New diver, scared of sharks...

[DebbyDiver]

If I were a surfer, I'd be TERRIFIED of sharks.

But I'm a diver. I've been in these waters since 1977, as well as many Caribbean locations, and haven't had even a close encounter.

What am I afraid of? The boats. Now there is a real fear!!! Your chances of getting hit by a boat are probably 1,000 times greater than getting taste-tested by Jaws.

Unfortunately an ex-spouse of mine couldn't shake his fear of sharks and he gave up diving. I hope you can get past yours. Do the research yourself and you will see that divers pretty much have nothing to fear.

Driving on I-95? Now THAT'S frightening!!!

 

[floridiankelly]

lol, very funny netdoc!!!

 

[floridiankelly]

thanks all for the good advice, made me a chuckle. No I do not have a bad heart, 30 year old stay at home mommy with 2 little girls, 5 years and almost 2. I am just a worry wart and afraid I will panic! I however can't wait to dive and am looking at buying equipment with our stimulus check, renting for 2 costs a lot! I was looking to buy from leisurepro, but realized the equipment may not have the manufacturers warranty, so we will shop around locally. We live in Port St John (Brevard county). Any tips on dive shops with great deals, and what would be the most important to buy (only have $500 each) A regulator an octo or pony bottle,3 guauge console a BC? Leisurepro was tempting all for $400. Nice to chat with experienced divers.
Thanks y'all.

 

[floridiankelly]

wow Sean thats one heck of a way to conquer your fear! Good Luck! Bring back pics to post!

 

[trogloxene]

wow Sean thats one heck of a way to conquer your fear! Good Luck! Bring back pics to post!

I am fascinated by sharks and facing my fears while inside a cage is not the same as being outside the cage

I will definitely post some photos when I return

Sean

 

[cldomson1]

thanks all for the good advice, made me a chuckle. No I do not have a bad heart, 30 year old stay at home mommy with 2 little girls, 5 years and almost 2. I am just a worry wart and afraid I will panic! I however can't wait to dive and am looking at buying equipment with our stimulus check, renting for 2 costs a lot! I was looking to buy from leisurepro, but realized the equipment may not have the manufacturers warranty, so we will shop around locally. We live in Port St John (Brevard county). Any tips on dive shops with great deals, and what would be the most important to buy (only have $500 each) A regulator an octo or pony bottle,3 guauge console a BC? Leisurepro was tempting all for $400. Nice to chat with experienced divers.
Thanks y'all.

someone on my boat sees a shark almost every trip...we're spearfishing. i had my first encounter with a large hammerhead last year and i've been using a shark shield ever since when the vis is not steller. and i've seen one shark since, spearfishing over 100 dives since.
you really only need to be careful with bulls /tigers/great whites - they have very high testosterone levels and are bigger generally and aggressive.
Don't ever feed the fish or sharks or dive near fisherman chumming and you'll be fine. If you want an added level of protection, wear a shark shield. I truly believe they work. PM me if you want more details.

Charlie

 

[Raintown]

Don't worry 'bout the sharks... Worry about driving up to Venice - on Route 41. Your odds are better dealing with the sharks than they are with the infamous "Blue Hairs".

BTW - I've never seen any sharks in or around Venice, either...

 

[Tom Winters]

I've been diving since 1961, and I'm still scared of large, omnivorous sharks. When I'm doing a solo deep night dive and I have to do deco in the middle of nothing, I hate that sh_tuff. I don't like it in the deep blue middle layer in the daytime either, but at night, I just do not look around all that much. If I get hit, well I'll just deal with it when that happens, but I don't want to see the gooddarn shark on final coming at me with the mouth wide open.

 

[SFLDiver3445]

I've been diving since 1961, and I'm still scared of large, omnivorous sharks. When I'm doing a solo deep night dive and I have to do deco in the middle of nothing, I hate that sh_tuff. I don't like it in the deep blue middle layer in the daytime either, but at night, I just do not look around all that much. If I get hit, well I'll just deal with it when that happens, but I don't want to see the gooddarn shark on final coming at me with the mouth wide open.

My suggestion, call your cable or satelite tv supplier, and have them either turn off the digital signal delivering the Discovery Channel to your home or have them cut off all service to your house all together, because you've definitely been watching too much Shark Week!

 

[Tom Winters]

Oh geez...Shark Week. I watched that in Honolulu back in the late 90's. I still see that female great white off the Farallons rocketing up out of the murk into the surfboard-mounted camera.
And Al Giddings in a plexiglass tube off South Africa with great whites nosing him - that actually was kinda cool. And I saw this 11 or so years ago.
But all things considered, I'll pass.
So answer me this - there are people who actually enjoy hanging in the abyss by themselves between the surface and the bottom for a long time with ZERO frame of reference? Tell me they're not glued to the ebooks on their VR3.