Comments on: Shark Attacks on South Africa’s Garden Route

By: scuba diving

scuba diving — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 14:40:46 +0000

Thanks for the link – don’t know if it interests you but we compiled all of the shark attack data graphically as well: http://www.thescubasite.com/Scuba-Diving-Resources/where-shark-attacks-happen

By: Lance

Lance — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:12:48 +0000

As far as I am concerned shark cage diving is wrong and should be banned completely. I am an old Surfer and life guard from the age of six and now turning 40, spending most of my time along the South Coast from Port Edward to Durban between 1976 and2000. There were many of us who surfed daily irrespective of the water conditions even when bathing was banned due to (storms, the annual sardine run and Neptune and spring tides). “Ray- even stupid people are intelligent when they keep quiet”.
Recently I have been blessed and am now able to return to the waters of the sea to surf with my daughter who is 16 along the Garden Route in the Cape. I have rarely been in these waters, we have found some awesome surfing spots with no shark nets and will not even let the thought of getting attacked by a shark stop us from going in.
Having recently heard about the shark attack in False Bay I wondered what could possibly cause these sharks to attack bathers and surfers. After some deliberation about this there was only one conclusion. Cage diving has caused these shark attacks to increase since it started and no it is not similar to watching lions feed. Think about it?

By: admin

admin — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:21:52 +0000

Ray, thanks for sharing your knowledge! I seems like the “humans=food rumor” was just a rumor after all then.

And I do expect that I will try the cage shark diving in Cape Town one of these days.

By: Ray

Ray — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:45:24 +0000

Great discussion – my understanding is that Great White Sharks are 100% feeders of opportunity and cannot “learn” or be trained (like dolphins). They cannot even be kept in captivity. That is why chumming does not change their patterns – either they are there or they or not. Unfortunately, if they see a swimmer and mistake it for a seal (usually in low visibility conditions) they will attack.

I strongly support shark cage diving from a conservation and education perspective – it is a great way for people to better understand Great Whites and clear up the “Jaws” misconceptions.

They should be protected but also respected – they are fascinating yet dangerous creatures.

I recommend the book “Shark Man: My Obsession With The Great White Shark” by Theo Ferreira – he is the expert…

And fyi, I don’t run a shark cage diving operation – I just enjoy the experience!

By: admin

admin — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 19:15:03 +0000

Yeah, I don’t know what to believe about the cage diving..

But as you mention, the best surf beaches often have a high risk of shark attacks. And I guess one reason might be the big crowds of people dressed up like tasty seals floating around on the surface.. How can any healthy shark resist that temptation?

By: African Safari

African Safari — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:18:52 +0000

Great read. Its interesting that where there are some of teh best beaches for surfers there is increased risk of shark attacks! I dont think personally that cage diving leads to shark attacks. I think the sharks become more ‘pet’ like because they are getting a regular mean when the cage divers chum the water.