7.26.2003

Rob's Marine Momment

This weekend I talked about Sharks. I hope I didn't scare anyone because of my recommendations for being a bit more risk free:

1. Don't swim at dusk or dawn (oops, practice at 6am probably breaks that)
2. Don't swim after a big rain (hmmm. what about during a rain?)
3. Don't swim at a river mouth (do you think its ACTUALLY a river mouth?)
4. Don't make lots of slashing in the water (sorry swimmers)
5. Don't swim in murkey water (Do you think 3 feet is murkey??? ... nah).

Ok, so these suggestions may be a bit scary. However, you must remember you are 30 times more likely to be struck by lightening (...hmmm. then again, maybe that number is reversed in Hawaii. How often have I seen lightening here ... Honestly about as many times as I've seen sharks ... close to non).

I decided to actually go out and find some more resources - more suggestions, about avoiding sharks. Here is a tip from an ABC news article.

How to Avoid Looking Like a Fish The Florida Museum of Natural History offers these tips for safer swimming in waters that could have sharks:

1. Swim with your friends, because sharks are more likely to attack a single individual. (Thats good for us!)
2. Do not wear shiny jewelry or sequined suits because a shark may think you are covered with gills. (Ok, ... no sequined suits guys .. period!!)
3. Don’t splash around too much, because you may look like a school of fish. (Dave, Cindy and I have been telling you that - gracefull swimers we are!)
4. Be careful around sandbars or near steep drop-offs, because sharks like those areas too. (check)
5. Don’t swim near fishing boats that may be dumping entrails or bait over the side. (I'd say thats obvious)
6. Get out of the water near twilight, when sharks are the most active. (perfect, we get out by 10am!)

So, personally I like these suggestions better. They make seem to be more oun our side. Don't you think?

What if I see a shark?

Ok, here's the situation. You've done what you can not to be seen by the sharks. But, you've spotted a nice big one swimming around you. What do you do. You're going to love my suggestion for this one. Now, this comes with only a small amount of experience. I've only seen maybe 15 sharks underwater - but mind you, I've been looking.

I suggest - SWIMMING TO THE SHARK. Thats right. Again, imagine this: You are a shark. You're looking for prey not counterparts. You're cruising around looking for something to eat. You see an object at the surface. 'Hmmmm, lets check that out,' you think to yourself. Suddenly, it sees you, turns and swims at you so to say, 'Hey Charley, back off its me, your fellow hunter, I'm not prey.' .... Maybe you're a dumb shark and you decide to proceed farther. The swim creature turns and hits you in the nose as you swim up. "OOOOOOHHHHH," thats smarts. (Sharks senses are all packed into their brain. For guys, imagine being kicked in the you know what! - ouch.)

Ok, now that should work for a bit, but if you're in open water you'll probably want to swim back to shore slowly, keeping in mind that you should watch the shark. I've had friends doing the preecding suggestion, and punching the shark and swimming into shore near the sharky alawai entrance (Kewalos). It worked. Be brave and show no fear.

Thats all for now

For additional shark tips see these sites

avoiding sharks

avoiding sharks (I like tip 14. If attacked by a shark, the general rule is "Do whatever it takes to get away!" Some people have successfully chosen to be aggressive, others passive. Some yelled underwater, others blew bubbles. I personally would go down fighting.)

Scubarob