Sharks?

[DutchDown]

For what it's worth, I just dove with two Oceanic White Tips last week in Egypt. What a wonderful sight! No threatening behavior...just curiosity on my part and theirs. Also entered a couple of schools of small barracuda...another great experience. There are very, very few animals in the water which will attack. And, as mentioned, most attacks are the result of mistaken identity. We're not in the marine food chain, so if they know what you are not, they will just look but not touch.

You can be cautious without being afraid. Enjoy the experience if you see a shark. It's unforgetable!

Phil

 

[baitedstorm]

You'll be lucky if you even see a shark. But look at it that way, lucky. Think of them as stray dogs. You're walking across an open field and this stray dog is paralleling you at the tree line. Over time he may move a little closer as he feels more comfortable with you. You're confident, so he is not. But curious. He may eventually come in for a closer look, but if you stay calm, that' all he'll do. If you antagonize him, he may bite. If you turn and run, his instinct is to chase.

All I can say is this. A shark encounter is a wonderful thing. Don't be afraid and enjoy it. It will last in your memory for a lifetime, or until you see the next one!

If you see one, just keep your eye on it. Let it know you see it. It will not really know what to do. It probably has never seen a diver before either.

Whoa!!! What an amazing way to put it... I believe I'll have to adopt this one... Good job Mempilot!!

 

[ReefGuy]

I'm not the most experienced spearfisherman, but I've only come across one shark while spearfishing. Even with a stringer full of bleeding fish, the shark (bull, at that) was not agressive and left almost as quickly as he came by.

Mempilot is right. You would be lucky to even see a shark. The only thing you need to be carefull of is if someone in your dive party is speer fishing. In my experience, that is an 80% chance of you coming accross a shark. Other than that...don't count on it.

 

[cowprintrabbit]

That link, G., made me wondered that beach people will get bit by sharks more than scuba divers?

Yes, you are much more likely to be bit by a scuba diver than a shark

I've only seen one, down in Cabo, but it was an amazing experience. He was a 5-6' white-tip reef shark, about 40 yards away, and he swam to about 25 yards and looked at us for a while (we just kind of hung out to see what he would do) and then he turned and meandered off. I have heard that they don't see very well (?) and I think he was just curious.

Weekend before last there were two big sand tiger sharks and a few other smaller kinds in the big tank with us at Epcot. There was also a 300lb grouper - him I was terrified of!

 

[shroy002]

I had the opportunity to experience some sharks on a dive last summer. It was one of the best dives of my life, at the same time it was really quite sad--having dove this site a year earlier when there were nearly twice as many sharks. Made me wonder if I would be lucky enought to see any sharks the next time I get to dive the site. Sharks are absolutely thrilling to see.

Anyways watch this video and enjoy. (Warning it is 6 minutes, high quailty and large--33mb worth)

http://www.tsstest.gen.umn.edu/mediatest.htm

Steve

 

[scubapro50]

I follow 3 simple rules when it comes to sharks. (1) one shark keep an eye on it at all times. (2) two sharks and I start back to the boat. (3) three or more sharks then you'll find me out of the water at the bar having a beer .... by the way ... the larger the sharks the faster I go to rule # 3 .

 

[JRO]

I had the opportunity to experience some sharks on a dive last summer. It was one of the best dives of my life, at the same time it was really quite sad--having dove this site a year earlier when there were nearly twice as many sharks. Made me wonder if I would be lucky enought to see any sharks the next time I get to dive the site. Sharks are absolutely thrilling to see.

Anyways watch this video and enjoy. (Warning it is 6 minutes, high quailty and large--33mb worth)

http://www.tsstest.gen.umn.edu/mediatest.htm

Steve

I was with Steve on this dive and he did seem very excited as were the brown trout following in his wake!

As he said, a truly amazing and breathtaking experience (I'm the guy using the yellow video housing in his video).

Don't be afraid, be respectful and enjoy the experience.

Jeff

 

[Chaseh]

Only thing that's ever attacked me (knock on wood) was a freaking damsel fish. They're viscious little buggers. Don't get near their nests!

 

[ScubaJW]

Fantastic replies! You guys actually built some confidence in me - now I am soo excited to go and dive in Florida soon!

Steve, thanks for the video, they are awesome. The sharks seem so relaxed and harmless.

Dive Safe yall,
wildmtn