Well, not being an expert on this and just going by the latest T.V.
documentaries most shark attacks are a case of mistaken identity. The
classic case being a surfer mistaken as a seal, as with the case of the
Great White. Other cases have been where the victim has been in murky water
where the shark ( typically Tiger or Bull) actually senses its prey without
actually seeing it, nothing wrong with that until the prey happens to be
human and sparks off a global media frenzy.
Also most shark attack fatalities are not actually consumed but instead
bleed to death after being "spat out". This would also seem to suggest that
human meat and its texture is "not on the menu" so to speak. You may have
gathered from this so far the shark attacks happen at surface level where
the victims are actually surfing or swimming. When was the last time you
heard of a scuba diver at depth being attacked by a shark?. Almost never.
There was a case recently where a shark took a "curious nibble" out of the
elbow of a diver. The diver took shelter and the shark didn't bother hanging
around. Again suggesting the human meat is "not on the menu"?
So to answer your question the chances of a shark attack is very rare. More
people globally are killed by falling coconuts or kicked to death by donkeys
but somehow these glorious deaths don't seem to attack the global media
frenzy of a "shark Attack. So to be attacked by a shark you have to be in
the vicinity of them and unless your wearing a surf board or in the murky
mouth of a shallow river where some sharks "hangout" the chance of a shark
attack are similar to a lotto win.
I went diving with "Oceanic White Tips" in Egypt. These sharks are
responsible for most human consumption of all sharks. They're an open water
shark not venturing near coasts. They're responsible for clearing the sea of
sailors "lost at sea". Google them. Anyhow, the site I was at is a very
popular site where hundreds if not thousands of divers swim with these
sharks annually with no fatalities. Why? because the shark can see you and
after millions of years of evolution is stuck to a "set menu" and humans
(being in the water for a mere 50 years) are not on it.
That's my two cents worth.
Euge.
>>>How likely is a shark attack in Southern California, both day and night
>>>diving? ... assuming it is completely unprovoked.
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Either a shark attacks you are it doesn't (day or Night)
Grumman-581 - 10 Jun 2006 15:36 GMT
> Well, not being an expert on this and just going by the latest T.V.
> documentaries most shark attacks are a case of mistaken identity.
So, as he's chomping down on you, the fact that it is a case of
mistaken identity will make you feel better?
> Also most shark attack fatalities are not actually consumed but instead
> bleed to death after being "spat out". This would also seem to suggest that
> human meat and its texture is "not on the menu" so to speak.
And the fact that your various body parts are spit out after being bit
off will make you feel better while you're quickly bleeding to death?
> So to answer your question the chances of a shark attack is very rare. More
> people globally are killed by falling coconuts or kicked to death by donkeys
> but somehow these glorious deaths don't seem to attack the global media
> frenzy of a "shark Attack.
I can wear a construction helmet whenever I'm walking underneath
coconut trees or just not walk underneath them and I've significantly
reduced my chances of being killed by a coconut... Of course there
would be the chance of the European vs African swallow possibly
carryin that coconut, but living in the US, I think I'm safe from
them...
With regards to being kicked to death by a donkey, well, I don't think
the Democrats can kick that hard anyway...
I'm not saying to be afraid of sharks, but if one chooses to dive with
them, one should remember that they might be on the menu that day...
Maybe not the main course, but perhaps the appetizer... Diver
fritters, if you will...
Greg Mossman - 10 Jun 2006 18:58 GMT
> So to answer your question the chances of a shark attack is very rare.
> More
> people globally are killed by falling coconuts or kicked to death by
> donkeys
Do you have any statistics on the donkey kicking fatalities? There were 61
documented cases of unprovoked shark attacks on humans in 2004 alone. I
simply can't believe there were that many people kicked to death by donkeys,
and certainly not if the donkey attacks were unprovoked.
> but somehow these glorious deaths don't seem to attack the global media
Are you kidding? Live footage of a killer donkey attack would surely make
the 6 o'clock news.