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JAWS
Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 3:24 pm
by Falcopops
One of the days at the beach between Chrissy and New Year, wife met some other Mums so the kids were off and well looked after, so I was catching a few Z's.
Then there's a bloody helicopter over head and sirens going off. Seems a shark had been spotted and was near the beach. The scene was disturbingly like Jaws with the police on the beach calling every one in from the water.
Kids thought it was great, fortunately it was near the end of the day so we went for fish and chips in the bayside cafe and watched for a bit to see if anyone got eaten (a few people went back in after a bit). I took the opportunity to stand ankle deep in the surf and chomp on my piece of flake and announce that there was a man eating fish in the bay!

At least the kids laughed, but not much.
Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 4:21 pm
by fastasfcuk
i can't understand any one wanting to surf or swim in water where sharks live.

Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 5:16 pm
by Jadaris
I don't even go in the sea in England, sad really
It's too dam cold!!!!

Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 7:31 pm
by Syltiz
In South Africa we had a system of flags to warn of shark activity. I found it amusing when foreignors found out what the flags meant and how quickly they exited the water
While scuba diving I was once circled by 7 ragged tooth sharks... but they are very docile and after sh!ting myself I became calm. I did a drift dive at Aliwal Shoal with about 5 m viz and in a current that the skipper was struggling to steady the boat in... and I swear to this day I saw a great white but nobody else saw it

Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 12:12 am
by HisNibbs
I used to do a lot of swimming and was pretty confident with a snorkle. I was swimming way off shore in the Agean when I saw a large shape below and in front of me. Though I thought the Agean didn't contain any real nasties , I was pretty scared. I gingerly turned around and as smooth as I could headed back. My heat was ponding so loud I was sure that despite the absence of any splash, I would be heard. That trip back to shore was probably the most nerve wracking hour I've ever spent.
I've subsequently learnt that the Med and Agean are a breading ground for Great Whites and if I'd known that at the time, I would not have been doing what I was doing......
Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 12:55 am
by Falcopops
HisNibbs wrote:I've subsequently learnt that the Med and Agean are a breading ground for Great Whites
Most people that go to the med are blissfully unaware of that
Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 11:13 am
by fastasfcuk
Falcopops wrote:HisNibbs wrote:I've subsequently learnt that the Med and Agean are a breading ground for Great Whites
Most people that go to the med are blissfully unaware of that
i did'nt know that.

ankle deep from now on.

Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 8:57 pm
by Syltiz
They say that a shark knows you are there long before you come close and long before our eyes will see it.... and that if you see a shark you are safe because it has already sussed you out and decided its not interested long before you see it. Shark attacks to my understanding are always by surprise.
Ah i miss my diving days. From swimming with wild dolphins which is probably still the highlight of my life (sad I know!) to a miss-placed decent to a sandbank 100 metres from the reef where all we could see were little mounds being manta rays lying just under the sand. When one of those babies took off I think all our wetsuits suddenly became a 'wee' bit warmer. On a particularly deep dive my dive buddy succumbed to nitrogen narcosis (i.e. became drunk under water) and started shedding his weights in his confusion. Getting him back to the boat was entertaining.
Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 9:30 am
by HisNibbs
Syltiz wrote:They say that a shark knows you are there long before you come close and long before our eyes will see it.... and that if you see a shark you are safe because it has already sussed you out and decided its not interested long before you see it.
Yes I'm pretty sure about that too, just didn't want to suddenly start giving out distress signals.