So if bull sharks are known to bite large chunks out of peoples legs, why are there some dive outlets that actively take people diving with them.
I found this example
http://www.scuba2000.org.uk/Protea Banks.htm and am intrigued to comprehend how trips like this can be organised, given what we've seen in the video. The very fact that dive outlets are oganising excursions like this, sends the message that "we do it, so it must be safe".
However given what i've seen, I'm unconvinced, and am more inclined to believe that the only reason that there havn't been any more fatalities, is just coincidence.
I quote.... "Hunting packs of Great Hammerheads check out who makes all that funny noise and Black Tips dart in and out of the diver's vision like a bunch of playful puppies. "
and "The really lucky diver may even encounter the odd Great White Shark which is an absolute privilege.
It took me over 500 dives to get that lucky and despite everybody's totally unfounded fear, the Great White behaves just like any other shark....swims past, looks what's going on and carries on his mission...
The feeling is indescribable !!! "
also "Protea Banks has been rated by many divers from around the world as THE best shark dive. many divers are scared of sharks due to horror stories and myths created by the movie world, but their fears are totally unfounded.
Sharks are intelligent animals, do not recognise us as food source and generally tend to be shy and respectful towards the divers."
Is there some particular technique that allows these groups to scuba dive, safe from attack. Or is there more to this ?
I am aware that this particular organiser states that there is no "Baiting up/Chumming", the way I see it, Chumming is akin to going into the Tigers pen with a steak round your neck, as opposed to the "Safer option" of just walking into the pen.
From the video of the attack, there doesn't appear to be mistaken identity, more like "wonder what that tastes like" The shark had the tentative expression of someone trying a doner kebab for the first time.
So with this in mind, is it the case that various scuba diving groups are chucking people in the water simply on the basis that they havn't had a serious incident yet, so therefore it must be ok ?
Much of the information I've read about sharks biting people seems to point at sharks only "Tasting to see if it's edible" It certainly appears that a "Taste" to that shark in the video was a Whole calf muscle". That's somewhat more serious than a finger lost to a barracuda.