Posted: 7/18/2014 9:07:18 AM EDT
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Hi, this is my first post in this forum.
It looks like I'm moving to Wilmington, NC pretty soon. I know there's a lot of good SCUBA diving there and I'm excited about getting certified. For the guys who ocean dive, do you do/carry anything specific for protection against sharks? Has anyone seen the electronic shark protection devices out there? Are they worth the money? Are sharks even an issue? Here's one I found: http://www.sharkshield.com/ It's not cheap, but it looked interesting. Is there any need for this? Is it worth the money? If not, what else would you use (spear gun/bangstick/powerhead/something else)? Or do you not use anything at all? I'm not paranoid about sharks, but I look at it like CCW. I currently work in an inner city and I carry because there's a chance I'll need it one day. That's how I'm looking at this. Definitely not going to let it keep me from enjoying a new hobby, but want to be prepared. |
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I'd consider it a total waste of money.
Sharks are about 1000 time more likely to attack a swimmer or surfer than a diver. I've seen dozens of sharks diving in Florida. Most of them are less than 6' long and they just hang out on the bottom all the time anyway. They have no interest in you at all. |
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I've dove among sharks on numerous occasions and never had cause to worry.
I've also been in shark cages where some of the electronic gizmos were being tested against great whites, makos and tiger sharks... they ALL failed to repel. Dismally. Some even attracted the critters! Learn to dive and have fun with it. Worrying about sharks is like worrying about snakes when you're outdoors- yes they're there, but be aware of your surroundings and you'll have no issues. |
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Bang stick on a pole if you really need on (if allowed where you are diving), but as soon as you use it since a shark has decided that you are lunch and a quick fist jab to the nose (blunt side of the stick) is not driving him off, you need to get out of the water (blood in the water is just going to drive a feeding frenzy with other sharks).
As for if you come up against a Great White (read you never want to be in the water with one), at least the bang stick is way to have mercy on your on soul to put you out of your misery if you get attacked. To short bus it, never dive in great white waters unless you have to, and in regards to other normal smaller sharks, single shark here and there is not a problem (they will leave you alone as long as you leave them alone), but stay clear of the area during a feeding frenzy of a group of them (will take a bite out of you mistaking you for the meat in the water). Also to point out, most people shark attacks are at the edge of breaking wave water. The game fish/seals try to use this turbulent water to escape sharks, the sharks know it, and since it's less then clear water that the sharks are hunting in, they mistake people for game, and take a bite out of them. |
| Live a little bit further North than Wilmington, but still NC. Dive regularly and haven't had a problem yet. Have dove with a school of Sand Tigers of up to 20 sharks.... Occasionally you may see a bull shark and on rare occasion a GW.... Been diving here since 96, have yet to see the GW myself and only 2 Bullsharks. Sand Tigerts I go looking for as they are a pretty docile and cool looking shark. I worry more about the danged barracuda. (Never been attacked, they just like to play mind games with me....) |
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I've never been so concerned about them that I needed to take some type of protection. Most divers consider themselves lucky to see a shark while diving. When I'm beach diving I just don't like to hang out on the surface since you have a better chance of being bit than being underwater. |
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Add me to the list of people that likes to see them when diving. Most of em won't bother you.
I've heard stories of divers being inspected by curious sharks but that's never happened to me. Don't know of any divers being attacked but I suspect it has happened a few times. Leave them alone and they will leave you alone. Don't get near a large group, don't interrupt a feeding frenzy. You should be fine. |
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This company is marketing a product by preying on the fears still perpetuated by the media.
I could easily go to Radio Shack and buy a project box with switch on it and make a commercial using stock underwater shark footage and cut as soon as the shark changes direction and "claim" my bullshit product was what made the shark change direction. Does the idea of sharks still freak me out a little? Yes. Have I intentionally gone diving in places where I'm guaranteed to see them? Hell yeah. That's one of the thrills of diving. Grey reefs, nurses, white tips and black tips are all I've really seen. Most are curious but could really care less. I've been told when it's one on one and you get the feeling you're about to get tastes by one to swim toward it. In larger numbers, just be aware of where they are around you. I like the comparison of snakes in the outdoors... only difference is snakes are on the ground so you're generally only looking down. IN the water, you're looking 360 degrees in EVERY direction... up down left right forward and back. Spearfishing will up your odds of having an "encounter", but beyond that, don't waste one cent on anti-shark equipment. |
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forget all that nonsense. seriously. every once in a blue moon ill pack up a bangstick when I go spearing . Its completely common to have a greysuit aka the taxman aka sharks stroll on up and try to 'tax' your catch while your underwater fishing. its generally a non issue, the game is significantly changed when you dealing with blood in the water and a stringer full of your catch dangling down beside you, but most experienced spearos dont sweat it veyr much. in fact a lot of them will fight to hold onto whats theirs even in the face of mr big teeth. fwiw thats not me.  Unless its a bull that rolls up it typically isnt such a big deal. I only know one guy who ever had to use a power head for real before. |
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just to add, the way I usually describe my feelings about diving alongside sharks even in the rare event that I do it whle spearing is that unlike a chimp, or a grizz, or a rhino or whatever which are all mammals, sharks thankfully are nothing more than big dumb fish. Fish behavior, is nothing at all like the actions of a mammal. people naturally tend to picture sharks as behaving like an agressive mammal and that simply is jsut not the case. they are fish first and foremost which is what makes them so much less concerning than most of the other human apex predators. |
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Quoted:
they are fish first and foremost which is what makes them so much less concerning than most of the other human apex predators. I go by the rule of 2. If its not twice as big as you are, it is likely concerned about getting damaged/hurt in the process of trying to eat you. Sure the 9 foot greater hammerhead I saw off of commercial pier scared the crap out of me. I wasn't even expecting it and I was focused on looking for bugs. It passed withing 10 feet of me and just kept on cruising. The reef sharks on the other hand tend to get aggressive when I am spearing lionfish. But a poke on the nose with the spear tip a few times and they go away. |