drrich2
Contributor
This question’s been building for awhile. It grew to some extent out of the shark feed diving debate where some equate using food to bring in sharks to doing so to bring in bears or alligators, and ask ‘what’s the difference?’ A Biologist might point out a primitive cartilaginous fish, a reptile and a large land mammal related to dogs are fairly distinct from each other, but maybe the question deserves more thought.
It’s not just about shark feed diving. Ever dove the off shore wrecks out of North Carolina and been surrounded by sand tiger sharks? No feeding involved; the wrecks draw them in with habitat, not food. How many of us dive near large barracuda, and as long as the fish hangs out calmly, no big deal?
How about reptiles? Sea snakes and sea kraits seem pretty docile compared to terrestrial cobras and rattlers. I’ve been around enough cotton mouths, copperheads and the occasional pigmy rattler to know the average specimen is interested in minding its own business, not random vicious attacks, but I don’t pick them up! I’m told snapping turtles are much less aggressive in water than when one tries to get ‘touching close’ on land.
And what about those mammals? Sea lions like to buzz divers, and may approach in sizable groups. A harbor seal messed with my fin a couple of times when I was hanging midwater diving out of California. People post pics of diving wit bear-sized Stellers Sea Lions, which may put their big mouths (& big teeth) over diver’s heads.
On the shark feed issue, people dive cageless with tiger sharks, bull sharks and big hammerheads, albeit they stay in cages for great white diving. I don’t know what’s involved with oceanic white tip diving off Cat Island in the Bahamas, but I read reports that weren’t about cage diving.
Yes, there are hazards. Someone recently posted a video of an initially ‘friendly’ elephant seal badly mauling a pair of divers. Bull sea lions guarded their harems can be aggressive and dangerous. Sharks do kill some people.
Let’s shift to terrestrial comparators. Can you imagine...
1.) A wolf pack or lion pride rushing in around you to ‘play’ like sea lions?
2.) An adult black bear interacting with you like a friendly harbor seal, maybe getting a belly scratch?
3.) A water buffalo coming up for a belly scratch, manatee style?
4.) What of more mid-size predators, like bobcat, raccoon, coyote, badger, wolverine…that don’t prey on humans, but in the food chain might be regarded vaguely like barracuda maybe?
None of these animals are likely to tolerate a human being in close quarters; most would flee, and if they didn’t, we’d fear attack (or rabies since the animal acted abnormally).
Are large land-based creatures more prone to flee or aggressively guard personal space than sea creatures? If so, any thoughts on why?
Richard.
P.S.: Different examples may get interesting; salt water crocodiles are different to be around than American alligators. Hippos kill a lot of people, but often leave the water at night I've read, and may raid gardens. 'Amphibious' creatures may be a gray area.
It’s not just about shark feed diving. Ever dove the off shore wrecks out of North Carolina and been surrounded by sand tiger sharks? No feeding involved; the wrecks draw them in with habitat, not food. How many of us dive near large barracuda, and as long as the fish hangs out calmly, no big deal?
How about reptiles? Sea snakes and sea kraits seem pretty docile compared to terrestrial cobras and rattlers. I’ve been around enough cotton mouths, copperheads and the occasional pigmy rattler to know the average specimen is interested in minding its own business, not random vicious attacks, but I don’t pick them up! I’m told snapping turtles are much less aggressive in water than when one tries to get ‘touching close’ on land.
And what about those mammals? Sea lions like to buzz divers, and may approach in sizable groups. A harbor seal messed with my fin a couple of times when I was hanging midwater diving out of California. People post pics of diving wit bear-sized Stellers Sea Lions, which may put their big mouths (& big teeth) over diver’s heads.
On the shark feed issue, people dive cageless with tiger sharks, bull sharks and big hammerheads, albeit they stay in cages for great white diving. I don’t know what’s involved with oceanic white tip diving off Cat Island in the Bahamas, but I read reports that weren’t about cage diving.
Yes, there are hazards. Someone recently posted a video of an initially ‘friendly’ elephant seal badly mauling a pair of divers. Bull sea lions guarded their harems can be aggressive and dangerous. Sharks do kill some people.
Let’s shift to terrestrial comparators. Can you imagine...
1.) A wolf pack or lion pride rushing in around you to ‘play’ like sea lions?
2.) An adult black bear interacting with you like a friendly harbor seal, maybe getting a belly scratch?
3.) A water buffalo coming up for a belly scratch, manatee style?
4.) What of more mid-size predators, like bobcat, raccoon, coyote, badger, wolverine…that don’t prey on humans, but in the food chain might be regarded vaguely like barracuda maybe?
None of these animals are likely to tolerate a human being in close quarters; most would flee, and if they didn’t, we’d fear attack (or rabies since the animal acted abnormally).
Are large land-based creatures more prone to flee or aggressively guard personal space than sea creatures? If so, any thoughts on why?
Richard.
P.S.: Different examples may get interesting; salt water crocodiles are different to be around than American alligators. Hippos kill a lot of people, but often leave the water at night I've read, and may raid gardens. 'Amphibious' creatures may be a gray area.
