Shark Week

[divingmedic]

OK I have been watching Shark Week on the Discovery Channel. One day they had two shows that featured a "dive company" in the Bahamas that were feeding the sharks. I noticed that as soon as the boat arrived at the dive site there a numerous sharks waiting to be feed. So I am just curious, do you think this a good thing to do? Wouldnt it just promote sharks trying to see if any humans in that area had food? I personally do not think this is the best thing to do.

 

[ScubaTexan]

That sounds like Stuart Cove's Dive Bahamas operation. It's one of the more popular dive operations in the Caribbean, at least partly because of the shark feeding show.

 

[DeputyDan]

Animals feeding animals - no big deal!

 

[rickydazla]

When I turn up at a pond near my gran's house a tonne of ugly-looking gummy fish show up and will suck your bits off if you're not careful because people feed them every day. Is this a good idea?

Seriously though, sharks always turn up where humans are. They're scavengers. Sure, feeding them will make a few more turn up but if the environment is controlled it can actually be extremely beneficial for the sharks, the rest of the fish population and surrounding industry - see fiji-sharks.com.

 

[docmartin]

when walkers cay was still around they would do the shark dive only every other day or so. on the days off they would sometimes go to the same place and just rev the boat engine. the sharks would then show up to see if there was anything to eat and you could dive with them. nothing ever happened. i doubt that there would be any shark protection zones in the bahamas if it were not for the feedings and the associated tourism $$$.