Scared to death of encountering a shark while diving

[Tim GGD]

I know this is easier said, but after the first time you see one on a dive and see there is no threat you will be a little more comfortable.

Almost every time we get in the water there is usually a skark or sharks nearby if not close enough to touch,& im in the water alot.

Don't let this scare you from diving, diving is a whole other life enjoy it

 

[drbill]

Courtney, I too had the same fear when I began diving in California back in the 1960's. After thousands of dives in our waters, I have only had one encounter with a great white and I didn't even see it. My dive buddy (Wyland) saw a 14 footer swim past us as we were filming giant sea bass off the island. The only time I've seen them is while cage diving off Guadalupe. Contrary to popular opinion, the shredded wetsuit I occasionally dive in was not the result of a great white attack... just LOTS of dives.

 

[courtneyinpink]

Courtney, I too had the same fear when I began diving in California back in the 1960's. After thousands of dives in our waters, I have only had one encounter with a great white and I didn't even see it. My dive buddy (Wyland) saw a 14 footer swim past us as we were filming giant sea bass off the island. The only time I've seen them is while cage diving off Guadalupe. Contrary to popular opinion, the shredded wetsuit I occasionally dive in was not the result of a great white attack... just LOTS of dives.

Wow, only ONE encounter after thousands of dives? Shows it's rare...make me feel a little better, thank you.

 

[LIVES4SHARKS]

Now worries...just go diving and have a blast!

Carolyn:shark2:

 

[scubadrewvideo]

We see plane crashes on the news..yet we still continue to fly.
We hear about fatal car crashes almost daily..yet we still continue to drive.
We read about fatal mistakes in hospitals...yet we still complain when we are not admitted fast enough.
But 1 mishap with a Shark...and we're all scared to go in the water.

Makes no sense to me.

It is not the Shark you fear...it's the lack of control over the situation!

 

[courtneyinpink]

Makes no sense? I get your point but it scares me, I'm allowed to be scared.

What do you guys do when you see a shark? Move slowly? Ascend? Sink to the bottom if it's close?

 

[jridg]

The only shark I have seen so far was a 1ft horn shark off La Jolla Shores.

Something to remember - if you can see the shark, you can control the situation. I used to dive in an aquarium shark tank about once a month - they would place a net barrier between us and the sharks - on occasion, the 14 ft female bull shark would decide that she didn't want to be back there anymore and come over or around the net for a 'visit'. The reality was that she didn't want to be near us and it was amazing watching her swim and know that if she got 'frisky' I could have pushed her nose away (or tried to) - but the reality of the situation was that she basically ignored us and we got out of the tank.

I have seen a wild bull shark in FL - he did make me a little nervous as he kept coming back - so we went to the other side of the wreck and continued our dive in peace.

I don't know how I would feel if I encountered a GW - I know I would be fascinated - and it would totally depend on the actions of the shark - but I think my biggest worry would be wether or not I had my video camera with me

 

[courtneyinpink]

Thanks everyone, I'm feeling better.

 

[dpbishop]

30+ years of diving in SoCal; I have seen exactly one shark (not counting leopards and horn sharks) I just watched it swim past, about 20 feet below me. It ignored me.

Here's a suggestion. Come down to La Jolla in the summer and snorkel with the leopard sharks at the Marine Room, or do the same thing at Fisherman's cove in Catalina. When you've had a chance to share the water with sharks, even harmless ones like leopards, and see the way they act around people, you should feel much more comfortable in the water.

 

[Mark Rappaport]

I just dove with bull sharks in Playa with Mayan Aquadive's*Ben Mooney. it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life.