Shark Diving with Injured Knee

[LRobbins]

I'm booked on a liveaboard for the Galapagos in a couple of weeks but have a knee injury. On land, I limp, but with fins on in the water think I swim more or less normally, just not so fast (i.e. I don't look injured). As apex predators with exceptional senses for finding injured fish, I'm concerned that tsharks might be interested in me, if my movements in my one leg are not quite as fluid as in the other one. Anyone have any info on this? We'll hopefully be diving with Galapagos, silkys, and hammerheads. Thanks.

Shark Diving: Your New Hobby?

 

[ibj40]

Not that I went shark diving, but I had the same thing happen to me about nine months ago. I had a severe inflamation of the root of my sciatic nerve, and lost approximately 65% of the strength in my left leg (outside of left foot is still fully numb). Through physical therapy, I have been able to regain back to about 90-95%, but in the interim, I also, had a dive trip. My biggest concern was whether I would be able to carry my dive gear, not only to the boat, but from my seat on the boat to the rear platform, and then following the dive, back up the ladder and back to my seat. Looking wounded in the water to a shark, for some reason, was the furthest thing from my mind.

Needless to say, mission accomplished, without a hitch, although some of the physical exertion did require me to stretch a little extra each evening and again each morning. I'm figuring that so long as you don't have an open wound, shark's aren't gonna really care that much.

Cheers, and have a great dive trip!

 

[LRobbins]

Great, thanks for your post. Glad to hear your trip was still good and that you're now almost fully recovered. I was also worried about the gear, jumping from the liveaboard to the panga, but am going with someone that will help me with that. Thanks!

 

[LIVES4SHARKS]

Here is some good information about diving with sharks. The sharks that I have dived with could really care less about us divers, even in the feed areas. To them, we are just other sharks looking for a free meal. Swimmers attract more sharks than us divers do due to all the noise they make on the surface. I think you will be just fine and I hope you have an awesome trip! Post pics!

Divers Alert Network : Alert Diver Articles

Carolyn:shark2:

 

[ZenDiver.3D]

You are way overthinking this. You will be fine. As long as your injury does not make you incapable of finning, entering or exiting the water, you are okay. The sharks aren't gonna "home in" on you because of this. Have a good time.

 

[smellzlikefish]

He he, Lives4Sharks said "due-do."

 

[LRobbins]

Here is some good information about diving with sharks. The sharks that I have dived with could really care less about us divers, even in the feed areas. To them, we are just other sharks looking for a free meal. Swimmers attract more sharks than us divers do due to all the noise they make on the surface. I think you will be just fine and I hope you have an awesome trip! Post pics!

Divers Alert Network : Alert Diver Articles

Carolyn:shark2:

Thanks so much for the info and the article (great read). I love diving with sharks, just haven't done so injured so am relieved to know that I can still enjoy it, should be an amazing trip. Thanks again!

 

[LRobbins]

You are way overthinking this. You will be fine. As long as your injury does not make you incapable of finning, entering or exiting the water, you are okay. The sharks aren't gonna "home in" on you because of this. Have a good time.

Good to know, thanks for the advice.

 

[LIVES4SHARKS]

LOL @ Smellzlike...doo doo! ROFL!

YW LRobbins! Have a great trip! You will never forget it!

Carolyn:shark2:

 

[LRobbins]

LOL @ Smellzlike...doo doo! ROFL!

YW LRobbins! Have a great trip! You will never forget it!

Carolyn:shark2:

Thanks, I'm pumped!