Shark question.

[diverrick]

I, being the man of the house. (I have my wifes permission to say so.) have been asked a question to which I do not have the difinitive answer to. So I am putting it out to the general public, to make me look stupid. The question posed to me, was as follows.
do/can sharks smell scabbed over injuries, as well as fresh injuries? Can they detect an old injury, VS an new one? does it make a difference if your diving.
My response was that Sharks caould care less about divers for the most part, but that response did not satisfy the person posing the question.

 

[Scubakevdm]

Yes, sharks can smell scabbs however they don't like to eat them 'cause they get stuck in their teeth. So scabby people are even safer than people without injuries.

 

[jepuskar]

The person posing the question has a right to be concerned, movies like Jaws, freak shark attacks, all add to the general public misconception of sharks.

You can provide all the data you want to this person, but that probably wont change their attitude. Try getting your hand on some video of divers and sharks together in the water...watch it first in case there is an attack....lolol

 

[CBulla]

Scabs are dead blood, no effect on sharks. The same goes for a womans menstrual cycle. Fresh wounds, unless your under the sharks nose a little in the water will not entice a shark. What does get their attention is wounded fish or struggling fish and poorly trimmed dives dog paddling kicking.

 

[ABQdiver]

I read some where that it's the copper in fish blood that attracts sharks, along with the motion. Our blood has more iron in it and so not as interesting to the big guys. I can't remember where that was seen....

 

[Mako Mark]

sharks have an organ on their snout that detects electricity these are calles the ampullae of Lorenzini. The electric signals are given off by muscle action particularly from a struggling or dying fish.

Often sharks will take an "electric" bait rather than a blood or flesh type bait.

 

[Wahu]

This organ though doesn't start to kick in until the shark is very close to the intended prey. The electrical signals don't travel very far in the water as they are relatively weak. I am no expert, but this is my understanding. Make sense?

 

[Donnie]

cancun mark & Wahu,

Any shark (of size) that gets closes enough to me, to detect my electrical impulses... will quickly find out that I am releasing a whole lot more than "electricity"!!! :11:

Donnie

 

[DI_Guy]

lmbo.... rotfl ..... I am with Donnie on that one...

No shark would want to eat me....

Bubblemaker_ontario

 

[SterlingDiver]

I guess from what ive heard is that sharks smell the copper in the blood of fish, which is something humans lack. We have iron instead, at least thats what the prof. say.