Bad Shark...

[drrich2]

Chip Elliot, I doubt you'd be taken on a shark feed dive out of Jupiter without advance notice. For your peace of mind ask, yes, but don't get worked up about what's probably nothing. Since the shark feeding thing has come up, as it often does, here's a collection of threads where it's discussed and debated at length.

Lemon Sharks of the shipwreck “Esso Bonaire III” with Emerald Charters - http://www.scubaboard.com/community...ii-with-emerald-charters.520642/#post-7594158
2005 - Shark Dives vs Au Natural. http://www.scubaboard.com/community/threads/shark-dives-vs-au-natural.120682/#post-1382284
2005 - Feeding Sharks. http://www.scubaboard.com/community/threads/feeding-sharks.100049/#post-1114554
2008 - Shark Bites Live-aboard Guest. http://www.scubaboard.com/community/threads/shark-bites-liveaboard-guest.222402/#post-3401044
2009 - Shark Feeding. http://www.scubaboard.com/community/threads/shark-feeding.290804/
2010 - Shark Feeding Dives in USA? Why Not??? http://www.scubaboard.com/community/threads/shark-feeding-dives-in-usa-why-not.324684/#post-5070926
2010 - Shark And Other Fish Feeding. http://www.scubaboard.com/community/threads/shark-and-other-fish-feeding.361434/#post-5607196
2011 - Chumming/Baiting For Shark Dives. http://www.scubaboard.com/community/threads/chumming-baiting-for-shark-dives.368470/#post-5707184
2014 - Shark Divine…Florida? Bahamas? http://www.scubaboard.com/community/threads/shark-diving-florida-bahamas.483870/#post-7132834
2015 - Jim Abernathy Baited Shark Dive. http://www.scubaboard.com/community/threads/jim-abernethy-baited-shark-dive.513498/#post-7489303
2015 - Shark Court For Randy Emerald Charters Jupiter. http://www.scubaboard.com/community...emerald-charters-jupiter.499181/#post-7314943
2015 - Proposed interactive shark diving in the Caymans. http://www.scubaboard.com/community/threads/proposed-interactive-shark-diving-in-the-caymans.515594/ (this thread was noteworthy for broader discussion of locations & shark species).
2016- There’s a bill in Congress to ban shark feed dives - http://www.scubaboard.com/community...n-congress-to-ban-shark-feeding-dives.530293/

Over the years, I believe the quality of discussion & experience has evolved, & I’ve even seen a couple of minds changed! So more recent discussions may have better content.

 

[frndrfoe]

I have seen debates on here about shark feeding and some saying that feeding or baiting does not change the behavior of the shark but this seems to support the opposing view.
It seems interesting that with the large "home range" of a shark, that they might behave differently in different areas in respect to divers based on what they might expect to be happening. I just spent a week in Key Largo - not that far away - and certainly didn't see anything like that ( I had a camera).
I guess we all behave differently at Morton's steak house than at the Ponderosa food trough.

 

[CuzzA]

There's no way to tell if the typical shark bites we have every year around the Atlantic and Caribbean are related.

You can however, usually tell in some videos, like this one, where a sharks behavior appears to be altered. I don't know if they allow feeding in Australia. But that definitely appeared to be an unprovoked incident and not normal.

In this video you see what most certainly is a shark that has been fed. Likely divers showing off when they cull lionfish.


Nevertheless, almost everyone agrees humans should not feed wildlife, especially dangerous animals, for obvious reasons, except sharks, apparently that's debatable. I guess sharks are a bunch of dumbasses. Bears, alligators, lions, wolves, etc. successfully make the association with humans and food. Sharks... dumbasses.

 

[Chip Elliott]

Well, I just got called and said I don't have enough dives in to go on the trip, so the conversation is moot. I don't know if I am disappointed or relieved actually. I was concerned about my lack of experience and novice rating. I will stick with local and get a lot more dives under my belt before I go on a trip like this. Maybe next year.

 

[Chip Elliott]

There's no way to tell if the typical shark bites we have every year around the Atlantic and Caribbean are related.

You can however, usually tell in some videos, like this one, where a sharks behavior appears to be altered. I don't know if they allow feeding in Australia. But that definitely appeared to be an unprovoked incident and not normal.

In this video you see what most certainly is a shark that has been fed. Likely divers showing off when they cull lionfish.


Nevertheless, almost everyone agrees humans should not feed wildlife, especially dangerous animals, for obvious reasons, except sharks, apparently that's debatable. I guess sharks are a bunch of dumbasses. Bears, alligators, lions, wolves, etc. successfully make the association with humans and food. Sharks... dumbasses.

I had an incident (non-scuba) in my cabin in Canada with this. A bear decided to break in and spend 2.5 hours in our cabin (it's very small, rustic and the other cabins are FAR away) and tear apart a LOT of stuff to get to any sweets she could find. It was a learned behavior and a few weeks after breaking into our cabin she broke into another and that owner was not as understanding and now has her skull over his mantle.

If you are interested, the story is attached.

 

[flyboy08]

I refuse to knowingly watch divers being attacked by sharks. I will continue to dive, and my last dozen or so we're with sharks homing around. What will be will be, but I'm not going to watch any vids.

 

[Chip Elliott]

Get one of these before the trip:

Men's Military Army Style 2 Tags Chain Necklace SNIP

I haven't worn my dog tags since the early 70's when I had to wear them for various (not so good) reasons. I don't know if I want to purposely go into a scenario where I should wear them again. Been there, done that.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

Sorry to hear about the trip. If you come down and need a. Buddy,,. I will dive with you.

 

[Chip Elliott]

Thanks DD, I think they are just being (rightfully) cautious when it comes to new divers. Better safe than sorry.

 

[Belzelbub]

Bring a camera, it will increase the odds that you won't see a shark.

That's the truth. And make sure it is working. I started bringing a camera on all my dives for the past few years. First it was a Liquid Image mask, now a Go Pro. In that time the only sharks I've seen are from when the camera wasn't working for one reason or another (dead battery, full memory card, etc.)