my scary diving experience - how come people aren't afraid of sharks?

[minaki]

i once went snorkelling off a rocky coastline. there were about 100 metres of low rocks with some tidal pools then the soft waves and about 100 metres out was the ocean drop off - where the bottom drops into the massive raging ocean (with some surf far out there).

so we were snorkelling a bit near the rocks looking for abalone. the water had a strange wishy washy movement with little soda air bubbles (verycool). and you could feel the surge as you snorkelled and ocasionally tried to dive deeper to see the abalone.

But the SCARY PART was that about 30 metres out your vision was all blue. that means you can't see beyond that!!!!!

if a BIG SHARK zoomed in you wouldn't have time to do anything one CHOMP!!! and that's IT!!!!

so i was pretty scared. (also i am short sighted. do diving masks come with prescription lenses? its a shame everything was blurry).

isn't anyone else scared of HUGE SHARKS ZOOMING IN?

[inventor]

If you have 1000+ dives, you have to know about Malaysian wombat guana. Smear it on and sharks won't come within 3.4 meters.

So, since you're not a diver, why are you posting this goofy s**t on the forum? I'm a dork, but I'm here to actually learn and meet fellow divers.

[boat iiii]

Yes, they make prescription lenses for dive masks.

[CompuDude]

[redsoxphan]

Originally Posted by inventor

If you have 1000+ dives, you have to know about Malaysian wombat guana. Smear it on and sharks won't come within 3.4 meters.

So, since you're not a diver, why are you posting this goofy s**t on the forum? I'm a dork, but I'm here to actually learn and meet fellow divers.

Ditto...I like to have fun, but post something relevant sometime. I mean wtf?!

[minaki]

that's why im asking. id like to learn how experienced divers cope with the fear of sharks....

[navyhmc]

While a few divers are bitten each year by sharks, most shark attacks occur in shallow, murky waters. Most shark attacks are essentially catch and release-aparently we don't taste good. Unless you knowingly jump into shark infested waters, you're more likely to get struck by lightening.

You also take precautions to avoid attracting them. Don't panic is the most important. If I see a tiger shark during a day dive, a night dive ain't happening.

In short, 99% of all sharks are small fish eaters-you're just too big for them to view as lunch.

This I knew before my first ocean dives 33 years ago.

[bottomdweller]

Originally Posted by CompuDude

I think he/she needs another shot, you didn't quite kill it yet!!!

[mitsuguy]

my thoughts exactly navy...

it's all I can do to just try to get close to one... the damn things swim off and I never can get a decent picture...

I actually had three shark encounters three days in a row not long ago, day 1 - 6' reef shark, day 2 - 2 6' lemon sharks, day 3 - 1 5' nurse shark... no pictures of any (the nurse stayed put, but I was leading the dive, thus no camera)...

[Lulubelle]

I'm only afraid of the landsharks. They are scary.