Shark Attack - Fact

[Thalassamania]

Here's s short description of a shark's actions during an attack (from a longer post):

... whilst diving to do some transect work I had a Bull Shark circle me and start displaying aggressively (back arched, pectorals down, etc.). The circles got smaller and smaller and finally he was in real tight and I was holding the shark’s head away from me with the billie, We were spinning from right to left. The shark flicked away from me and cut my leg rather badly with what I can only assume was his pectoral fin, he went out about fifteen feet and turned back at me, I reached over my shoulder and pulled the Shark Dart (with a shaft about two feet long attached) up out of the tube and over my shoulder. I glanced about for my Comrade Diver, but he was no where to be found.

The shark came straight at me and I fended him off with the bille, I brought the dart around and stabbed him with it. Nothing happened. I pulled the dart out of him, still with the billie pushing against his head. I could see that I’d not pulled the little orange clip off the dart to arm it.

It was one of the moments like when Butch and Sundance jump off the cliff, OH ...! I was pretty scared, I could not arm the damned thing without using my left hand (which was holding the shark off) or my teeth (which were holding my regulator). After what seemed like a long time spinning around with the billie held against the shark’s head (likely it was really five to ten seconds, but time is hard to judge in adrenal drenched retrospect) the shark once again retreated and went back into aggressive displaying I dropped the billie on its lanyard, reached up and pulled the clip off and recovered the billie as quickly as I could.

The shark charged once again, and once again I parried his head with the billie, as we started to turn I poked him hard with the dart and it went off with a woosh. I could see his guts being forced out his mouth and he went head up. I had a little trouble pulling the dart out due to the angle.

Don't get freaked out, this is the only high intensity shark encounter that I've had in well over 10,000 dives and more than 50 years of diving. Even then there might have been better solutions (if I'd known about them):

When I am around sharks I carry a billy and a couple of "Dietzman Death Squares." That way no one gets hurt. If I'd know about the Death Squares back then I might have been able to avoid the whole thing.

 

[tndash]

Great post Thalassamania. This lends itself for more discussion. I am very curious about everyones opinion on the following, but first, just to let you know my view before I get attacked-I do not harm anything in the ocean. I have found it hard to even fish for food. I returned a sea urchin because I felt bad. I don’t damage anything and usually clean the ocean bottom when there. That being said- heres a question-given the particular behavior of this or any shark that actually attacks you, what is your preference? Using the Death Squares versus The Farallon Shark Dart. When a bear attacks someone, people hunt it down. Same thing with a mountain lion and Im sure other animals that have attacked humans. I understand the Bull is being territorial and we are guests in its domain but if you use the Squares, someone else, less fortunate to be carrying protection may be attacked by that same animal. My thoughts are to use the dart. Please keep in mind, I cant even take and kill a lobster from the sea, but this shark may be problematic for others as well. Please speak your opinions.

 

[tndash]

PS- If anyone knows where to buy Dietzman Death Squares, please let me know-thx

 

[Walter]

Sheet metal, a ruler and tin snips are all available at your local hardware store.

 

[tndash]

Thanks Walter-do I just cut 3x3 pieces? Do I dispense 1 at a time or more? Would dulling the edges (so I dont accidentally cut myself) or bending the metal have any effect?

 

[henno777]

Ok my experience:

Im diving at least once a month with the bull shark (apparently the most agressive shark out there).

Ive also dived with hammerheads, ragged tooth, black tips and tiger sharks. Unfortunately never with the Great White (but will rectify it this year).

Specific your situation. We had some students in Mozambique in December on their first openwater dive. A tiger came to visit us. all of them just act normal and was an awesome experience for all of them (12 students). The point Im trying to make is that if you spot them underwater you will relise that they dont care about yiu at all. They come in have a look (if youre lucky and then dissapear.

Im alse a memebr of Sharklife and with experience and shark courses done I can comment as follow.

Key things to do if you not comfortable with the shark in the water and to scare them off And no jokes Im seriouse.
1) Stay in a group - they see you as one object too large for prey and they will not bother you.
2) If you alone swim towards the shark - a sure way to scare them off.
3) Never ever swim away horisontal from the shark - you look like food.
4) Stay vertical - no food of the shark swim vertical end they wont see you as prey
5) Blow a lot of bubbles and even scream if a shark is in you personal space (man how I would love that to happen to me)
6) Remember they hate to struggle for food and you do not look like easty pray to any shark in scuba. Swimmers on the syurface is another story - humans look clumsey make noice and look like you drown if you are a swimmer....
7) Eye contact very important, had a couple a csases where the bull shark comes in closer from behind and as soon as you look at it - it goes away.
8) Dont flash with your hands, keep them intack

Last point - onced you actually dive with these magnificant animals you quickly relise that they are no threat at all if you just respect them, dont hang on their dorsal fin and let them be.

I was in a dive with 50+ black tip sharks, and although they bump you by accident (because of the number of species and the feeding frenzie, they dont even notice you. Remeber their senses is super human and in 99.9999999999% of cases they will not mistake you with prey.

 

[Walter]

Thanks Walter-do I just cut 3x3 pieces? Do I dispense 1 at a time or more? Would dulling the edges (so I dont accidentally cut myself) or bending the metal have any effect?

I learned about them on ScubaBoard from Thal, but from reading his posts, I would imagine dulling the edges is not an issue and they should be dropped one at a time as needed.

 

[henno777]

Raggy or sand sharks in other parts of the world

 

[henno777]

Black tips

 

[henno777]

100+ hammerheads and bull shark (Zambezi)