I've been fascinated by Sharks since I was a child. Especially Shark attacks on divers. Hans and Lottie Hass and Ron and Valerie Taylor were my heroes. I'll never forget seeing Valerie being bitten by a small shark. Surprisingly calm she climbed back on the boat showed her injury to the cameraman. It was a shocking gash and blood literally pumped from it.
It didn't put me off diving with sharks though and I've been lucky enough to dive with these magnificent creature in many parts of the world. It was while diving in the Coral Sea of Australia that I had my first up close and personal experience with a very large and aggressive Silvertip Shark. Excited by the bait the Dive Master was preparing for the Shark feed, it rushed at me and it was only when I looked it straight in the eye that the shark veered away.
There have been other situations where a shark has, let's call it investigated me and every time it's a real adrenalin moment. It was on a Shark dive in the Bahamas that the potential for serious injury was demonstrated. The Dive Master was briefing us prior to the shark feed and some of the group were not listening with enough respect. He stopped talking, rolled up his wetsuit to reveal where a chunk had been taken out of his arm. It was stomach turning and while he insisted it wasn't the sharks fault, his point had been made in a most memorable way. So memorably some divers changed their minds and refused to dive that day.
While many divers want to see a shark, it's vitally important that you follow the advice below and remember, even small sharks can inflict a fatal bite. So treat them with respect, don't touch them or attempt to ride one as one idiot did in the Red Sea. Feeding any wild animal carries some risk, with sharks you could be bitten in error. While it's true that shark attacks are rare, the fact is shark attacks are on the increase.
If a shark approaches, stay calm as possible. Sharks are curious creatures and will often investigate you then leave without incident.
If the shark becomes aggressive, possibly rushing at you, back hunched with it's pectoral fins pointing downwards - exit the water as soon as you can. maintain eye contact at all times as experts say that direct eye contact can deter a shark from attacking you and ascend with your buddy partner back to back.
If an ascent isn't possible, position yourself against the reef or structure that may be available, so the shark can only approach you from the front.
However an overwhelming majority of divers do not see the attacking shark before it strikes. It is dangerous and foolish to assume that just because you can't see any sharks swimming close by that there are none in the area.
In some cases an attacking shark will strike a diver only once, inflicting a devastating bite, leaving the victim to bleed and weaken. Only then will it come back to devour its prey. Stealth and surprise are its greatest weapon as a shark may only have one opportunity to bite the diver. Because once a diver realizes he is bitten, survival mode kicks in and he will do anything possible to escape from the shark.
So if the worst happens and you are attacked, fight back as violently as you can. Fend it off using anything you may have, a camera, dive knife, torch, speargun or your hands if nothing else is available. The eyes and gill openings of a shark are very sensitive - poke or claw these areas and try to inflict damage.
Once the shark has let go, exit the water as quickly as you can and be aware that with an aggressive shark a repeat attack is likely.
