Sunday, March 30, 2014

This will get you killed!



From what I understand, this is precisely what has led to the death of Markus Groh - same species, diver way too close to the bait crate and way too passive, stirred up sand.
Need I add that this is not sustainable?

Oh well - others are already looking into this stuff.


Professor Proboscis said...

I agree 1,000,000%.

These idiots who position themselves next to/on top of the bait box and then think they are in control (because they are special/understand sharks /[insert your own garbage explanation here]...

... As soon as a shark turns on a sixpence or speeds up or more than one comes in at the same time - Bang! - there goes the viz. And with the shark(s) snapping about in low/zero viz trying to find the food, do the Eli Martinezes of the world SERIOUSLY presume the sharks are going to waste their time trying to discriminate between the look-at-me-I'm-special-diver-in-the-stupid-place and their usual food?

It takes 1/2 a second for a dangerous situation (fool next to the bait box) to turn into Russian Roulette where suddenly there are a lot more bullets in the chamber.

And how, when Eli is fiddling with Shark A's claspers or whatever it is he is doing (to the awe of his groupies), is he meant to be aware of what sharks B, C and D are up to?

DaShark said...

Just to perfectly clear: this is not Eli!

Shark Diver said...

Now wait! You are saying putting bait in a plastic crate and then pretty much hanging out on top of it is not a good idea?! ;-)

The things people do!

Unknown said...

And how many Shark dive have you done?

DaShark said...

More or less 3000, most of them with Bull Sharks, see here.

Are you the dude next to that bait crate?

Professor Proboscis said...

Speaking of bulls, I've done plenty of bull shark dives also.

And while we are on the subject of bulls, I'm not an ex-bull rider taking his macho posturing into the marine world:-

...And I quote:-

'Many moon ago when I was riding bulls, chasing a dream of becoming a professional bull rider...'

It's a pity he thinks himself entitled to take his bull and inflict it on the world of sharks.

The Referee in the stripped shirt said...

Sorry Da Shark, by the Rules and Tribulations of the scuba community this Egan fella has earned, "First Right to Boviate" on account he has claimed more dives than you:

"Alan C. Egan departed Manchester UK in 1984 to live in Miami Florida, this is where his love affair with the ocean and diving began. With over 5,000 dives in the USA, Central & South America, Caribbean and Bahamas."

In some tribal cultures this first right is conferred by the size of the dried Banana leaf one has tied to ones twig and berries.

THANK GOD we are more civilized.

I digress, I would like to hear more from this 5000 dive fellow as he probably has some wisdom to impart upon the rest of us with only 2-3000 dives.

Professor Egan the floor is yours.

Shark Diver said...

Only 3000? Dang rookie! ;-)

DaShark said...


The q was "Shark dives", not dives overall! :)

Douglas Seifert, World Editor, DIVE Magazine said...

DaShark and Alan, no fighting! I am the one degree of separation between you both and although both of you are quite capable of expressing your opinions, face to face you would find common ground.

There are two types of shark feeding. Organized and disorganized.

Mike and his team at Beqa Adventure Divers run the very best show in the world for hand-fed bull shark dives. While the bulls are still among the wildest of wild animals, there is as much control as humans can impose on their nature.

What I have seen on video of what goes on off Jupiter, Florida and have seen over the years by high profile operators in the Bahamas is often the sort of Darwin Award competition mentality of dump in a whole bunch of food on the bottom and watch a frenzy ensue.

Having been in many of these situations over the years, it is indisputable that once things get out of control, any sort of order does not return for many white knuckle moments and anything can happen.

It bears mentioning the obvious: The teeth are sharp and our flesh is weak.

So the diver really needs to be aware that safety-wise all bets are off and the diver and the operator that puts him/her in that situation are the only ones to blame if a shark just behaves as a shark behaves naturally.

It was demonstrated decades ago by pioneers like Ron and Valerie Taylor and by Yves Lefevre in Rangiroa that shark attraction works quite well to bring in the big animals and without the anything can happen danger element. If a shark can smell fresh food, its inquisitive nature will bring it in closer than its natural wariness might otherwise allow. But let a shark rip into a carcass no strings attached and all hell can break loose. Safety protocols can dramatically lessen the likelihood of accident. But this video doesnt appear to have any safety protocols and therein may lie future problems.

Professor Proboscis said...

Douglas Seifert is hereby awarded an Honorary Doctorate in the University of Sanity.

The Referee in the stripped shirt said...

By the Rules and Tribulations of the scuba community, the number of OVERALL dives count (shark, whale, squid, whatever).

Not to worry Douglas, that's why one diver asks these questions of another, to gauge the level of:

A: Snark in a response

B: Bloviation on a topic

This form of "Dried Banana Leaf" communication ceases the need for armed combat in most cases.

Both of these chaps seem reasonable enough.

Terms? What Terms? said...

Actually there are THREE types of shark diving.

1. Organized

2. Disorganized

3. Mediot

"Mediot" shark dives combine the very WORST media exposure with the natural extension of being an idiot.

Hence the term, Mediot.

Perhaps you have seen these dives in action?

In case you have not a quick look through most of Andy Brandy Casagrande IV media reel, and many of the recent underwater shark spasms of one retired Rodeo Clown in the Bahamas and beyond are prime examples.