Vuk Milicevic
Registered
I am hesitant on asking this question for fear of being judged but will go ahead and do so anyway. I am getting OW certified in a few weeks. My purpose behind doing so is so that my brother and I can travel to the Caribbean (to start off with) 3 or 4 times a year and dive. We both have an avid appreciation for the outdoors and the main "goal" we have with wanting to dive is to be under clear water, appreciate what life down below is like and see cool/colorful/interesting marine life.
Having said that, something that he and I are equally afraid of are sharks. I'm not going to isolate our fear to one or two types, we are simply afraid of sharks. This might be the point in my thread where someone tells me if that's the case, I need to find something else to do but I will press on.
I want to know what the etiquette is of carrying a knife underwater simply to have as a resource to defend myself should the need ever arise. From talking to a friend at work, who has been ocean diving for 15 years, he told me that he never carries a knife on him and that certain places won't even let you dive with one. We plan on diving in places that are not known for having sharks in waters but no one will ever be able to guarantee that.
Am I being too scared here or is this a valid question? I am fully aware that when we're down below, we're in their world and need to accept the potential consequences. My theory behind this is the same theory I apply to conceal carrying a firearm during every day life. I do not do so because I want to feel "tough", show off or feed my ego. I simply do so in the event that if something were to happen and I'd need to defend myself or my family, I would be able to do so and not be begging for my life at someone else's mercy.
Can the same mentality be applied to diving? I want to say in advance that if this post offends anyone, I apologize. I do not want to come across as egotistical, I'm simply new and don't understand how this is perceived by the general community.
Having said that, something that he and I are equally afraid of are sharks. I'm not going to isolate our fear to one or two types, we are simply afraid of sharks. This might be the point in my thread where someone tells me if that's the case, I need to find something else to do but I will press on.
I want to know what the etiquette is of carrying a knife underwater simply to have as a resource to defend myself should the need ever arise. From talking to a friend at work, who has been ocean diving for 15 years, he told me that he never carries a knife on him and that certain places won't even let you dive with one. We plan on diving in places that are not known for having sharks in waters but no one will ever be able to guarantee that.
Am I being too scared here or is this a valid question? I am fully aware that when we're down below, we're in their world and need to accept the potential consequences. My theory behind this is the same theory I apply to conceal carrying a firearm during every day life. I do not do so because I want to feel "tough", show off or feed my ego. I simply do so in the event that if something were to happen and I'd need to defend myself or my family, I would be able to do so and not be begging for my life at someone else's mercy.
Can the same mentality be applied to diving? I want to say in advance that if this post offends anyone, I apologize. I do not want to come across as egotistical, I'm simply new and don't understand how this is perceived by the general community.