How Afraid are you of Sharks?

[caymaniac]

So far the reaction seems to be if you see this and your on a walk, you're in big trouble

If you look up and see this above you then you might as well kis your A#* goodbye

if you can get your car in reverse fast enough when you this you better do it (this did happen to me)

But, if you see this then you just have respect...

 

[Nemrod]

Lions are amazing but among top carnivores, the Griz is right up there:

"The Californians of the late 19th century staged well-documented pit fights with grizzlies and spanish bulls. The grizzlies, using their paw as a club, shattered the unfortunate bull's skull or shoulder bones so easily that the betting became poor.

Eventually, and at considerable cost, African lions were brought in to raise the stakes. The most fierce of the adult males was sent in whilst the grizzly was already waiting in the pits. The lion was known for bravely charging straight in and looked good for the money, but the grizzly killed a male lion almost as easily as he'd killed the bull."

and:

I think it was Animal Face Off, the grizzly killed the tiger as well.

I certainly hope such things are illegal now world over but somehow I imagine there are sick people like that football player who would still do this crap. A large, fully grown, hungry or angry grizzly knows few creatures it's equal, perhaps that elephant or a tiger but then an elephant is not a predacious carnivore and water buffalos and moose have been known to be relatively --lol---very dangerous as would be a rhino. Compared to meeting any of those in the wild the vast, vast, vast majority of shark encounters are benign. If people would quit killing everything we come across including ourselves it would be a better world.

N

 

[Tomeck]

I am not afraid of grey reef shark, because I get used, but I prefer manta ray, it's much more beautiful.

 

[LIVES4SHARKS]

I love sharks, I dive with sharks, and I do all that I can to protect them. I do not have a fear of them, but I do have great respect for them and their home. Like any predator, we are in their neighborhood so if they give you a hint to stay away, you best be taking notice.

Happy diving with sharks!
Carolyn:sharks:

 

[Jim Kerr]

Where do sharks rank on your fear factor? Are they a consideration where you dive? Should they be

Vote and compare:
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/basic-scuba-discussions/234090-how-afraid-you-titan-triggers.html

I've dove all over the world and have had many shark encounters with absolute enjoyment. The only shark that does give me concern is the "Great White" when I dive in California waters, but I do not dwell on it or even give it a second thought. I've yet to encounter one but know of divers who have without incident. The only divers I know of that have had negative encounters were those that were hunting at the time. I try to prepare myself for the chance that one day I will encounter one so that I don't panic and try to enjoy the encounter instead of fearing it, but that will depend on the situation of course.

 

[Jrock1062]

So far the reaction seems to be if you see this and your on a walk, you're in big trouble

Not me i have a Rhodesian Ridgeback

 

[halocline]

Having hiked in grizzly country on numerous occasions, I can attest that they are pretty amazing critters. Not aggressive predators, though, like lions and tigers are, otherwise nobody would ever step foot in Glacier National park.

A funny bear story is about this Canadian guy about 10 years ago or so that was knocked down by a grizzly while hiking, but not further attacked and walked away. He was so inspired by the experience that he decided to build a protective bear suit and spend the rest of his life picking fights with the bears. He "trained" and tested the suit by fighting motorcycle gangs with chains, then went out looking for a grizzly and brought along a film crew to document the whole thing. Apparently he spent years and thousands of dollars in this project, never saw another bear, and ended up bankrupt.

He was pretty lucky IMO. I've seen car doors ripped off their hinges by much smaller yosemite brown bears looking for coolers. Apparently it only takes them a few seconds, and they're about half the size of grizzlies.

 

[JohnnyH]

This is a bit of an apples to oranges type of thing I know, but I work with (captive) sharks on a daily basis and therefore have a definite opinion. Sharks are one of the most maligned species on the planet.

Even though the sharks I work with have been brought up in captivity and are total cream puffs (even at 8+ feet and 300 lbs), I've had many interactions with sharks in the wild as well. Sharks are opportunistic feeders and have little to no interest in humans - we don't smell right, don't have the proper electrical signature and for the bulk of the shark species out there - we're just too damn big.

Anyway, I am always thrilled by wild shark encounters - but I adopt the exact opposite attitude from the one I have with my own sharks - meaning, hands off.

If anyone's interested, here's a link to a bit I recently said about feeding sharks.

WHDH-TV - Special Edition - Where in New England is Dylan Dreyer? Friday

(click the "Watch the video" link towards the top of the page)

john

 

[Wayward Son]

the only time I have any real concern about sharks is when I'm spearfishing. then they can be a PITA, but so far I've managed to both not kill one & not give one my fish. I like seeing them, but when I'm spearing I'd rather not have to mess with them.

 

[Beachlover]

My experience diving with sharks is rather limited. Here in southern California I have only seen small leopard and horned sharks and they have always been non threatening towards me, so no fear at all. While diving in Costa Rica and Hawaii I did see several black and white tipped sharks in the 5' to 8' range, they seemed uninterested in me and posed no threat or fear.I have only had positive interaction with all sharks that I have been in the water with and consider myself privileged to have had an underwater experience with them.