Hey!
When you guys spearfish in mediterranean or atlantic ocean and deep in to even 30 meters, spear some fishes, gut the vains and let the blood leak to the sea. So.. you got bleeding fishes on your hip and your diving in the sea. Doesnt that tempt any sharks or other "dangerous" fishes in the area? Are the competitions always at safe "shark free" places?
Has anybody had any close calls or incidents or even heard anything like that?
Question about safety
Moderator: Maza
-
Guest
Hi,
Encounters with sharks are daily occurances for many of the spearos.
In South Africa you need to be worried if you do not see any sharks on your dives.
Basically, in areas with sharks. keeping your catch stringed on your belt is a huge NO-NO. This habit will end up killing a diver sooner or later.
In waters where there is a chance of encountering sharks, catch is usually dispatched as quickly as possible to keep the fish from sending stress signals which are a feeding bell to sharks. Then thrown to boat ASAP or if boat is not available strung on your float.
Close calls??? Last year at least two spearfishermen were lost to sharks. One in South Africa (tiger shark in Sodwana) and one in N QLD Australia (apparently a tiger again).
My friends in Cape Town get harrassed by nosy great whites on very regular basis. The list of fish stolen by sharks would be thicker than phonebook.
In general, sharks are hanging around for easy feed. Humans are not on the menu. However, sometimes they make a mistake, or in feeding frenzy, miss the fish and chomp on the hand holding it.
Tommy Botha has said "Expect sharks everytime when you are in water...excluding your bathtub."
Does not really apply to Baltic sea....
But, when diving in area where marine life is rich and ecosystem is healthy + water temperature is warm enough for sharks....odds are that they are around.
I personally like diving in waters with sharks (excl. great white). If they are around (sharks in general) it tells that the environment is quite healthy and more likely to hold good pelagic fish. Also, they are amazing to watch in their natural environment.
To summarise...they are part of the sport. Check the facts of the area before diving in new location and you may save yourself from nasty surprises.
Hope that helps....if not, ask more.
Cheers,
Mikko
Encounters with sharks are daily occurances for many of the spearos.
In South Africa you need to be worried if you do not see any sharks on your dives.
Basically, in areas with sharks. keeping your catch stringed on your belt is a huge NO-NO. This habit will end up killing a diver sooner or later.
In waters where there is a chance of encountering sharks, catch is usually dispatched as quickly as possible to keep the fish from sending stress signals which are a feeding bell to sharks. Then thrown to boat ASAP or if boat is not available strung on your float.
Close calls??? Last year at least two spearfishermen were lost to sharks. One in South Africa (tiger shark in Sodwana) and one in N QLD Australia (apparently a tiger again).
My friends in Cape Town get harrassed by nosy great whites on very regular basis. The list of fish stolen by sharks would be thicker than phonebook.
In general, sharks are hanging around for easy feed. Humans are not on the menu. However, sometimes they make a mistake, or in feeding frenzy, miss the fish and chomp on the hand holding it.
Tommy Botha has said "Expect sharks everytime when you are in water...excluding your bathtub."
Does not really apply to Baltic sea....
But, when diving in area where marine life is rich and ecosystem is healthy + water temperature is warm enough for sharks....odds are that they are around.
I personally like diving in waters with sharks (excl. great white). If they are around (sharks in general) it tells that the environment is quite healthy and more likely to hold good pelagic fish. Also, they are amazing to watch in their natural environment.
To summarise...they are part of the sport. Check the facts of the area before diving in new location and you may save yourself from nasty surprises.
Hope that helps....if not, ask more.
Cheers,
Mikko
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