|
Hi Maggie, I too had a very big fear of being eaten by a Great White shark when I was first taking my scuba training. And then someone told me that Great Whites are attracted to the color yellow.....and I have bright yellow fins!! :-( But just a couple facts calmed me down: 1. Unless you’re in a known shark area (Africa?), even if you were to dive every single weekend of the year, you have a higher probability of winning the lottery than even seeing a Great White shark. 2. I live in Californa, and there are several GW attacks on people every year. I don’t know the exact statistic, but I believe the vast majority (99%?) are surface swimmers or free divers spending 1/2 their time at the surface. Great Whites want to eat seals, and they attack them from the bottom. I just try to keep my surface swims to shallow water, or a short time in deeper water. Once I’m on the bottom I’m not worried. 3. If I do get eaten, he will spit me out because they don’t like the air tank. 4. If I do ever see a GW underwater...it’s okay to poop in my wetsuit ;-) I’m no expert. I hope I helped.
|
|
|
Hi Maggie;
In answer to your question about why the media portrays Sharks in general as monsters and killers is that they "need to".
Let’s face it, the entertainment business runs on sensationalism. It needs controversy in order to get the viewer rateings so that it can sell advertisement for big money.
Nobody (well, almost nobody in the general public) is going to "stay tuned" to a video if a beautibul 12 or 14 foot apex predator gliding through the crystal blue waters. No way, they want to see teeth and the horrible,’ man-eating monster that attacks and kills without mercy.
The best thing to do is to learn as much as you can about sharks and other critters. Go to aquariums, watch "real" shark documentaries, talk to folks who are educated and "know" about sharks. Then you will be better able to handle an encounter when it happens.
And when all else fails, remember that you don’t have to outswim the shark, you only have to outswim your Dive Buddy...LOL
Ron sends
|
|
|
The facts are: 1. It is a killing maching. 2. It is smart. 3. It can think. 4. It can crush your bones with its teeth. So? Those are facts and good ones to know and understand. TV is about ratings...don’t let that program keep you from scuba diving. I see sharks all the time and to date have never had an encounter that I felt threatened. I’m sure you drive; statiscally you have a higher chance of getting hurt driving. JUST DIVE SMART AND SAFE. Don’t miss the chance to explore this beautiful blue planet...because of some TV program.
|
|
|
Heidi - 10/19/2008 6:27 PM 
Maggie, Scuba Diving is a great sport and please don’t let the media spoil it for you. I got my O/W cert. in Australia and loved every dive I did there. I was more concerned with the box jellyfish than the Great White. Like the others have said educate yourself. Always respect the oceans, it’s there home and we are just visitors there. Happy diving Heidi
|
|
|
Don’t worry, you can’t live in a coffin.
|
|
|
|
Don’t worry, you can’t live in a cave or be scared of life’s beauty. Thats’ not a way to "Live".
|
|