Shark question.

[DeepBlueResort]

Hi All
If you really want to know about sharks one of the main experts is a guy called Peter Klimley he has written various books a great one is called ' The Secret Lfe of Sharks' it is an amazing insight into sharks lives.

Some of my best dives have been with sharks, not shark feeds, sharks in the wild, a 16/17ft Great Hammerhead that came up close enough to touch, a huge Tiger Shark 10 ft away, Bull Sharks, i am totally in awe of sharks they are the most amazing creatures to see under water, never have i ever felt a threat from them, i do not take them for granted, i do not touch them, i am always cautious, respect them.

 

[HPT3]

Since you had to get your wife's permission to post this question, I must assume you have to get her permission for other things. So my advise to you is this. Don't dive when you get your period.

 

[pescador775]

I've been attacked four or five times, it's hard to remember. Also, I'm not sure if an attack by four sharks counts as one attack, that is my interpretation. To answer your question and I can only speak from experience. I have no web sites or 'authorities' to cite. I wouldn't know where to find one unless you count my dive buddies who have witnessed fatal attacks. Me, too. In every instance, except one, I was rushed or bumped while spearfishing. One instance, a bull shark bit my right fin in two. Once, a black tip rushed me twice and I killed it on the second pass. It was bloody minded. One gets to the point where one knows these things. This was the exception, the black tip attack occurred in the Cay Sal Bank and I was not dragging or fighting a fish. True, I had a gun in hand but nothing to show for it. However, a half hour previously I had been cleaning fish on the boat. My observation, small cuts will not attrack any kind of fish except small minnows when one is wading. However, the odor of fish blood, however small, could be dangerous to the diver.
Pesky

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.

 

[Mako Mark]

sharks are so stupid that if you cover your eyes, they know that you cant see them, and that if you cant see them they cant see you, and they go away.

Anyhow there arent many sharks around here, the crocodiles chase them all away!

 

[RIOceanographer]

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.

I know people hate nitpicky scientists that run around correcting everyone, but you have to understand they have brainwashed us through years of college and grad school to be this way. I can't control myself so bear with me.

Fish do not have copper instead of iron in their blood. Their blood uses iron to make hemoglobin just like ours. This is true of all vertebrates. This is why fish blood is red just like ours. Copper is present as a trace element but that is all.

Some invertebrates (specifically mollusks and arthropods) do use copper instead of iron. They have something called hemocyanin instead of hemoglobin. Hemocyanin is blue when oxygenated, not red.

 

[drbill]

Kevin- You're thinking of fish eating sharks. What about those (adult great whites for example) that feed on marine mammals. Their blood is more iron rich. Of course I dive in areas known to be frequented by great whites and have yet to see one (except while kayaking).

Dr. Bill