Off-topic Discussion moved from Diver Missing in the Bahamas thread

[Doug Kahle]

what is wrong with the Galapagos picture again? man, i have never seen anyone alter their stance/argument so much to fit their end goal. selective reasoning at its best.

I'm not there; you need to get me the pic with me and my camera; come to Palm Beach County and get me the pic with no dead or wounded fish.

---------- Post added July 25th, 2014 at 12:26 PM ----------

That's funny. If they are close enough you have to hit them with your camera rig 3-4 times on the head because they are too close, I think that's close enough for you to get your pictures. Any closer would put you inside them.

---------- Post added July 25th, 2014 at 09:15 AM ----------



The sharks in my video have without any doubts been fed and they are now pain in the asses due to it since they now associate a diver out from the rest of the group away from the reef as someone who is going to feed them. Maybe you'd like it because you could get your pictures, but to others (me) when they come in aggressively to your body and you have to beat them off, it's not fun anymore. That's altered in a detrimental way in my book.

I did not know they were feeding in Belize; are you sure? I've heard some of operators drag around a container for the nurse sharks; but, I've never heard of anything more being done in Belize.

 

[wspalding]

I dove it every Saturday, Sunday, and most holidays this past year. There was bait. I would estimate that only 20% to 30% of the Lemons came close enough for a great pic with the bait. Many of them were too shy to get too close. When we fed them all the bait, they stopped coming close.

I do think that the sharks get skittish around a boat full of divers dropping in on them. We tend to separate pretty quickly from the group and do our own thing and have had mostly reef sharks approach. The one I mentioned earlier was much closer than 8-10 feet you revised my estimate to, but regardless, even 8-10 feet close enough for a great photo, and not just a fly-by approach but rather, an approach straight on. I've also had a lemon do a pass that went through our entire dive group giving everyone a little casual inspection. I haven't had to bop the sharks on the head for getting too close like some divers I've talked to, and I agree, 99% of the sharks like to give you a look from a distance unless you have something they want. I still think if you dive Jupiter enough you'll get an approach.

 

[Doug Kahle]

I do think that the sharks get skittish around a boat full of divers dropping in on them. We tend to separate pretty quickly from the group and do our own thing and have had mostly reef sharks approach. The one I mentioned earlier was much closer than 8-10 feet you revised my estimate to, but regardless, even 8-10 feet close enough for a great photo, and not just a fly-by approach but rather, an approach straight on. I've also had a lemon do a pass that went through our entire dive group giving everyone a little casual inspection. I haven't had to bop the sharks on the head for getting too close like some divers I've talked to, and I agree, 99% of the sharks like to give you a look from a distance unless you have something they want. I still think if you dive Jupiter enough you'll get an approach.

I will be in Jupiter tomorrow; first dive on Bonaire with Lemons and hopefully a Tiger comes in; second dive on Deep Ledges with the Silkies, and hopefully, the Sandbars, Bulls, and Hammers come in; but, they rarely come close enough.

 

[Mike]

I did not know they were feeding in Belize; are you sure? I've heard some of operators drag around a container for the nurse sharks; but, I've never heard of anything more being done in Belize.

Everyone down there denies they feed. The closest you will get anyone to admit anything is that divers on the Agressor has said they put out a bait cage, and they try to clearly define that there is a big difference between a passive bait cage hanging in the water and actually feeding.

However, if a person is not a complete newbie, my video clearly demonstrates to them or anyone with any experience with marine life that these sharks have been fed. As you've said yourself you can't get a shark to even get close to you for a decent picture. Clearly the sharks in my video are not acting like what you describe, they are acting aggressively because there are two of them together and they are competing with each other and they are associating me with a free feeding.

When you ask around enough down there, eventually you will get told that so and so has been feeding sharks at this location, however it's all whispers and off the record because it's a small tight community.

---------- Post added July 25th, 2014 at 10:08 AM ----------

I will be in Jupiter tomorrow; first dive on Bonaire with Lemons and hopefully a Tiger comes in; second dive on Deep Ledges with the Silkies, and hopefully, the Sandbars, Bulls, and Hammers come in; but, they rarely come close enough.

Every shark species is different, just because a reef shark will come in close doesn't mean a bull ever will. When you're comparing 'all sharks' to specific species like tigers, hammers, bulls, etc it's no wonder you get push back. You may never get a great hammer head to come in close ever in your life no matter what the circumstances are but that doesn't mean other shark species will act the same. Even age and sex will effect curiosity and proximity of how comfortable sharks will be. Younger is dumber older is wiser, they will all act differently.

 

[Doug Kahle]

Every shark species is different, just because a reef shark will come in close doesn't mean a bull ever will. When you're comparing 'all sharks' to specific species like tigers, hammers, bulls, etc it's no wonder you get push back. You may never get a great hammer head to come in close ever in your life no matter what the circumstances are but that doesn't mean other shark species will act the same. Even age and sex will effect curiosity and proximity of how comfortable sharks will be. Younger is dumber older is wiser, they will all act differently.

Agreed. And, like I've said in this thread and in other places, if one of us gets bit, it will be by a Reef Shark. They are wild and crazy. Thankfully, I don't think they will do much damage because the craziest ones appear to be the youngest and smallest ones -- just like humans, the young and stupid teenagers cause most of the problems.

 

[Mike]

And, like I've said in this thread and in other places, if one of us gets bit, it will be by a Reef Shark.

Well, you have a lot of dives, but I don't think you have the same amount of awareness when it comes to sharks, if you think reef sharks are the only sharks that have bit divers. A lot of gross generalizations going on. By the way the 2nd shark in my video has been identified as a bull shark. I hope you never get bit, I hope nobody ever gets bit by any shark, but those two scared the crap out of me and everyone on the dive including the divemasters who repeatedly said, they've never witnessed anything like that ever. Once marine life be it sharks or other predators get in close you have no defense against them, you're at their mercy at that point and what happens you'll only be along for the ride for at that point.

 

[danvolker]

Well, you have a lot of dives, but I don't think you have the same amount of awareness when it comes to sharks, if you think reef sharks are the only sharks that have bit divers. A lot of gross generalizations going on. By the way the 2nd shark in my video has been identified as a bull shark. I hope you never get bit, I hope nobody ever gets bit by any shark, but those two scared the crap out of me and everyone on the dive including the divemasters who repeatedly said, they've never witnessed anything like that ever. Once marine life be it sharks or other predators get in close you have no defense against them, you're at their mercy at that point and what happens you'll only be along for the ride for at that point.

I think you would be amazed at how many dives Douglas has done with sharks....and to get the shots he gets, he has to have pretty awesome awareness.
As to being " at the mercy" of marine life predators when they come in close, I don't think to many of us will agree with this..the only time I have ever been around sharks acting agressively and making passes at me, was during spearfishing dives ( long before the feeding dives began--80's and 90's stuff) --and even the most pissed off shark is easy enough to fend off as long as you have a big camera or a big speargun to swat them with( poking is not the best way to go here). I used to hunt with a big 58 inch double Barrel Ultimate Speargun by Pat Frain....it had so much metal mass, that the sharks would feel the electro magnetic field of it or something, and even as they came in fast, If I swatted at them, they did not want to be hit by it--and would move off.
And now with a big camera housing, it is very easy to have it between me and just about any shark....That being said, I think if you are going to snorkel or dive in some place where lots of feeding is going on, it is probably "smarter behavior" for you to have a camera in your hands, or even a 3 foot PVC pipe (that can be the handle you tow your dive flag with).....

To me, the people really at risk from shark attacks, aside from spearfisherman that purposely do foolish things...are swimmers at beaches with fishing piers, particularly when the baitfish are running close to shore. Add murky water, and this is begging to be bitten....and has nothing whatever to do with Shark diving.

 

[Mike]

Sorry I should have prefaced my reply that I was speaking only in regard to normal human being not super humans.

 

[Blyslv]

this unfortunate incident to further his jihad against Emerald Charters.

Were you bitten? Are you still spear fishing?
...

This is the second time you're used the word "jihad" in this thread. Are you going for cheap emotionalism? Do you even know what it means, or how incredibly snarky it is? Please stop equating people holding valid opinions with violent, religiously motivated murderers and war mongers. It's sleazy.

 

[ScubaPink]

You are proud to be among the "elitist" divers on Abernathy's boats who exploit sharks for bragging rights and a photo on their wall? Luring them into a circle of divers who I see pushing away curious sharks via a whack on the nose with their cameras and flash bulbs exploding underwater like D.C. on the 4th of July.

It is for profit.




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