With 'killer' sharks in the news again, it's time to remember we need to keep things in proportion.
When we enter the water we are taking a calculated risk. The ocean is where Sharks and other potentially dangerous animals live. It's their home, not ours.
When a shark occasionally attacks a human being it is a case of mistaken identity. We are not on their menu - we do not naturally exist as a source of food in the sea. We often resemble seals when surfing, or simply an injured fish due to the inefficient splashing and movement we call swimming.
The vast majority of surfers and regular ocean swimmers are aware of the above and respect the ocean and it's wildlife, and do not hold grudges or apportion blame when a tragedy happens. Unfortunately however, the media make a living from creating stories that sell papers. Sharks are an easy target as they have been demonised since the release of 'Jaws', and are now an easy target for a couple of generations who have been fed a diet of misinformation regarding sharks.
One of the reasons we take people diving with our beautiful sharks here at Shark Dive Xtreme - without cages - is for people to face their fears. One of our more famous 'face your fears' divers was Paul De Gelder. Paul was a Navy Clearance Diver and was bitten by a Shark whilst swimming on his back in Sydney Harbour in 2009. Paul lost one of his hands and a leg, but has recovered to become an inspiration to many, including us here at Shark Dive Xtreme. Stating that he bears the shark no ill will ("probably just after some breakfast") Paul came in to prove to himself and others that it was an extremely rare and unusual event.
Channel Nine's 60 Minutes followed Paul on his dive (http://sixtyminutes.ninemsn.com.au/slideshow) which of course went without a hitch, and he survived.
Paul De Gelder & Peter Overton on Sixty Minutes
(Photo Copyright Channel Nine)
So we here at Shark Dive Xtreme would like you to take a minute to look at the facts about these amazing animals, and not be scared into believing that Sharks are killers waiting for humans to get in the water. It's simply not true. Most of our instructors have dived and been swimming in the open ocean with all types of sharks, and the only experience they came away with was a sense of awe and wonder at the beauty of this species.
If you want to know what dangers we truly face, see the images below. You may be surprised.
If you are interested in reading further, following are some links:
