a-philosophical-pagan:
…involves a daredevil doing everything experts theorize provoke attacks and not being bitten once during the entire show.
No, it’s not time to go spear driving at dawn wearing a flashy yellow-and-orange shiny swim suit while bleeding from a bug bite. I think this just seems to prove (what the narrator of the show won’t postulate) that sharks are no more inclined to bite you than a dog. EVEN IF you approach that dog shouting and covered in bacon (or whatever is said to provoke a dog bite.)
I am almost certain that a shark will bite you…if s/he wants to bite you. Whether because s/he’s hungry, curious, or some combination of the both. I highly doubt it is because the shark knows humans are tasty—since we aren’t on their menu often since we aren’t native to the water.
…This has been a random educational rant by me.
I agree with the above! Here! Some tips from someone who has lived in shark waters all over the world!
- Shiny things can get you all sorts of unwanted attention. It reflects the light and water like the scales of a fish. Leave the jewelry at home or on the beach.
- Avoid bright colors, yellow especially. Some types of sharks find yellow attractive (although this may have been proven incorrect?). I find wearing the colors opposite to what native fish are colored is a general rule of thumb.
- Sharks are everywhere, even in cold places like Cape Cod, Mass.
- There are a fuck ton of different types of sharks. Most have literally no history of attacking humans. Jellyfish are assholes though (don’t kill them either)
- Swimming at sunrise or sunset is just asking for trouble, as pretty as it is. Those are feeding times.
- If folks are fishing for large game with those huge-ass fifteen foot long fishing poles, you may not wish to go in the water. They probably know something you don’t. This is especially true if they are fishing from the shore (I’m looking at you Hawai’i.)
- As fun as swimming with seals or schools of fish can be, they attract predators. Don’t go near them. (Cape Cod, don’t be dumb.)
- There are much more dangerous shit out there than just sharks. A fish can be just as dangerous and as large as you are.
- If folks are fishing off-shore and have caught fish as big as you are, known that the fish’s predators will be larger. (My classmate caught as fish longer than I am tall not fifteen feet from where I was snorkling in Cape Verde)
- And if fisherman are catching sharks, know where they caught them. Ask, they’ll tell you the whole tale. (Note while in Cape Verde, the locals only reported catching one shark in the time I was there. They used everything from the skin to the very bones.)
- If you wear fins in the water, carry a knife. I carried two, one to distract and the other to attack if necessary.
- MARK WHERE THE FUCK YOU ARE DIVING/SNORKLING. If you do get attacked, they will at least be able to fucking find you. And it keeps boats from running your ass over.
- Swim, dive, snorkle, boat in groups or pairs if possible. If not possible make a friend on the beach (or hell, just nod and smile at the person reading on the beach where you set up camp. They’ll probably note your movements because you’re near them)
- Don’t go in the water if you’re bleeding or have a fresh wound. Fucking common sense.
- And finally: You are in a part of the world that is the least explored on the whole damn planet. You are in a wild animals’ territory. It is a jungle of water, sea weed, and shit you can’t see. Fucking act like it.
