Oceanic whitetips

[DavidPT40]

Has anyone had any experience with oceanic whitetip sharks? I've been interested in them since reading Peter Benchley's "Shark Trouble". He claimed that oceanic whitetips were probably the most dangerous shark in the world due to their extremely aggressive nature.

 

[Jcsgt]

I've heard that, as well, and have read that book. However, I have also recently read research that claims the oceanic white tip have been given a bad rap.

In fact, they say now that during the wreck of the USS Indianapolis, they believe it wasn't the OWT that attacked the sailers in the water, that due to the bite characteristics, it's more likely that tiger sharks were responsible.

 

[ianr33]

Never seen one. My understanding is that they like deep water so a diver is unlikely to come across them.

This post might be of interest
http://www.scubaboard.com/showpost.php?p=2811625&postcount=8

 

[vladimir]

I've heard that, as well, and have read that book. However, I have also recently read research that claims the oceanic white tip have been given a bad rap.

In fact, they say now that during the wreck of the USS Indianapolis, they believe it wasn't the OWT that attacked the sailers in the water, that due to the bite characteristics, it's more likely that a tiger shark was responsible.

200 men killed by a tiger shark?!

 

[Jcsgt]

Sorry, I should have said tiger SHARKS. I fixed it in my post.

Thanks for catching it.

 

[vladimir]

In Harm's Way is a great account of the Indianapolis sinking and aftermath. It says "hundreds of sharks had encircled them. There were makos, tigers, white-tips, and blues." It is based on accounts by survivors as well as documentary evidence. How skilled they were at shark taxonomy is an open question, but if you haven't read it I highly recommend it.

 

[Jcsgt]

Thanks for the recommendation, I'll look for a copy. Always wanting to learn more about the critters we dive with.

 

[kidsdream]

3+ years ago my wife and I did an "adventure" dive trip of the coast off the big Island.

As we were heading down the coast about 5 miles offshore, we saw some Pilot Whales, we go ahead of them and jumped in an hoped they would come by while we were snorkeling. No luck with the whales, but this shark that was trailing the pod was quite interested in our small group circling us for 15 minutes.

Not great shots but I think you can feel how close I was.

Taken with a Nikon 4300 in a Fantasea housing

We actually tried to get in front of the whales again - but the shark was still tracking us and even came a bit to close for comfort so we made are way (pretty quickly) out of the water. Thinking back it wasn't my brightest move - but a live time experience for sure.

 

[vladimir]

Very cool, Kids!

 

[Hoyden]

There were some amazing shots in a recent issue of Shark Diver Magazine - shot by freedivers. I guess I read Benchley's words as a suggestion that animals that live in a barren environment have a broader definition of lunch - made sense to me. It certainly tracks with what little science knows about the life of pelagics.