Speaking of Shark Week

[Walter]

The only thing that really bugs me is when everyone blames sharks for biting or scaring or just being there. Hello? I'm pretty sure most of them were there first. We got the land. They got the ocean. Right?

So stay on land.

 

[Bmax]

I share the same opinion with you.

 

[Spencermm]

The one thing you would not say after watching shark week is that sharks are not dangerous. This is called reality. They are wild animals. They need to be treated with respect.

If we filled up shark week with the documentaries you guys want, we'll have more Markus Grohs out there.

I agree that there should be more content about finning but I would discourage shows that might encourage unsafe behavior/diving.

I agree Deco. The attacks do happen, that is fact. And I have learned a few things from some of the shows in question- don't look or smell like food, be especially careful during prime feeding times, be respectful of them(like you said), etc.
Also, to temper some of the other stuff by being mindful of the ratings issue.
Spencer

 

[GrandpaScuba]

In the early years of Shark Week, the programs included many more shows that I deemed as "truely educational", that really discussed sharks as "fish." But the general (non-diving) public is much more interested in the sensationalization of sharks. Discovery channel watched the ratings and adjusted their programming accordingly. Now, all the shows focus on sharks as blood-thirsty killers that attack humans at every opportunity. I looked over the schedule and saw that this year was no different. So, I don't bother to watch. Shark Week is useless to me. I don't learn anything of value to me.

 

[WaxWorld]

Can't see what they mean! I love shark diving! Great Whites are awesome! They give them a bad rep! We are in their pond you know! Would you get out the car in a Game Park in Africa and try pet a Lion??? Guess not... So why poke and prode a shark to see if it's going to bit you!

 

[G'Diddy]

There was a show on Discovery Tuesdaynight at 10pm that had these three idots who thought they wanted to be biten by a shark. They were teamed up with the guy who invented the chainmale sharks suits Uhe name escapes me). Anyway they spent 90% of the show testing different scenarios including swimming with a fish in a spear and that couldn't provoke an attack. It took them going on a feeding dive where the feeder led a shark to the idiots leg to get him bit.

This shows that unless you swimm with chum in your wetsuit or do the other stupid stuff Mythbusters or Survivor mand did, you're not likely to have a problem as long as you respect the fact that you're in the shark's world and nolonger are the top of the food chain.

 

[trogloxene]

speaking of shark week still - has anyone read "The Devils Teeth"? Its a pretty good read about the Fallaron islands and the great whites that inhabit them. i finished it about a month ago

The Devil's Teeth: A True Story of ... - Google Book Search

I read the book 6 months ago and it made me want to go to the Farallon Islands. I questioned some of the things the author did in regards to the sailboat incident. It is unfortunate that Peter P lost his job as a result

Sean

 

[rmarrs]

Mythbusters say don't splash around, it attracts sharks.

Survivorman says don't play dead, swim to boat.

By the way, Mythbusters was much more interested than Surviving Sharks, and this pains me to say as I am a Les Stroud fan. Hope Mike Rowe picks it up tonight.

Survivorman was working with Tiger Sharks... which are scavengers. They're less likely to attack something if there's a sense of movement or danger.

Mythbusters was working with Reef Sharks which are hunters. If you noticed in Mythbusters, none of the reef sharks actually attacked, they were just checking you out.

Many survival tactics with sharks will depend specifically on the type of Shark.

Tiger Sharks are scavengers.
Reef Sharks and deep water sharks (Oceanic White Tips, Hammerheads, Great Whites) are hunters. In general, I'd say it's probably a good idea to try to get to the boat using slow, exaggerated movements. You also have to remember, they chummed the waters to get sharks to show up.

I also do not like the way they portray sharks as killers, but every year when I watch Shark Week, I learn something more about these awesome creatures.

 

[perdidochas]

There was a show on Discovery Tuesdaynight at 10pm that had these three idots who thought they wanted to be biten by a shark. They were teamed up with the guy who invented the chainmale sharks suits Uhe name escapes me). Anyway they spent 90% of the show testing different scenarios including swimming with a fish in a spear and that couldn't provoke an attack. It took them going on a feeding dive where the feeder led a shark to the idiots leg to get him bit.

This shows that unless you swimm with chum in your wetsuit or do the other stupid stuff Mythbusters or Survivor mand did, you're not likely to have a problem as long as you respect the fact that you're in the shark's world and nolonger are the top of the food chain.

Yep,

I've watched most of Sharkweek this year. I think this year actually goes far in showing that it's hard to get a shark to bite you. IMHO, about the only real way to guarantee a sharkbite is to start a feeding frenzy with a chumsicle.

 

[GrandpaScuba]

There was a show on last night on Discovery shark Week where they had a maniquin diver with pneumatic controlled legs....

Whent he legs were kicking/splashing, the tiger sharks left him alone.

when the maniquin "played dead", then the sharks started to investigate, them bumping him, then finally biting him.

I enjoy watching the Myth Busters show, but I frequently think their testing methodology has serious problems. In the case of the manequin diver with pneumatic legs, the leg movement may have had nothing to do with detering the sharks. The sound of the air whooshing through the hoses or the mechanical sounds from the joints could have spooked the sharks.