A shark attacked and killed an Austrian tourist on Monday (02-25-08) during a diving expedition near the Bahamas. 49-year old Markus Groh from Vienna was known to be an experienced diver, and Brian Skoloff reports that the shark attack occurred in the waters off the Fort Lauderdale coast, an area frequented by spring break enthusiasts.
The company hosting the trip was West Palm Beach based Jim Abernethy’s Scuba Adventures, a family owned business that specializes in dive charters and species encounters. Participants on the various trips may seek closer encounters with dolphins, turtles, manatees, and also sharks and thus far no shark attack victims mar the company’s stellar reputation.
Mr. Groh was aboard the Shear Water (one of three boats operated by Scuba Adventures) and decided to enter the water without the benefit of a shark cage or comparable protective device. This is not uncommon and Mr. Abernethy points out that the goal of Bahaman shark expeditions is to not only see the sharks from deck, but to actually enter the water and realize a plethora of quality photo opportunities, all the while taking steps to minimize potential shark attacks.
News reports confirm that the water in which the tragedy took place had been heavily baited with bloody bits and pieces of bait fish, a practice common to shark encounter expeditions. Participants of the tours are made aware of this practice and also understand that cages are not employed in these dives.
As soon as Mr. Groh’s distress became apparent, the tour operators of the Shear Water contacted the United States Coast Guard who facilitated an airlift to a local hospital. Unfortunately, Mr. Groh succumbed to the extensive injuries of the shark bite and at this time local officials are sorting out not only the exact cause of death but also any liabilities.
As a sunny Southern Californian who lives a hop, skip and a jump away from the beach (and who has been frequently entrusted with the safety of children on and around the beach and in the water), one eye always wearily scans the horizon for fins. Since 1926 the California coast has had 96 known shark attacks, of which seven were fatal.
Surfers are the most attacked water enthusiasts, followed by divers and then swimmers. Although each and every surfer swears they were victims of great white shark attacks, many of these shark attack stories need to be taken with a grain of salt and some shark attack video clips show that there are other species which in fact might have been to blame for the close contact.
Yet as I scan the horizon for fins, I am not looking for shark fins – the notorious Jaws lore notwithstanding – but instead what are of interest are the fins of dolphins or the antics of the seemingly ever present seals. To a shark, dolphins and seals are lunch and dinner, respectively, while to many a swimmer in the Pacific Ocean it is a thrill to be swimming in the company of those good natured marine mammals. Sadly, as the 08-20-03 fatal shark attack off the California coast highlights, swimming with the shark’s food sources is a dangerous game that may have dire consequences.
To this end I have devised these rules which I expect all in my charge to follow:
* When lifeguards report sighting of seals and dolphins close to shore, entering the water is risky business and should be avoided.
* All jewelry needs to be removed. Fishermen use shiny lures to get fish to notice the bait and take a bit. Sharks are fish, too, and just a tat bigger than the trout other fishermen may target, but the concept is the same: shiny jewelry leads a shark to believe that a silver colored fish may be nearby and the shark will be attracted.
* If seagulls are diving close to shore, stay out of the water since either bait fish are nearby or overeager deep sea fishermen have baited the waters to such an extent that the overage is now lapping up on shore.
Of course, when you are an avid surfer or boogie boarder, the odds are good that at some point you will be swimming with sharks and knowing what to do may spell the difference between suffering an attack and getting out of the water safely.
First and foremost, dress for survival. Sharks have a sense of sight that thrives with color and also shape contrasts. Opt for uni-colored body suits that come in dark blue or black color. Avoid light colors on snorkel gear and fins, and even remember that you might need to change the strap that connects you to your surfboard – usually colored in neon – it is a giveaway to a shark in search for prey and moves you back into the potential food source category.
Secondly, even though it may be more challenging to get a great up close and personal photo of a shark encounter, do not enter chummed water without the benefit of a cage. Swimming in the middle of the shark’s dinner is a dangerous undertaking, and just because so many have done it and gotten away with it does not make it a good practice. Especially when sharks are observed in a competitive feeding frenzy, the odds of your getting a test bite and then being rejected are slim. Instead, you might be treated as food simply because of the competition and one shark wants to ensure that it will not be missing out on a potential prey animal.
If you must enter chummy waters, do not go alone. Small groups of three or more individuals do not present an attractive target for sharks. Keep in mind, however, that each member of your diving party must observe the rules with respect to jewelry removal and colors to avoid. As you swim, do so in measured strokes and do not splash around in a panic, even if one of you gets bumped by a shark – the precursor of a test bite.
Carry with you a weapon – some suggest hammers to hit the nose of the shark, while others swear by knives to attack the shark’s eye and gills – and use it to discourage the shark from its immediate attack. While it retreats, you must make it to safety since an aggressive shark will come back. Do not assume you scared away the animal and continued diving is a safe endeavor!
