Sharky ponders sharks...

[Zman96]

I am with most of you, all of the dives I have done in Coz and only nurse sharks so far. Guess I will keep diving and hoping!

 

[budaman]

All this talk about sharks is scaring me. I'm fine with Black Tip, Gray, Nurse & even Lemon, but Bulls & Tigers give me the willies. Keep having visions of the movie Into the Blue, except without Jessica Alba. I really don't want to paint shark fins & screaming bathers on our kitchen mural!

 

[budaman]

This is one of my favorite shots....taken off Moorea, not Cozumel!

 

[Tigerman]

Well, even though bulls and tigers are a bit less predictable, its not like theire GUARANTEED to sneak up on you and munch the thight off that hit chick diver.. Other than in movies like Into the Blue that is..

 

[johnsona1503]

One of many reasons we like Cozumel so much is the lack of sharks. My wife and dive partner has no desire to dive with sharks. She does realize its the ocean and sharks are everywhere but appreciates the fact that sitings are rare on the reefs of Cozumel. I have not been able to persuade her that sharks are not the hazard to divers movies makes them out to be so its just easier to avoid the issue.

 

[Tigerman]

Well, I think the most convincing experience would be actually seeing a few..
Yes, they are ferocious predators, but they dont see us as food and when they come over to have a look its most often curiosity.. and the grace with which they are curious...

 

[johnsona1503]

Well, I think the most convincing experience would be actually seeing a few..
Yes, they are ferocious predators, but they dont see us as food and when they come over to have a look its most often curiosity.. and the grace with which they are curious...

I agree and think this could be an opportunity to introduce her to sharks without doing it in an overwhelming way if they are starting to show up around Coz.

 

[Dave Dillehay]

I no longer lead dive groups ( I lasted until I was the oldest active DM in Coz) but on the occasion that I did have a diver afraid of sharks, and we actually saw a real one (not a nurse shark) while diving, the reaction of the worried one was invariably, "wow, that was the neatest thing I ever saw"...I mean every time!

To put it in perspective: I have never in 20 years even heard of a LIVE diver being molested by sharks. As mentioned above, they do not see us as food, and never in those 20 years have I seen a truly dangerous shark (actually any shark) show interest in divers.

Now, if you die in the ocean and your body stays in overnight, it will be chewed on by sharks. But the same is true if you died in a Cozumel vacant lot and by morning the dogs would be chewing on you. Dead meat is just meat!


Relax, Enjoy


Dave Dillehay
Aldora Divers

 

[oceanbound]

These were taken in Grand Bahama. It's a great high swimming these amazing animals. of course now i wouldn't feel the same about Great Whites.

 

[robbcayman]

I agree and think this could be an opportunity to introduce her to sharks without doing it in an overwhelming way if they are starting to show up around Coz.

Get on youtube.. there are guys that dive with tigers, bulls, great whites out of cages and have done so safely. Cozumel doesn't have any of those 3, which can be dangerous. Personally, I think sharks are demonized and people really misunderstand them. I've only seen nurse sharks in Cozumel and every time I have swam up to them they take off, so nothing to be afraid of. I think Cozumel is a great place to introduce anyone to sharks. If you're lucky, you might see a small nurse or reef shark and you will see your fears are unfounded.