| An unprovoked shark attack on military scuba diver | | | | adding any unnecessary worries that might fuel |
| that took place in February 2009 off the Australian | | | | speculations on recreational scuba diving becoming |
| cost in Sydney Harbor gave a new boost to the | | | | dangerous at known Sydney Harbor dive sites. Scuba |
| discussion, which must be as old as scuba diving itself | | | | diving in Australia is unforgettable experience, and the |
| is: what is the extent of danger posed by sea sharks | | | | diversity of marine life there is fantastic, and it |
| for scuba divers and how big are chances to survive | | | | wouldn't be half as fantastic without... sharks. I would |
| if you do get attacked? The young 31-years old | | | | like only to make community better aware of some |
| diver lost his arm after being unexpectedly attacked | | | | self-defense and shark attack prevention principles to |
| from beneath by an unidentified shark specie, but | | | | be born in mind and never be forgotten should you |
| managed to survive following a short battle with the | | | | find yourself diving in deeper locations off the shore, |
| predator who the brave man, though heavily | | | | and closer to the habitats of sharks in general. |
| wounded, had finally scared away. | | | | Sharks, as you might presume, love deep waters, |
| The accident came as absolute surprise for | | | | and it's there that they spend most of their time |
| everybody, even if Sydney Harbor is known for | | | | swimming and looking for a pray. It is from the |
| presence of all four species of dangerous sharks | | | | bottom that they attack their chosen target, |
| responsible for the vast majority of human-targeted | | | | therefore a diver should pay special attention to |
| shark attacks worldwide. But if taking an unbiased | | | | what's happening below him. In accident described at |
| look at the the Australian Shark Attack File | | | | the beginning of this articled the diver too was |
| maintained starting the year 1792 by Taronga Zoo, it | | | | attacked while swimming on the surface. A hunting |
| can be discovered that the total of the reported | | | | shark relies upon its excellent smell, taste, and hearing |
| shark attacks on humans in Sydney Harbor has only | | | | abilities, rather than on sight, because all sharks don't |
| outnumbered 30 occurrences in more than two | | | | see very well. |
| centuries. The majority of those attacks took place | | | | When it becomes clear that the shark is attacking |
| before the 1940ies, while the last fatality took place | | | | you and that the attack is unavoidable, diver must |
| this Australian summer, 46 years after the previous | | | | immediately get ready to counteract in the following |
| fatality in Sidney Harbor back in 1963. | | | | manner: |
| Until this time, at least statistically, the Australian sea | | | | - Begin descending, while keeping eye on the |
| waters were not included to the list of the world's | | | | attacker; |
| most dangerous locations sea locations with | | | | - Aim flow of air bubbles from your dive gear in the |
| extremely high probability of shark attacks on | | | | direction of the approaching predator; |
| humans, if compared to other destinations | | | | - Scream as powerfully as you can - chances are the |
| throughout the world. Such places traditionally included | | | | shark will realize it has mistaken you for a big fish or |
| California and Florida regions in the North America, | | | | dolphin and will stop attacking. Actually, humans are |
| and ocean locations along the entire coastline of | | | | not sharks' favorite food; |
| Southern Africa. Recently the situation seems to | | | | - If these failed to scare it away, hit the shark's head |
| have changed. Wildlife officials explain that increased | | | | with a piece of your gear or accessory like camera; |
| offshore sewage has encouraged some of smaller | | | | But best of all, if you are recreational scuba diver, |
| sea animals move closer to shore, and the sharks | | | | always dive in group and never dive at little known |
| that feed on them followed them too. | | | | sites without being properly instructed by a local |
| Recreational scuba divers should know this: Sydney | | | | guide, or better guided by divemaster. |
| Harbor is divided into an inner estuarine region and | | | | And finally, however frightful each shark accident |
| outer oceanic region. If you dive in the inner estuarine | | | | description may sound, generally the chances of |
| area at popular dive sites where shark nets are set | | | | being attacked by shark while scuba diving are |
| up, your chances of being attacked by a shark stay | | | | infinitely smaller than probability of getting hit by car |
| at a truly zero level. | | | | while walking on the street. So, let not occasional |
| Lots of people from all countries come to dive in | | | | shark attacks reports lead you to the idea of giving |
| Australia, whose marine life deserves travelling long | | | | up scuba diving. If only every 1000-th street accident |
| distance to have a chance to be looked at and | | | | got half as much coverage from media, we'd all stop |
| explored. I do not mean to discourage them by | | | | walking. |