Mauritius Snorkeling: I'M WORRIED PLEASE HELP (Sharks)

[Black Widow]

Im going for 10 Nights in September to Mauritius and I plan to be in the water everyday, now this is the first time I have ever traveled to a place that has sharks resident in its waters!!!!

Local Guests include: Great Hammerheads, Bull sharks, Tiger Sharks and the Great White Shark

Now I am not one to gamble with my life but I also dont want to miss out on snorkeling in the lush Mauritian Waters, What I need to know is from people who have actually been to Mauritius what the chances are of actually seeing these sharks and possibility of interactions with them? What should I do if I see one? Have any of you seen a shark in Mauritius, if so what happened?

BW

 

[Searcaigh]

If you see any sharks you will be lucky

 

[PeterNBiddle]

You are not gong to get bitten by a shark. It basically doesn't happen.

Worry about getting hit by a taxicab. Way more likely.

 

[cascas]

If you see one, count your blessings en enjoy it.

Remember... People are not shark prey. If that were the case there would simply be no case of shark-attack survivors. In fact sharks do not like the taste of people, that is why they spit them out asap, people call that an attack while in fact it is en error made by the shark. Big problem is that we humans are just not created to withstand the tasting methods of sharks.

If sharks were out to kill humans, they would do so with the greatest of easy and no survivors would exist for they are too good at what they do. Besides, I think you have more chance winning the lottery than getting attacked judging from the numbers of people that swim, snorkel, dive, surf compared to those that get "atacked". see Shark attack - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Compared to the 73 million sharks getting killed by humans every year, it it them that should fear us...

 

[Doc]

Im going for 10 Nights in September to Mauritius and I plan to be in the water everyday, now this is the first time I have ever traveled to a place that has sharks resident in its waters!!!!

Resident Sharks get quite comfortable in their surroundings, it's those pesky Transient Sharks that get a bad reputation.

Local Guests include: Great Hammerheads, Bull sharks, Tiger Sharks and the Great White Shark

Better to have Great Hammerheads than Inferior ones or even a Sphyrna Mokarran.

Now I am not one to gamble with my life but I also dont want to miss out on snorkeling in the lush Mauritian Waters,

As was said before, I'd worry about the plane ride there more likely.

What I need to know is from people who have actually been to Mauritius what the chances are of actually seeing these sharks

You seeing them? 1 in 769.

A Shark seeing you? 1 in 3

and possibility of interactions with them?

As stated above, 1:769 chance. Anything beyond seeing them? You mean like getting bitten? What the odds are? It really won't matter at that point.

What should I do if I see one?

Swim faster than your buddy.
Take video of him and his new friend.
Sell the video to "When Sharks Attack"

Have any of you seen a shark in Mauritius, if so what happened?

Nope, never been there. Nothing happened.

Go, have fun, maybe, just maybe, you'll be lucky to see one. It will all be okay. Maybe.

If not, have your friend post the video.

 

[Black Widow]

Im going to buy a
Cressi Sioux 50 cm Spear Gun as I am not gonna take the chance, rather be safe than sorry

 

[cascas]

Im going to buy a
Cressi Sioux 50 cm Spear Gun as I am not gonna take the chance, rather be safe than sorry

I'm not sure how your aim is.... I suspect that will just piss them off more than it will protect you... ( if there is more than one shark, how fast can you reload that thing ? faster than a second shark can attack ? would love to see that happen ! )

Not trying to be mean, but frankly I don't think you stand a chance...

 

[Black Widow]

I'm not sure how your aim is.... I suspect that will just piss them off more than it will protect you... ( if there is more than one shark, how fast can you reload that thing ? faster than a second shark can attack ? would love to see that happen ! )

Not trying to be mean, but frankly I don't think you stand a chance...

I think your right hostile actions toward sharks breed more hostile reactions from sharks and thus ends ugly. But that is dependent upon the shark some are more aggressive when shot at others are scared away. Been reading about the use of Spearguns and Sharks and that it should be used as a last resort which is what I intend to do as Im not looking to start a fight. If there is more than 1 shark then yes im f****d if more than one of them is hungry as you only have one shot!!!!

But for the most part I think that scenario is more unlikely than seeing just one shark, this is just a precautionary measure as I will not feel safe in waters that have the worlds deadliest predators as resident sharks in waters given sightings are rare or not!
I was thinking about just going in with a knife but I dont think that would be as effective. It was advised that you should use some kind of "Sharkstick" to prod a shark with if they get too close. The speargun can double up as a "Sharkstick" which I can prod any shark that is near me without having to fire it if I feel threatened!! Which we all dont want

Just trying to be safe really coz if I went in with nothing then what?

One more thing that is one of the reasons why I have such concern over this issue was that last year (2011) in the Seychelles which is only 1000 Miles from Mauritius two men were killed by Sharks, the first was a french guy who was just swimming in the sea, the second was a britsh man on his honeymoon who was snorkeling just 18 metres off the beach when he was attacked by they believe to be the same shark. Experts say the shark responsible was a Great White Shark!!

 

[cascas]

Just trying to be safe really coz if I went in with nothing then what?

Most likely ? Nothing...

 

[BUDMANOK]

take a camera that will guarantee you won't see any sharks