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Hey guys! I am going on a mini-vacation on the 21st of September . I will be going to Virginia Beach for the weekend. In the paper just this weekend, one boy was killed there by a shark bite, and two people were severely injured in North Carolina , and I believe they were on shore!! Just wondering if anyone knew of any ways to keep the sharks away. Thought I could probrbly get some interesting answers out of you all! :) Be back soon looking for some answers!!
Thanks,
Sarahjeanne
Thanks,
Sarahjeanne
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Replies
I think its only fair. Think of all the shark fin soup consumed daily :P http://www.angelfire.com/journal/Respiratory/shark1.gif
By the way one good way to avoid sharks is to visit a beach in my neck of the woods. We have lots and lots of Dolphins and, believe it or not, they keep sharks away :) And dolphins are mammals and very very friendly indeed (http://www.dolphinsex.org/) :)
By the way one good way to avoid sharks is to visit a beach in my neck of the woods. We have lots and lots of Dolphins and, believe it or not, they keep sharks away :) And dolphins are mammals and very very friendly indeed (http://www.dolphinsex.org/) :)
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Thanks alot, guys! I really appreciate all of the advice. I espically liked yours, Davidh. I will most definately be sleeping off hangovers in those wee hours. :) I'll let you all know how it goes. If I make it back, that is! ;))
Much Love ,
Sarahjeanne
Much Love ,
Sarahjeanne
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From a native Floridaian's perspective:
Nanaea was right on target with all her suggestions, however I admit Davidh had a few...um...creative suggestions ;)
My family and I went on vacation to Indian Rocks Beach, which is right on the Gulf of Mexico. I only went in the water up to my ankles, and I stayed on shore. My brother called me paranoid. Keep in mind, this is right after a boy's uncle had to wrestle a shark to get his nephew's arm back up in the panhandle of FL. I'd say I had reason to be paranoid!
Another note:
It's not that there are more sharks than before, there's just more people in the water, and it's getting more media coverage. I'm not saying that you shouldn't worry-in fact if you are going to VB, you may be in greater danger than me because you will be right on the Atlantic.
Bottom Line: Be smart, Stay safe, Have fun!!!
Nanaea was right on target with all her suggestions, however I admit Davidh had a few...um...creative suggestions ;)
My family and I went on vacation to Indian Rocks Beach, which is right on the Gulf of Mexico. I only went in the water up to my ankles, and I stayed on shore. My brother called me paranoid. Keep in mind, this is right after a boy's uncle had to wrestle a shark to get his nephew's arm back up in the panhandle of FL. I'd say I had reason to be paranoid!
Another note:
It's not that there are more sharks than before, there's just more people in the water, and it's getting more media coverage. I'm not saying that you shouldn't worry-in fact if you are going to VB, you may be in greater danger than me because you will be right on the Atlantic.
Bottom Line: Be smart, Stay safe, Have fun!!!
1
Forget the nose! Punch 'im in the eyeball!
Excerpted from *The Worst-case Scenario Survival Handbook*
HOW TO FEND OFF A SHARK: HIT BACK
If a shark is coming toward you or attacks you, use anything you have in your possession -- a camera, probe, harpoon gun, your fist -- to hit the shark's eyes or gills, which are the areas most sensitive to pain... Contrary to popular opinion, the shark's nose is not the area to attack, unless you cannot reach the eyes or gills.
HOW TO AVOID AN ATTACK
* Always stay in groups -- sharks are more likely to attack an individual.
* Do not wander too far from shore. This isolates you and creates the additional danger of being too far from assistance.
* Avoid being in the water during darkness or twilight hours, when sharks are most active and have a competitive sensory advantage.
* Do not enter the water if you are bleeding from an open would or if you are menstruating -- a shark is drawn to blood and its olfactory ability is acute.
* Try not to wear shiny jewelry, because the reflected light resembles the sheen of fish scales.
* Avoid waters with known effluents or sewage and those being used by sport or commerical fisherman, especially if there are signs of bait fish or feeding activity. Diving seabirds are good indicators of such activity.
* Use extra caution when waters are murky and avoid showing any uneven tan lines or wearing brightly colored clothing -- sharks see contrast particularly well.
* If a shark shows itself to you, it may be curious rather than predatory and will probably swim on leave you alone. If you are under the surface and lucky enough to see an attacking shark, then you do have a good chance of defending yourself if the shark is not too large.
* Scuba divers should avoid lying on the surface where they may look like a piece of prey to a shark, and from where they cannot see a shark approaching.
* A shark attack is a potential danger for anyone who frequents marine waters, but it should be kept in perspective. Bees, wasps, and snakes are responsible for far more fatalities each year, and in the United States the annual risk of death from lightning is thirty times greater than from a shark attack.
-- Nanaea
Excerpted from *The Worst-case Scenario Survival Handbook*
HOW TO FEND OFF A SHARK: HIT BACK
If a shark is coming toward you or attacks you, use anything you have in your possession -- a camera, probe, harpoon gun, your fist -- to hit the shark's eyes or gills, which are the areas most sensitive to pain... Contrary to popular opinion, the shark's nose is not the area to attack, unless you cannot reach the eyes or gills.
HOW TO AVOID AN ATTACK
* Always stay in groups -- sharks are more likely to attack an individual.
* Do not wander too far from shore. This isolates you and creates the additional danger of being too far from assistance.
* Avoid being in the water during darkness or twilight hours, when sharks are most active and have a competitive sensory advantage.
* Do not enter the water if you are bleeding from an open would or if you are menstruating -- a shark is drawn to blood and its olfactory ability is acute.
* Try not to wear shiny jewelry, because the reflected light resembles the sheen of fish scales.
* Avoid waters with known effluents or sewage and those being used by sport or commerical fisherman, especially if there are signs of bait fish or feeding activity. Diving seabirds are good indicators of such activity.
* Use extra caution when waters are murky and avoid showing any uneven tan lines or wearing brightly colored clothing -- sharks see contrast particularly well.
* If a shark shows itself to you, it may be curious rather than predatory and will probably swim on leave you alone. If you are under the surface and lucky enough to see an attacking shark, then you do have a good chance of defending yourself if the shark is not too large.
* Scuba divers should avoid lying on the surface where they may look like a piece of prey to a shark, and from where they cannot see a shark approaching.
* A shark attack is a potential danger for anyone who frequents marine waters, but it should be kept in perspective. Bees, wasps, and snakes are responsible for far more fatalities each year, and in the United States the annual risk of death from lightning is thirty times greater than from a shark attack.
-- Nanaea
1
Hi Sarahjeanne ,
Several things you might try:
1) Vacation in Kansas instead.
2) Invite several friends along to VB and encourage them to rub their legs vigorously with bait squid before entering the water. Enter the water yourself (sans squid) no less than 50 yards away.
3) Avoid swimming near dawn or dusk. People who swim then DESERVE shark bites anyway, because all decent folks will be back in the condo sleeping off a hangover at the earlier time or nursing a sunburn at the swim-up bar at the later.
4) Collect several small children and buy them either paddleboards or seal costumes to use in the water. Place them between yourself and offshore sandbars, schools of fish, or exposed fins.
5) Remember that white-tailed deer, not sharks, are the primary animal killers of people in the US. Don't swim where you see antlers moving through the water!
My family swam in the Virginia Beach area for years without so much as SEEING a shark. The fatal attack there was tragic but very freakish.
If you want to worry about sea critters, look out instead for jellyfish and mass migrations of bluefish near the water's edge. One year my dad swam out into the path of the migrating blues to "get closer to the marine life". Eleven stitches later, he acknowledged that those critters have sharp teeth!
Have fun at the beach,
Da.
Several things you might try:
1) Vacation in Kansas instead.
2) Invite several friends along to VB and encourage them to rub their legs vigorously with bait squid before entering the water. Enter the water yourself (sans squid) no less than 50 yards away.
3) Avoid swimming near dawn or dusk. People who swim then DESERVE shark bites anyway, because all decent folks will be back in the condo sleeping off a hangover at the earlier time or nursing a sunburn at the swim-up bar at the later.
4) Collect several small children and buy them either paddleboards or seal costumes to use in the water. Place them between yourself and offshore sandbars, schools of fish, or exposed fins.
5) Remember that white-tailed deer, not sharks, are the primary animal killers of people in the US. Don't swim where you see antlers moving through the water!
My family swam in the Virginia Beach area for years without so much as SEEING a shark. The fatal attack there was tragic but very freakish.
If you want to worry about sea critters, look out instead for jellyfish and mass migrations of bluefish near the water's edge. One year my dad swam out into the path of the migrating blues to "get closer to the marine life". Eleven stitches later, he acknowledged that those critters have sharp teeth!
Have fun at the beach,
Da.
1
As a certified scuba diver for 8 years I just wanted to note that I've never been bitten by a shark and no one I've ever gone diving with has been bitten either. I've dove in both the Atlantic and the Pacific including the Great Barrier Reef. I think Cole is right and it's not that there's more sharks we just hear more about it. What Nanaea posted about shark attacks is what divers are taught during certification classes and fortunately most of us never need to use it! By the way David , loved your answers...very funny!
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If you cant's beat 'em join 'em
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My "visions" have saved me from many a shark attack!
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As a certified scuba instructor for 18 years I just want to add that I am bitten by sharks on a fairly regular basis and enjoy it immensely! I suggest you don't knock it before you try it!
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Hey, welcome back, Daividh! Where the heck have you been?
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Hi Nan ,
I headed out middle of last week to my Mom's place Somewhere East of Philly. My step-dad's having a rough time after recent surgery and Mom's Alzheimer's is not severe but keeps her from driving, etc. The 3 out-of-state kids have been taking turns going up so the 2 living in-state (NJ) won't have to carry it all.
Had my eye surgery today and it was painfree and effortless. Will be back at work tomorrow. I hope to be around a little more from here on!
-- Da.
I headed out middle of last week to my Mom's place Somewhere East of Philly. My step-dad's having a rough time after recent surgery and Mom's Alzheimer's is not severe but keeps her from driving, etc. The 3 out-of-state kids have been taking turns going up so the 2 living in-state (NJ) won't have to carry it all.
Had my eye surgery today and it was painfree and effortless. Will be back at work tomorrow. I hope to be around a little more from here on!
-- Da.
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Sorry to hear about your folks, Daividh. The eye surgery news was good, though. :)
Pavlos had e-mailed me this morning, asking about you -- we were both wondering what had happened to you. If we hadn't heard from you today, one of us was gonna hunt you down. :)
-- Nanaea
Pavlos had e-mailed me this morning, asking about you -- we were both wondering what had happened to you. If we hadn't heard from you today, one of us was gonna hunt you down. :)
-- Nanaea
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