shark sightings

That was funny...Yeah I had an idea to invent a small disk that you put inside a board that sends out a sonar (similar to dolphins) that would repel sharks. Probably wouldnt work that well but Im sure alot of people would buy a surfboard with that option.

 

LOL, yeah i got some, its called- not going in the ocean.....

 

Shark leash

My buddy from the west coast bought this leash-like contraption that sends out an electrical signal. Apparently it's been tested and works great, but he told me it also shocks him from time to time, even through a wetsuit...I've spent 8 years in the water with no attacks, and I've been known to paddle out in the middle of the night on occasion. The shark bit is so exaggerated, not really worth getting all bent out of shape about it. I've sat in the lineup by myself as a big tiger shark cruised by; granted, I almost peed myself from fear, but the point is...he didn't even give notice. It's happened many other times too. Yes, there are attacks, and that totally sucks for people like Bethany Hamilton, but it's not going to keep me out of the water any time soon.

 

Live Aloha:You have any info on that electronic leash gizmo? The only time I am really uneasy is those solo moonlight sessions. Something like that would put my mind at ease.

 

You could probably log 10,000 hours driving, and 10,000 hours surfing, and you would probably be 10,000 times more likely to be in a car accident than have a shark attack you. I don't think its worth the time to worry about it (unless you live in one of the very few areas that have a history of shark problems)

 

I read somewhere that the electronics on the leash can actually attract sharks to the area, but that it will still deter the shark at the last minute from attacking the person with the leash.

Sucks for whoever they're surfing with I guess.

 

Da link

Here's the company website...
http://www.sharkshield.com/Content/Products/

650 bones! That's pretty steep, especially for having to drag that thing around (it's a 2 m long and designed for scuba divers). The "NSN" (national stock number) tells me that military folks probably use it. SEALS maybe? Perhaps some spec war guys lurk on here and could let us know more?

Like I said before, personally I'm not interested. My moonlighting days are largely over anyway. I did that stuff specifically to face all those lingering fears about surfing sketchy reefs, etc. To put it in perspective, some guy got bit in Sandbridge last week...and that was the fourth recorded attack in the VA Beach area in recent history (also the first in a decade, if I remember right)...think about the ridiculous number of people who spend time in the water here. North End to Sandbridge and only four recorded attacks. I'll happily play those odds. Truth be told, if I'm gonna go young, it might as well be while doing what I love.

 

Thanks Man. But for $650, I'll cut back on the moonlight sessions and go with the odds.

 

it bothers me when people say that; because, if you are putting yourself out in the ocean you know that the sharks are going to be there and there is risk- the more you are out there the more likley it is. When you are surfing, it is even more likley. I mean im not one of those people who is like OMG your going surfing that means you will be attacked, but the more you do it the more you are putting yourself at risk.

 

Yeah, this topic is crazy, but I always disagree with the people who quote the numbers game. The lightening striking stats, or the flying in an airplane stats in comparison to Shark Attacks...

My grandfather, who worked on farm equipment in upstate new york back in the day was struck by lightening twice in his lifetime... both times, he was on heavy metal farming equipment trying to move it in during a storm,.... I tell this story because it reminds me of us surfers... Yes, beach goers, who wade in the knee high shore break, or paddle out 20 feet and tread water for about 10 seconds, before running back in to shore and laying out in the sun is a whole BUNCH different than guys like us, who EVERYDAY are paddling out into the ocean, sometimes 50 yards, sometimes 800 yards, and playing in the ocean for hours at a time. In nice, deep water, legs dangling, surrounded by seals...

So again... I dont like being Mr. Alarmist, but the #1 fear that I have when im out deep in the ocean, in big surf is WTF is lurking around. It doesn't faze me, and i dont think much of it when im out there....

When I was in Maui 3 weeks ago, I took photos of a 10ft+ Tiger shark IN THE SURF, right where I was just surfing. And the shark was circling, while everyone was out... he just circled, and circled and circled where the lineup was, the moved on... At first, i was like "wow, that is no big deal... happens all the time... People in Hawaii are used to it... no big deal"... Then two days later this couple tells me that 500 yards up the beach, a guy was bitten really badly like 2 weeks before....

So its whatever.... And about the attack in Sanbridge last week.... Yes, it was the second in a decade, but the first one was Fatal.... And the fatal attack happened 5 blocks from where the attack was last week.... Nto to mention, that the same year of the fatal attack is when the guy was killed down in Northern OBX and his girl lost her leg... Same week... Saem 100 mile stretch of beach... Possibly, same shark.... So who knows.....

All I know is that I dont like sharks/// =(

 

christ, you miss the point! LOOK AT THE STATS! of all the people, who spend all of the hours in the water surfing, in all of the breaks around the world, the probability of you personally expwriencing a shark attack is slim to (almost) none! - but yes,it does happen, and people do get struck by lightning! so if you are that much afraid of sharks, then I suggest you stay out of the water and watch safely from the beach - it will help thin out the lineup (just get off the beach if a thunderstorm comes - that really is a problem to be worried about!)

 

I'm sure I would buy one with it rather than one without it

 

There is an old Hawaiian tradition of not swimming during certain months of the year, October is one of them. During these specific times certain prey species, and shark migrations intersect. The point you made of the shark circling, validates the position of the rarity of shark attacks; even if someone was attacked the previous week. Think of the amount of humans who were in the water during that day, or in the preceding months.


live aloha and salty are correct; statistically speaking you are far more likely to be killed on your drive to the beach than ever experiencing a shark attack, Don't let personal miss-perceptions cloud quantified mathematics. If anyone is scared of the ocean then don't go in! I for one will be happy with the absent crowds. The attack near the Avon Pier of the Russian couple in 2001 was 100 yards from the fishing pier. If you have ever surfed near the pier, then you would know how much bait is routinely thrown into the water. I have came out of the ocean literally smelling like a piece of bunker, this is coupled with the movement of a hooked fish, all of these situations attract predator species. Common sense should dictate an awareness of the natural surroundings, and potential negative scenarios. I have left the water in parts of California due to seals swimming near.

 

I feel you man, I just disagree. And being aware of sharks and livnig in fear are two different things. I clock tons of water time in sharky lineups... And I wont get into the fact that im out there for hours EVERY day... 365.. Not like growing up when I only go out when swell is there... Im out everyday in it, so probability increases... And to say that shark attacks are a non-issue is just simply false...

Im not being an alrmist... Im being real about it... When is the last time a guy was killed at your break by a white shark? Im guessing never. When is the last time you were surfing with tiger sharks? Have you ever seen a Giant 15 foot shark go under you while you are 400 yards out in the lineup.... So, im just saying, ive had my run ins, but consider myself lucky.... Plenty of people up and down CA are not so lucky.... And talk to guys who surf down in Florida... They get small bites on a regular down there...

Im just saying, troughout the whole year, I will get to certain spots and see signs from lifeguards warning that Giant white sharks were spotted that day..... So, deal with that, and tell me if you paddle out. Let me know if you "just dont care, cause it could never happen"...

And my point about the tiger shark circling, is that it was freaaking scary... The thing looked super aggressive and was HUNTING... I mean, luckily everyone got out, but the shark stayed cirlcing where the lineup was for about 10 minutes... back and forth. back and forth.... waiting... hunting.... Watch it with you own eyes and say it wasnt looking to take off a leg.

 

Ohh, and read the play by play of the Fatal shark attack down in OBX in 2001. One of the gnarliest stories ive ever read. From the girl who lost her limbs, but her boyfriend died. She explained how the shark kept biting, and biting, and pulling them both out to sea, and coming back and biting again... She said the shark attacked like 15 times in a row, just shredding them... Point being, the shark knew they werent seals.... It wasnt a strike and run. it was a full on murder by shark... Just like the kid in sandbridge... Those bull sharks and sh** are agro as hell and if they get a bite, they will give 110% of their effort to end your life and devour your flesh. Period.

 

One more thing, then I promise to shut up and sit in the corner..

And FYI, I could not and would not make this up. This actually happened:

Two days ago, one of my employees in my restaurant was skateboarding into work from La Jolla. There was a crazy Flash thurder and lightening storm for about 15 minutes, which litterally never happens in SD. Its almost impossible...

So, long story short, my busser hopped off his skateboard a few blocks away. He help the board over his head with the trucks facing up, to cover his head from the rain.... He said that the next thing he knew, he woke up unconsious on the sidewalk... He came in, he couldnt see straight... Both of his wrists were burned... We called the hosptial and took him to the ER. When he got there, they verified that he was struck by lightening, has burns on both arms right by where he was holding near the trucks... he had a full blown concussion and all kinds of other sh**....

I swear to god, this just happened a few days ago... We were all like, no way dude. You did NOT just get struck by lightening... I honestly was in disbleief until we got the medical report and this poor kid was struck by lightening. Straight up! Sure enough, he was zapped right on the trucks of his skateboard... Shoulda/Coulda been dead. The whole bottom of the board is torched....

True story.... About lightening, not sharks.... Nuts.

 

Of course the tiger shark didn't interpret the swimmers as a seal,; seals are rather rare on The Outer Banks' coast. My point regarding the Avon pier is that the fishermen are basically "chumming" the water, giving olfactory stimulation to any near-by predators. Vibrations from swimming or a struggling fish add another factor in attracting sharks. Tiger Sharks are known for their aggressive hunting tactics, therefore it isn't uncommon for a sustained predation episode.

 

If I recall correctly, Zach...I think you are referring to the two swimmers that were out at Hatteras, they swam out further than the breaks and AndrewK it was a bull shark, went back and forth between them taking bites...I remember seeing this on one of the shark week shows...that's some crazy sh*t, just blatant murder by shark...but as I see it...the ocean is a shark's home, just as Africa's prairies are the home of lions..

.if your out runnin' around out there, your gonna get taken out by a big ass cat that'll tear your ass into shreds of what you used to be...lol..I've had some run-in's, nothing like a 12 foot Tiger...I think I would...Oops, I crapped my pants! I had a bull shark swim 2 foot in front of my board in CR, and have seen a lot of 6-7 foot sharks while out in the midatlantic...I have a deep respect for them, that goes above and beyond, the killers they seem to be, they are a valuable asset to the ocean's ecosystem, despite what mikeb might say

....just think about how many people go into an ocean on one day on this whole big ass planet we live on, and how many attacks there are that day and put 2 and 2 together...you have probably a better chance of hitting the lottery...but it also has a lot to do with the situation in which the attack ocurred...did the victim show fear...from all of the attack stories that I have ever heard, fighting back is vital in most survivors' stories...

Staying completely calm and standing my groundwater has always worked for me, if you show fear, a dog will bite you and be damn sure a shark will...it sucks that sh*t happens, but isn't that life...when you love to do something, you take chances to do it...and nothing is going to keep you away from her too long, it's gotta be a good thing!

 

lmao@calling shark attacks "murder"