This is why you don't feed sharks

[mstevens]

OK, so here's a pretty good argument against feeding the sharks. The fish in this video is clearly way too interested in divers. Note how it first approaches one of the DM's (the other shot the video) and is particularly interested in his hands? It then checks out each diver, and is also especially interested in the DM who shot the video.

This puts the shark in danger (see the guy freaking out and trying to kick it at 00:28 and 00:44?) and its abnormal approach is encouraging divers to engage in really bad shark-bothering behavior. If someone gets hurt, it's going to be the shark that gets the blame.

I wasn't there, but this was taken with one of our cameras. My family did not engage in any fish-mauling. My wife is the one with her ankles crossed around 01:24 and my son is the guy with the camera at 01:30. Our DM friend who took the video chewed everyone out later on the boat, but clearly by then it was too late.

Edit: This was taken at Colombia on 27 December 2014, about 3 months before the other video I posted showing a shark demonstrating excessive interest in divers in the same area.

[video=youtube_share;je-EYEncpQ8]http://youtu.be/je-EYEncpQ8[/video]

"This is why you don't feed sharks" EYEncpQ8

 

[Mossman]

What I can't understand is why a DM didn't stop the divers from touching the shark, since that's a big violation of marine park rules. Why have rules in the first place?

 

[Mike]

Cerainly makes for an interesting nurse shark encounter rather than the typical sitting under a ledge.

 

[cicopo]

That is most definitely abnormal behaviour for that shark.

 

[diver 85]

Wish that shark would have bitten off those 2 guy's SPGs @ the :20, :40, 1:00, or 1:40 marks---just for the heck of it.......Don't people know how to secure(or even hold) things these days???.....

 

[RickyF]

As Ron White said...."STUPID IS FOREVER"!!

 

[Chugwhump]

There is a Nurse Shark, about that exact same size, and with about that same behavior pattern here on one of my most favorite reefs.
I attribute it to the surge of dimwits feeding the sharks hereabouts Lion Fish at the end of a spear or tickle stick.
Some yo-yo's are of course hand feeding them.
Sad.
Eventually someone, somewhere is going to get hurt, and as stated previously, the sharks will suffer for it.

Chug
Often mugged by sharks.

 

[MMM]

We had a discussion about this a week or two ago. The DM said we might encounter this and that if it did, everyone should NOT engage in evasive behaviours since that just excites the shark. But not all may inform their divers thus. There are many novice divers who just think SHARK. In fact I have a video of one such diver who spent her entire time of the nurse shark interaction kneeling on the sand with her hands over her eyes. Lots of yucks afterwards.

Personally I HATE this. Yup, it may make for some very happy tipping divers. But it is IMO, just wrong.

 

[cbm32]

Just a few of thoughts.

1. While this is odd behavior, we really have no evidence that anyone has fed that shark.
2. as someone said above, WTF were they doing reaching out to pet it?
3. if this in the marine park, WTF are divers doing wearing gloves?

 

[Chugwhump]

Just a few of thoughts.

1. While this is odd behavior, we really have no evidence that anyone has fed that shark.
Normal Catfish (Nurse Sharks) DO NOT behave this way.
2. As someone said above, WTF were they doing reaching out to pet it?
Being stupid.
3. If this in the marine park, WTF are divers doing wearing gloves?
Not all of the world's Marine Parks disallow the use of gloves.

Chug
Wears gloves in Pennekamp.