Lemon sharks and brown wetsuits

[Lizzie]

Hello shark fans,

I wouldn't be offended if anyone points out that this has already been answered before and puts me in the right thread direction (I'm a newby!!)

If not, I'm keen to hear about anyone else's Lemon Shark experiences.

I have dived hundreds of times, many times with sharks of all descriptions (inc. hammer heads, bronze whalers, grey nurses, reefs, and tigers), but never been overly concerned for my safety as I was too busy feeling exhilarated.

EXCEPT - on one occasion when I was snorkelling with a non-diving friend off an island on the Great Barrier Reef (Australia).

I am aware that snorkellers often fair less well against sharks in tales of shark attacks, this is often described as being due a confusion on the sharks part, that a snorkeller, diver, swimmer etc, flapping about on the surface can appear to be a wounded animal.
(although I like to think my finning is not THAT bad). So perhaps this knowledge was at the back of my mind during the following experience.

Anyway, here we were snorkelling away in about 1.5 metres depth, 100 metres off shore, looking at the usual shallow water creatures, when all of a sudden I noticed about 6 to 8 rather large Lemon sharks come from nowhere.

They began circling us very closely (about 3 metres away). For the first time in my diving/snorkelling life, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up and it was very close to being brown wetsuit time. Something about it did not feel right, although not being a shark behavioural expert, I couldn't be sure.

We decided to stay still in the water, back to back and just keep an eye on them, and they eventually moved on after about 5 minutes.

I have since looked up information on Lemon Sharks but haven't come across detailed information about their behaviour which includes circling.

I would be interested in anyone's ideas, knowledge or similar experiences.

 

[smellzlikefish]

I've worked with sharks for a number of years and have never had one circle me, but it does conjure images of accounts from shipwreck victims. I don't think I have to tell you they were curious about the strange flotsam in the water that day, but for what intention is anybody's guess. You didn't catch the sex of the sharks you encountered, did you?

 

[Lizzie]

Unfortunately I didn't get a good look at each individual shark as they were circling us quite quickly and closely, and all in the same direction, so it was a bit of a blur and really disorientating after a while.

I have normally been pretty much ignored by sharks before and more used to that sort response to my presence in the water, and these were, as you say, quite curious about us. They were looking directly at us the whole time they were circling. Very unsettling!!