drrich2
Contributor
Recent debating on shark feeding dives has raised a potential theoretical concern; what if sharks accustomed to being fed during shark feeding dives associate scuba divers with free hand-outs, and later approach regular recreational scuba divers, including at other dive sites? The concern was raised that this could frighten recreational divers and lead to anti-shark acts, such as legislation to cull them or a few divers carrying spear guns or bang sticks & using them, and I suppose it could even lead to fewer customers for regular charter op.s (e.g.: if Molasses reef out of Key Largo got a reputation for being prowled regularly by tiger sharks, as an extreme & highly unlikely example I'm using to make a point).
This poll is not about whether you approve/disapprove of shark feeds. Or what the odds are of fed sharks accosting divers elsewhere on non-shark feeding dives (that's contentious and getting air time in other threads).
This poll is about how you would react if, while on a regular 'coral reef & pretty fish' or wreck dive, no shark feeding involved, were approached by an inquisitive and fairly large shark of a potentially dangerous species. I'll exclude great whites, since they don't seem to be involved in these feeding dives, and would be polarizing. I'm focusing on medium to large bull and tiger sharks, but also great hammerheads, the largest reef sharks and big lemon sharks.
For our example scenario, you are diving over a reef, and an 8 foot bull or tiger shark comes in, circles a couple of times, not real close and no bumping but clearly interested in you, sees you have no food and swims off.
How do you believe you would react?
1.) Appreciate the encounter - that was fun, hope you get to do it again?
2.) Appreciate the encounter, but conflicted - would be very ambivalent about wanting it to happen again. Enjoyed it, but anxiety-provoking and some risk (even small).
3.) Appreciate the encounter, but wary - enjoyed it in hindsight, but would rather that not happen due to perceived risk (however small) or simply anxiety/fear.
4.) Neutral - no strong feelings either way. Watch it come, watch it go, okay, back to reef diving...
5.) Upset about it - sharks don't usually approach divers, and this one could've been dangerous.
6.) Upset about it, and reactive - want to know why this shark approached you? Is there something going on environmentally or in human action that might be causing this? If so, you'd be concerned.
7.) Upset about it and quite reactive - want to know why this sharks approached you, and if there is a potential cause, want 'something done' about it.
8.) Strong fear - perhaps the old Jaws movie really got to you, but you are afraid of potential 'man-eaters' and don't like them in your vicinity. But you'd hold still, or go to the bottom or wreck to guard your back, not bolt.
9.) Strong fear - potential to panic, or at least make a vigorous effort to leave the area.
Richard.
P.S.: I had to abbreviate some questions in the poll; those in this posting are more fully through out.
This poll is not about whether you approve/disapprove of shark feeds. Or what the odds are of fed sharks accosting divers elsewhere on non-shark feeding dives (that's contentious and getting air time in other threads).
This poll is about how you would react if, while on a regular 'coral reef & pretty fish' or wreck dive, no shark feeding involved, were approached by an inquisitive and fairly large shark of a potentially dangerous species. I'll exclude great whites, since they don't seem to be involved in these feeding dives, and would be polarizing. I'm focusing on medium to large bull and tiger sharks, but also great hammerheads, the largest reef sharks and big lemon sharks.
For our example scenario, you are diving over a reef, and an 8 foot bull or tiger shark comes in, circles a couple of times, not real close and no bumping but clearly interested in you, sees you have no food and swims off.
How do you believe you would react?
1.) Appreciate the encounter - that was fun, hope you get to do it again?
2.) Appreciate the encounter, but conflicted - would be very ambivalent about wanting it to happen again. Enjoyed it, but anxiety-provoking and some risk (even small).
3.) Appreciate the encounter, but wary - enjoyed it in hindsight, but would rather that not happen due to perceived risk (however small) or simply anxiety/fear.
4.) Neutral - no strong feelings either way. Watch it come, watch it go, okay, back to reef diving...
5.) Upset about it - sharks don't usually approach divers, and this one could've been dangerous.
6.) Upset about it, and reactive - want to know why this shark approached you? Is there something going on environmentally or in human action that might be causing this? If so, you'd be concerned.
7.) Upset about it and quite reactive - want to know why this sharks approached you, and if there is a potential cause, want 'something done' about it.
8.) Strong fear - perhaps the old Jaws movie really got to you, but you are afraid of potential 'man-eaters' and don't like them in your vicinity. But you'd hold still, or go to the bottom or wreck to guard your back, not bolt.
9.) Strong fear - potential to panic, or at least make a vigorous effort to leave the area.
Richard.
P.S.: I had to abbreviate some questions in the poll; those in this posting are more fully through out.
