Thank goodness all this will get through the rumor mills and long forgotten before i dive into Sharm in April! Whew!!
Sharm El Sheikh Shark Attack - rumour control
- Thread starter Crowley
- Start date
Please register or login
Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
- Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
- A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
- You can make this box go away
It's a disgrace that two Oceanics were caught and slaughtered over these incidents, and it comes as absolutely no surprise that they're considered to have been the wrong sharks. A typical knee-jerk reaction if you ask me, to something which requires much more investigation, legislation and enforcement than is currently being conducted. Every diver knows that this behaviour doesn't typify sharks, and that the regular feeding of sharks to lure them toward humans is surely a factor. As has been said previously, it was a matter of time before something like this happened and now that it has, these animals which are almost certainly critically endangered will be killed off to keep the media happy.
Nothing to worry about, I've dived from Sharm many times. Besides, OWS will be extinct by then.
bleeb
Contributor
In my opinion, from what you describe the incident doesn't seem to qualify as a 'shark attack'. As I think others have posted elsewhere about this particular incident, what you're saying can be paraphrased as 'a large fish swam really near, and divers injured themselves on the reef trying to get away.' When all the commotion and thrashing started, the fish may have swum even closer to see what was going on, but in itself, this doesn't constitute an attack. It's unclear from this posting and the little news I've seen whether or not there was actually any aggressive action on the part of the sea creature, let alone whether it actually progressed to the point of attempting or threatening to bite someone.
Last edited:
I agree bleep , it was a close encounter with a shark. Not an actual attack.
The same happend to some Norwegian guest in october. A large Whitetip came close and touched all in a family of three:
http://www.vg.no/reise/artikkel.php?artid=10012022
The same happend to some Norwegian guest in october. A large Whitetip came close and touched all in a family of three:
http://www.vg.no/reise/artikkel.php?artid=10012022
I agree with bleep too. Many years ago I came with a girlfriend to Nuweiba and as she was not a scubadiver, I convinced her at least to try snorkeling.
A big puffer fish caught my attention, and as I started swimming towards him, she started to yell "shark! shark!". I thought she was joking and I tried to ask her where's the shark but at this point she was hysterical and could not do anything but trash her feet and flail her arms. I barely managed to grab her back to shore with the help of some people who were passing by.
When she calmed, we tried to get more information about this mysterious shark and she said "but you saw it too! That ugly enormous round shark with big teeth and spikes covering his whole body!!!". I am sure the puffer would be flattered to be compared to an enormous shark
A big puffer fish caught my attention, and as I started swimming towards him, she started to yell "shark! shark!". I thought she was joking and I tried to ask her where's the shark but at this point she was hysterical and could not do anything but trash her feet and flail her arms. I barely managed to grab her back to shore with the help of some people who were passing by.
When she calmed, we tried to get more information about this mysterious shark and she said "but you saw it too! That ugly enormous round shark with big teeth and spikes covering his whole body!!!". I am sure the puffer would be flattered to be compared to an enormous shark
Let's not be naive. Media have an interest in exaggerating, because it sells. The situation with the danish divers (I will not even categorize it as an incident) is normal. If you "..panicly swim away" it will trigger the shark to follow. Have you ever tried to run away from a dog? It's similar. If the shark really had attacked, someone would have been seriously injured.
It is enough with the sad news already, especially for the German woman's family. As said before, attacks on humans are rare. But the oceanic white tip is a curious shark that will approach snorkelers. I can see that the average tourist, unfamiliar with marine life, can react in a way that triggers a shark (it's the normal reaction if a big, wild animal approaches you). So if something caused a larger number of oceanic sharks to move into these 'tourist infested' waters, it's understandable. The other explanation is a "rouge" shark. A "crazy" one that roams the coast, like an aggressive drunk trying to pick a fight in a bar.
Let's hope that the think tank of people gathering in Sharm right now can find the explanation. And that media acts responsibly and try to give a balanced coverage.
The ocean is wild. Accidents happen. I remember when a little girl fell of her inflatable mattress and landed on a Portugeese Man of war in another part of the world. She died from the wounds. Tourists were very upset with the locals for not warning them that the ocean could be a dangerous place ...
Personally I would like to encourage all you guys working in Sinai to keep it up. You do a great job.
cheers
oceJANic
Registered
CDWS shark incident update: diving possible tomorrow in Sharm el Sheikh
Monday, 6 December 2010
PRESS RELEASE
CDWS shark incident update: diving possible tomorrow in Sharm el Sheikh
6 December 2010 14:00
The majority of areas in Sharm el Sheikh will be open to diving activities for CDWS members and their clients tomorrow (7 December), however, please note a series of restrictions apply on where these can take place and on client experience. All snorkel activities and other watersports - with the exception of glass bottom boat operations - remain suspended in the whole of the Sharm el Sheikh coastal area.
Qualified diving clients, who must have a minimum of 50 logged dives, are permitted to participate in scuba activities run by CDWS members in the areas of Tiran and all sites south of Naama Bay. Diving remains completely banned at this time in the area between Ras Nasrani to the north of Naama Bay where the Ras Mohammed National Park teams are currently working.
Under NO circumstances are introductory or training dives permitted to take place in the sea anywhere in Sharm el Sheikh until CDWS members are notified otherwise.
Following discussions with sharks experts and a series of exploratory dives, it was decided that the areas to be opened, which include the Ras Mohammed National Park and popular sites such as the Thistlegorm, were safe for experienced diving activities. CDWS would like to make it clear that no divers have been involved in any of the incidents reported.
CDWS is working with four world-renowned shark experts at this time. Three of the experts will be arriving over the next two days in Sharm el Sheikh to form an advisory team to try to assess and advise on the best course of action following the four shark attacks in areas north of Naama Bay this week.
Dr George H Burgess, the director of the Florida Program and curator of the International Shark Attack File at the Florida Museum of Natural History for Shark Research, is flying to the resort today. Arriving tomorrow are: Dr Marie Levine, head of the Shark Research Institute in Princeton, USA, and Dr Ralph Collier, of the Shark Research Committee and author of Shark Attacks of the Twentieth Century. Shark behavioural expert Dr Erich Ritter is assisting from his research centre based in the USA. The Ministry of Tourism (MoT) is funding all the costs involved.
A Swedish research vessel is currently surveying the topography of the ocean around Sharm el Sheikh in order to supply data to shark experts to assist their work. CDWS enlisted the help of this vessel to carry out the topography survey and secured all the relevant permissions.
CDWS would like to assure all members that the organisation is working continuously with all the relevant authorities and shark experts to try to resolve this situation in the most appropriate and safe way for all concerned. The CDWS also stresses to all members and the public that it does not in any way condone the random killing of sharks.
Monday, 6 December 2010
PRESS RELEASE
CDWS shark incident update: diving possible tomorrow in Sharm el Sheikh
6 December 2010 14:00
The majority of areas in Sharm el Sheikh will be open to diving activities for CDWS members and their clients tomorrow (7 December), however, please note a series of restrictions apply on where these can take place and on client experience. All snorkel activities and other watersports - with the exception of glass bottom boat operations - remain suspended in the whole of the Sharm el Sheikh coastal area.
Qualified diving clients, who must have a minimum of 50 logged dives, are permitted to participate in scuba activities run by CDWS members in the areas of Tiran and all sites south of Naama Bay. Diving remains completely banned at this time in the area between Ras Nasrani to the north of Naama Bay where the Ras Mohammed National Park teams are currently working.
Under NO circumstances are introductory or training dives permitted to take place in the sea anywhere in Sharm el Sheikh until CDWS members are notified otherwise.
Following discussions with sharks experts and a series of exploratory dives, it was decided that the areas to be opened, which include the Ras Mohammed National Park and popular sites such as the Thistlegorm, were safe for experienced diving activities. CDWS would like to make it clear that no divers have been involved in any of the incidents reported.
CDWS is working with four world-renowned shark experts at this time. Three of the experts will be arriving over the next two days in Sharm el Sheikh to form an advisory team to try to assess and advise on the best course of action following the four shark attacks in areas north of Naama Bay this week.
Dr George H Burgess, the director of the Florida Program and curator of the International Shark Attack File at the Florida Museum of Natural History for Shark Research, is flying to the resort today. Arriving tomorrow are: Dr Marie Levine, head of the Shark Research Institute in Princeton, USA, and Dr Ralph Collier, of the Shark Research Committee and author of Shark Attacks of the Twentieth Century. Shark behavioural expert Dr Erich Ritter is assisting from his research centre based in the USA. The Ministry of Tourism (MoT) is funding all the costs involved.
A Swedish research vessel is currently surveying the topography of the ocean around Sharm el Sheikh in order to supply data to shark experts to assist their work. CDWS enlisted the help of this vessel to carry out the topography survey and secured all the relevant permissions.
CDWS would like to assure all members that the organisation is working continuously with all the relevant authorities and shark experts to try to resolve this situation in the most appropriate and safe way for all concerned. The CDWS also stresses to all members and the public that it does not in any way condone the random killing of sharks.
oceJANic
Registered
I wonder if the following passage from CDWS press release also applies to DM training dives:
"Under NO circumstances are introductory or training dives permitted to take place in the sea anywhere in Sharm el Sheikh until CDWS members are notified otherwise."
Crowley Sensei?
"Under NO circumstances are introductory or training dives permitted to take place in the sea anywhere in Sharm el Sheikh until CDWS members are notified otherwise."
Crowley Sensei?
OP
I repeat - there was no shark involved in the Danish "attack" - i am not accusing anybody of lying - just simple facts.
At the moment - no training dives are permitted, and although most of sharm is open it is open only to "experienced" divers. By "training dives" they mean beginner classes. Training is open to those with 50 or more dives.
The reasoning is that the shark has been attacking people at the surface - therefore people who are having difficulties descending, or a faffing about at the surface trying to get on a boat which would usually describe an inexperienced diver, are not allowed in the water. 50 dives or 500, there may still be some faffage, so we will be rather strict on dive technique, and we will be using out judgement accordingly.
C.
At the moment - no training dives are permitted, and although most of sharm is open it is open only to "experienced" divers. By "training dives" they mean beginner classes. Training is open to those with 50 or more dives.
The reasoning is that the shark has been attacking people at the surface - therefore people who are having difficulties descending, or a faffing about at the surface trying to get on a boat which would usually describe an inexperienced diver, are not allowed in the water. 50 dives or 500, there may still be some faffage, so we will be rather strict on dive technique, and we will be using out judgement accordingly.
C.
Similar threads
