Sharks and other big fishes
By mayenskie
@mayenskie (1307)
Philippines
January 29, 2007 6:27am CST
im afraid of sharks because they are shown in movies mostly as wild and aggressive animals. but i understand some sharks are not as threathening as the great white shark which fortunately does not exist in our territorial waters.ü
ive been diving for years now but still havent encountered a shark. the biggest probably was a grouper more than 1 foot long, the most agressive would be the baraccudas and the most awesome for me were the manta rays.
how was your first encounter with a shark? share some memorable stories of ur diving trips here pls. thank you!
2 people like this
6 responses
@mayenskie (1307)
• Philippines
31 Jan 07
do u dive ezzrssi? well most people are afraid of sharks especially because of movies, just like i am. but i still wish i could see one i just hope its not going to be the dangerous sharks lie what chuck saw. i would never want my leg off. ü
1 person likes this
@makaira (1158)
• Philippines
29 Jan 07
well my first encounter with shark was very memorable as it was with the biggest shark on earth, the whale sharks. i was shocked and scared during my first time as i was right in front of it's mounth and it was going straight to me. i was afraid that it would eat me but whale sharks dont eat humans and that was the beauty of that experience. most of my encounter with sharks are with reef sharks so they are quite friendly and are not very dangerous to men. as for me, im more afraid of baraccudas that sharks as baraccudas have razor sharp teeth!
2 people like this
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@makaira (1158)
• Philippines
29 Jan 07
most of my shark encounters are not with dangerous sharks and we don't have great whites here.
about the parrotfishes, that is a new information to me. it didn't think that it could cause harm fo to us. thanks for that info. another new stuff!
2 people like this
@mayenskie (1307)
• Philippines
31 Jan 07
wow that must be a very big parrotfishes u got there to be able to harm humans! i thought parrot fishes were hmmm not carnivores.
and oh yeah i remember when i was in college i read somewhere that there's a greater possibility for humans to be hit by lightning than be attacked by sharks. so i guess ur guide is quite right about them being rarely dangerous.
dive safely!
1 person likes this
@chuckt9881 (469)
• Canada
29 Jan 07
Our guides impressed on us that sharks are rarely dangerous to divers. If they're eye to eye with you, they can tell that you aren't prey. Most attacks in Australia are larger sharks attacking surfers because they look like seals from below.
They did warn us about baraccudas, box jellies, cone snails and especially parrot fish! It was breeding season and they are very territorial. And a beak that can break up coral can take quite a chunk of flesh out of your leg -- even through a wetsuit!
1 person likes this
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@shineison (874)
• Uganda
14 Feb 07
Yes i always afraid of SEA and creatures there. They are so Beautiful But most Dangerous, Like to eat fish, But cant hunt them. AND sharks they are really horror as shown in the movies, i am so far away from sea, and unfortunately i cant see them, no such accident yet while being on Land.
Wish you always safe in water.
@havachat (105)
• Australia
14 Feb 07
hi, i work on the barier reef, i just finished on a boat and we done osprey reef every 2 weeks, there is a dive site there called north horn, we allways got there durng the night, and moored the boat onto a permanent mooring, the first thing everyone saw when they woke up was up to 40 sharks, grey reef whalers, me or one of the instructors had to get in the water and take a wire and chain to a floated line on a bombie near the boat, then all the divers would get in the water and swim to a spot on the edge of the reef, when they were ready a basket with fish frames were lowered onto the wire line, about 5mtrs under the float, the sharks would come in and eat the fish hanging out of the basket, then potato cod and a heap of other fish would come in too, that would last for the whole dive, or until you got bored with it, some times a hammer head or big dogtooth tuna would come in too, if you are lucky a silver tip or two, that is the coolest, we allways see sharks on the dives, thebestis laying under a fishing boat while they are prossesing fish, the frames and skins get thrown into the water, and the sharks go into a frenzy, not for everybody, but i thought it was cool
2 people like this
@mayenskie (1307)
• Philippines
15 Feb 07
hey Havachat, i envy your courage in being with sharks!! :D must be just a common sight for you huh. I envy you more because you're in the Great Barrier Reef! Ah how i wish someday i'll be able to dive and see the beauty of the great reef. But is it true that its getting damaged? Heard theres a massive coral bleaching!?
1 person likes this
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@rsilva708 (172)
• United States
31 Mar 07
Back in 2004 I went on a Great White shark diving trip. To see these sharks in the wild was great. They are not mindless killers like the movies make them look. We had a few 14 - 16 foot long great whits show up at our chum line. I took a bunch of pics while there. You can see them on my website under scuba.
http://rtsweb.homeip.net
Robert
@mayenskie (1307)
• Philippines
31 Mar 07
Thanks for showing me your site bob =)
I miss scubadiving.. i havent dived in 3 months already =(
@rsilva708 (172)
• United States
31 Mar 07
The winters here are always hard on me. It's just too cold to get in the water. But with summer coming, I'll be back in the water soon.
1 person likes this
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