Let's hear YOUR shark tale!

[scubadiverjunkie]

My great shark experience was with some docile sharks (nurse sharks) but it was fun nonetheless. We went to a site called the nursery and they had a bait box there - we swam with about 10-12 sharks all around. They were swimming below us, next to us, on top of us. It was just a really awesome experience especially that I only had maybe 30 or 40 dives at the time. I have some pictures posted in my gallery. It was alot of fun.

 

[Keysdrifter454]

Fellow divers,

Absolutely fascinated with sharks....and would love to hear about your encounters. What? Where? How Big? what did it do?

Tell your story....

You need to dive North Carolina.


You can tag the Sand Tigers with a spray can on the way by.

 

[DavidPT40]

You do realize that smacking a shark in the side like that is much more likely to cause a negative reaction (ie bite) than just letting it pass by? You are right, it was just being curious and smacking it is asking for needless trouble. Sharks rarely (if ever)attack a scuba diver in an unprovoked incident. Smacking it in the side sounds like provoking to me...count yourself lucky it didn't turn around and "smack" you back.

According to Peter Benchley in his book "Shark Trouble", one of the reasons sharks attack people is due to territory invasion. When people swim into the shark's invisible territory, they can go into attack mode (back arched, pectoral fins swung low, exaggerated tail movements and cycling jaws).

 

[Don Burke]

You do realize that smacking a shark in the side like that is much more likely to cause a negative reaction (ie bite) than just letting it pass by?

1. I did not smack anything.

You are right, it was just being curious and smacking it is asking for needless trouble.

2. I did not smack anything.

Sharks rarely (if ever)attack a scuba diver in an unprovoked incident. Smacking it in the side sounds like provoking to me...count yourself lucky it didn't turn around and "smack" you back.

3. I did not smack anything.

4. My experience in dealing with aggressive critters is apparently much different than yours. I often dive with fish that associate divers with food and often have to get physical with them. I have been bitten quite a few times, but never after asserting myself.

5. It gave me some space, which is exactly what I was looking for. I do not consider that to be a matter of luck.

 

[hypermount]

I've seen lots of white and black tipped reef sharks.

I saw a leopard shark twice at a same dive spot in separate dives. It's about 2 metres in length and probably the shark was at its cleaning station, staying still at the sea bed. It was a pretty sight when it swam by us as we're getting too close while taking some pics and videos.

 

[Saipanman]

I made the mistake of, during one of the checkout dives in an OW class, pointing out to the students a small white-tip reef shark that was just cruising by, absolutely minding its own business. One student was not impressed and shot towards the surface. I caught her and brought her back down.

Now, I don't do that anymore. I just notice the shark, throw it a tiny nod, and smile to myself.

 

[hypermount]

I made the mistake of, during one of the checkout dives in an OW class, pointing out to the students a small white-tip reef shark that was just cruising by, absolutely minding its own business. One student was not impressed and shot towards the surface. I caught her and brought her back down.

Now, I don't do that anymore. I just notice the shark, throw it a tiny nod, and smile to myself.

LOL poor girl.

 

[Aussie Diver]

Diving off the East coast of Australia, we were greeted by a school of smalish (6') hammerheads. They were just swimming above us, minding their own business. Apparently they're pretty rare around here.

 

[BacardiSpice]

I don't know if I have a real shark tale as such - I was circled by curious reef sharks while waiting for a dive tender pick up after a drift dive at Flinders in the Coral Sea...have been buzzed by curious white tips while hanging on the deco bar, and was checked out closely by a gray whaler in Palau who was patrolling back and forward (but in a non-aggresive posture). All my interactions have been peaceful and very pleasant - from wobbegongs and PJs here in Sydney to the first Hammerhead I saw circling above the wreck of the Numidia in the Red Sea.

Am still cranky about missing thresher sharks and an oceanic white tip sighted by other divers when I was in the water, but I didn't see.

 

[MSP Rescue Diver]

We see nurse sharks almost every dive. They're pretty docile, though I have heard of divers being bitten who have done stupid things like pull thier tails to get them out of a hole.

http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/data/683/5097nurse1.jpg
http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/data/683/5097nurse2.jpg

My best shark encounters have been in the Bahamas.

http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/data/705/5097IMG_3738a.JPG
http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/data/705/5097IMG_3805a.JPG
http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/data/705/5097IMG_3804a.JPG

Marc