Great White in Keys, Would You??

[MrChen]

Would you jump in the water if this guy was spotted near your boat? It doesn't appear to be acting aggressively. Would it just swim by like any other shark? There's no question it's a predator to be feared, but are we too scared? I've only been diving a year and have not seen a bull or white. My first drift dive, I saw 6 sharks and it was a surreal experience. I look forward to seeing sharks and that's all I want to do is see them. How would I feel around a white? Probably the same as the others as long as it kept swimming by like the other sharks.

I'd love to hear a story or two about seeing a white while diving off the coast of Florida. Where were you, how did the white react (if at all), and what was your reaction? Thank you for sharing...

[video=youtube;Y6ZzIknCI_s]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Y6ZzIknCI_s[/video]

 

[tomfcrist]

I've been in the water with whites in so cal, they are awesome creatures. That being said I have no urge to jump in and see what mood they are in.

 

[scallop]

Not ashamed to admit that no way in hades would I jump in there.

 

[djtimmy77]

Considering the chum slick that is typical while fishing for yellow-tail snapper....probably not the best idea to jump in the water when the great white swims by.

 

[Superlyte27]

Yah, forever I've told people (and I meant it) that I'm only afraid of two things... Spider and Bats (because they kill more people than sharks easily).

There's no way in hell I'm swimming with a Great White. That movie some 3 decades ago was certainly effective.

 

[HalcyonDaze]

I would, but only under a very limited set of circumstances. One being observing the shark from the surface for a while to confirm it is indeed "docile," and for another having a quick exit available. It's good not to be scared by them, but on the other hand it is a large, predatory wild animal. Approach with caution and do so at your own risk.

That said, the one and only time (so far) I've seen a bull shark while diving, I lit the afterburners and tried to close in for a picture. So I'm typically not the sanest person on the boat.

 

[Wookie]

The ones we get down here in the keys are pretty small, not much bigger than 10 feet or so. They seem curious, but their curiosity seems to be satisfied by a close or far swim-by. I've seen them from the surface and we have scientists who video'd one too. Those little ones seem to be fish eaters, as there aren't any mammals down here to eat (except us, of course).

 

[Peter_C]

It is also the juveniles that tend to do test bites more than a full sized adult.

 

[MrChen]

Do you think the whites like to swim near the boats because they might get a free hand out? No replies thus far have provided any confidence in being in the water ...

And I'm still hoping to hear about seeing a white at depth while on a drift dive or something... anyone?

---------- Post added July 14th, 2013 at 04:35 PM ----------

It is also the juveniles that tend to do test bites more than a full sized adult.

Ugh...

 

[100days-a-year]

I have seen 2 underwater.Niether seemed interested in me despite having speared fish.1 was in Jax several years ago and on in SC just couple of years ago.FWIW we have seen 4 tigers of 12' or geater so far this year including an 18'.I see hundreds of sharks a year and have bit of video of some of them,I remain more terrified of drunk and aged drivers as I am 100s or 1000s of times more likely to be injured or worse by them.