chance that I run up against a hungry Great White that thinks I'm a seal. Oops......my knife is no way big enough for that!
What do I have to protect myself against really though.....hmmmm....ME! I'm the one most likely to do something so dumb I end up one of the accident statistics that proves my point. Was I trained to be doing what I was doing.....? Was I fit enough to be doing it.....? Was I actually doing it the way I was supposed to be according to what I was taught...:?

Yup......I'm REALLY capable of screwing it all up COMPLETELY on my own. I don't need sharks, stonefish, cone shells, blue ringed octopus, bad buddies...whatever. I'm quite capable of killing myself thank you very much....I don't need anyone else's help at all!

My small knife is great if I need to cut a bit of line or sometimes remove some fishing tackle that's been left as some kind of "gift" to the ocean.

 

[trucker girl]

Hmmm...I suppose there's always a very outside chance that I run up against a hungry Great White that thinks I'm a seal. Oops......my knife is no way big enough for that!
What do I have to protect myself against really though.....hmmmm....ME! I'm the one most likely to do something so dumb I end up one of the accident statistics that proves my point. Was I trained to be doing what I was doing.....? Was I fit enough to be doing it.....? Was I actually doing it the way I was supposed to be according to what I was taught...:?

Yup......I'm REALLY capable of screwing it all up COMPLETELY on my own. I don't need sharks, stonefish, cone shells, blue ringed octopus, bad buddies...whatever. I'm quite capable of killing myself thank you very much....I don't need anyone else's help at all!

My small knife is great if I need to cut a bit of line or sometimes remove some fishing tackle that's been left as some kind of "gift" to the ocean.

I'VE FOUND THE PERFECT BUDDY!
Maybe you can make me look good! Did I remember to turn my air on?

 

[Kim]

I'VE FOUND THE PERFECT BUDDY!
Maybe you can make me look good! Did I remember to turn my air on?

:rofl: Hopefully I could always help you stay alive......alive looks good!

Still - it's always going to be down to you in the end though, miracles tend to depend on....well.....let's just say that remembering to turn on your own air might need one less!

 

[Storm]

I also cannot think what a knife would do to a shark other than make it more angry and likely to attack you :shakehead

Please do not anthropomorphize these creatures. Attributing such emotions as anger, hate, revenge, etc, to sharks is fallacious at least and a flight of Hollywood fantasy at best.

Hollywood has done a great job of pressing human emotions onto all sorts of creatures, some appropriately, most inappropriately; the latter only serves to fuel the legends and fear that many develop.

This very topic (do sharks get angry when struck by a diver) was the fodder for more than a few studies, and even made a Mythbusters television episode. They set up an open water experiment in which one of them knelt on the bottom (he was heavily baited to bring the sharks in close) then continually hit the approaching sharks on the nose or in the gills. The sharks displayed no anger, did not get more aggressive, in fact they appeared to take it all in stride, and simply moved away. Some sharks did, after a while, return to the diver, only receive yet another shot in the gills also showing their limited attention and retention span.

I would suggest to the OP (who appears to be very new to the sport and a bit intimated) that you spend a little of your studying up on the “creatures of concern”. There are plenty of WEB resources (educational sites, marine life study sites), books in libraries, about marine life and marine animal behaviour.

When you’re diving, you don’t need to carry a weapon to protect yourself, you need knowledge, common sense, and the ability to think you way through a situation, and experience. Develop these not your knife wielding skills.

 

[mirrocraft]

dont let all these people get to you if your that scared of critters in the water go get cert. in cave diving i think its fun and nothin in there to eat you and just dont go in the water if your bleeding most divers that are bit by sharks are spear fishing and the shark wasnt going after them it was going after the fish that thay had on a string hung on there side with the fish blood trailing through the water

 

[Agent 47]

Don't listen to these guys. If a shark attacks you the best thing to do is just ball up your fist and punch it in the nose.

And if that doesn't work, then draw back and stab it in the eye with your bloody nub!