Great white attacks sea kayaker -- check this out:

news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-nationa...a-20091031-hquu.html


I've had my encounters with sharks here in Florida while kayaking (just swim-bys). But this would be worse (!).

yeh i saw that one on the news, i wonder what he was paddling to get thrown out of his boat!!! i think i'd prefer to avoid the experience tho!

I know, right?! And what was the news talking about (or he talking about)--"I hit it with my oars." Oars? That was either a misprint/misqoute or he was paddling a canoe in the ocean. Still, after an experience like that I'd probably be stuttering and speaking in 1 word sentences still.

"It was big, scary, evil, I never want to do that again."

LOL. Really? i'd never have guessed.


Lucky guy though? could have been much worse? we dont have too many great white sharks in birmingham!

I recently learned that marine biologists are pretty certain that my favorite paddling area on the Indian River is a Bull Shark nursery and breeding ground. Greeeaaaattt. We even have Hammerheads out there. Out beach-side is where the Tiger Sharks reside. It's Florida; no great whites but this side of the coast is the Shark Attack capital of the world. I prefer the dolphins! It's a mammal thing!

Scary stuff! hehehehe. In South Africa, we have all of the dangerous sharks. While kayaking you generally don't see them though, although I've seen a couple, mostly Keurbooms beach where someone has lost their leg to a Great White already. Once you windsurf you cover a lot more ground and are higher up. They are there... I've seen loads of them. But I personally don't think sharks are so bad. They just do their thing, and we do ours. Mostly they swim away. Even hammerheads, if you paddle up to them they go away, so far If we get attacked, we need to remember we're in their space, not ours. Sharks will never keep me out of the water... Look at the stats. Works for me

I absolutely agree with you, Adrian, at least as far as the dangers I face (Great Whites might be pushing it for me but I don't have to deal with that right now). Truth be told I would much rather contend with wild life than people on the water. Not to be anti-social or anything. But people (I love humans-don't get me wrong) are a LOT more dangerous. Get some bubba's with their beer guts drinking cheep bear on their 60,000 horse powered boats and you get the idea!

But Kayaking gives me too much to be scared out of the water. Like the rest of you, it isn't what I do--it's what I am.

The whole thing does put an interesting spin on the idea of a swim, though, doesn't it?

(I'm just sayn'.)

I bodyboard in some sharky waters and have once been buzzed by the same shark twice in 20 minutes. 2nd time I moved very quickly back the beach! So I guess that would be considering 'swimming' already - it's not that scary, just don't think about it. Windsurfing too. When you wipe out in the waves, you swim. I've sometimes had to swim for around 20 minutes to retrieve my kit. Not fun. But you never think of sharks, only the burning in your arms and legs and you swim like hell.

Honestly though, I've never swum while kayaking. My deck, touch wood, *reaches out quickly* has never burst. But I know that sharks won't be on mind. Saving my boat will!!! Often there isn't time for fear. When I finally do take a swim it will probably be big waves with rip currents and then I may report back otherwise

A good mate of mine took his business partner for a paddle out to sea here in Cape Town last month, at night time. Both are in their early 40's so you would think they would be wiser. So the other chap goes over about 2km out and cannot roll - he never mentioned he couldn't roll before they left.... 10 minutes later he's back in the boat and has it pumped out. They head for home. 7 more swims things are looking serious. Luckily he has a cell phone in a water proof bag and calls rescue. Rescue comes but can't find them in the dark. He has a flare - at least he came prepared. And they were rescued. I wonder what he thought... I do believe I would be quite worried swimming at night time in the Atlantic Ocean..... hahahahaha. That would be scary. Funny how 'night' can makes things so much worse

You guys may call me a wuss but being in shark infested waters would scare the s**t out of me. Being from the UK, the only sharks i see are the ones at the sea life centre! (we do get basking sharks but ive never seen one). It would definitely have me concerned i think, i suppose you guys have grown up with it though coming from florida and cape town? so your sort of used to it, if you know what i mean?!

Adrian, im coming to cape town for work early next year, and im definitely going to stear clear of the sea i think! lol If i go paddling i will try and find a river instead!

I need all my limbs so i can earn a living!

Matt

The rivers only flow around Cape Town a few days (sometimes only 1) after rain. And that's around late May to September.

I didn't grow up in Cape Town

Well, some people are very afraid. I cannot convince my sisters husband to join me bodyboarding, ever. He is super scared. I think people are often afraid of something they know nothing about. Look at the stats. You have MUCH more chance being killed in a car accident on the way to beach, especially in South Africa... I think it was Mark Twain (was it?) that said, "It is only by risking our lives that we manage to live from one minute to the next."

If the sea is very murky, don't swim. Stay away from river mouths, especially in SA. Avoid dawn and dusk. That already limits your chances. There are fewer crowds and usually less wind so early mornings are the best times for waves!!! Hahahaha.

What I always tell people, why be afraid over something you have no control of anyway?

Ok so no kayaking then! lol. Maybe i might take up tennis!

I know what you mean though, its not like ill be able to do much about a big as eating machine if it has me in its sights. Its just something ive never had to be concerned with before the only thing dangerous in the sea in the UK is sewage! Who know if someone else is daft enough to go in aswell ill give it a go. Thanks for the advice though.


im about to get insurance to my rental car agreement though! lol

Ta

Matt

The ocean is always there. I've done a complete kayakers guide to the surf spot of Cape Town. Will publish this week, hopefully. But the huge amount of photos (176 and I'm waiting on a few more from a professional) makes me think I'll probably do it in 2 parts! Oh the joys.

I'll go in and show you there is nothing to be afraid of. Some spots are sharky, others are not.

BGB, it's all good. This past summer I was SUP surfing with a buddy at "2nd Light" here in Satellite Beach and there was plenty of bate fish in the water. We have this type of shark here called a Spinner Shark (grow to about 4-5 feet) and they literally jump out of the water, spin over onto their backs before re-entering the water. They were really jumping that day. I paddled in closer to the beach when one jumped out of the water about 15 feet away from me. Good size one and really just beautiful--picture perfect looking shark. There was this couple from the UK standing on the beach staring (but not shocked) at the whole scene. I realized their brains were not allowing them to believe what they had seen. So I paddled over to talking distance of them and said "you really did see what you think you saw." Lady says to me, "What DID we just see?" I told them it was a spinner shark and they quickly removed their toes from the water! Funny. I paddled back out and fell in after trying to paddle over a smallish wave. Not scary. Only in the water for a few moments.

I do realize that sharks are not out there WAITING for you to put a hand or foot in the water.

Adrain -- I've definitely had my share of similar encounters with 'the men in the gray suits' as you described during my own bodyboarding days (you brought memories back!). Back in my 20's that stuff just didn't bother me at all! Ya make it to your 40's and coming home at night becomes more important!! Aghh!. How do we guys survive long enough to breed?!

I guess, personally, that being out on the Indian River by the EuGallie or Pineda Causeways separated from my kayak is an idea that doesn't work as well for me but I won't panic.

You realize you jinxed it now with the whole 'not swimming' comment!

Will any part of that Surf Guide be online?

You guys gotta check this video out. It's from a beach just up the road from me and its from this past summer:




This one downloads to your computer but is even cooler:

www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/InNews/spinnershark2009.html


Yah baby!

TBudd wrote:

Adrain -- I've definitely had my share of similar encounters with 'the men in the gray suits' as you described during my own bodyboarding days (you brought memories back!). Back in my 20's that stuff just didn't bother me at all! Ya make it to your 40's and coming home at night becomes more important!! Aghh!. How do we guys survive long enough to breed?!

Well, I follow wise man Bob Marley's advice, for now, "No woman, no cry". I highly doubt my time on earth will be ended by a shark. And if so, at least it will be a natural death, in my eyes... So no worries

Hectic sharks. I've not heard of spinner sharks before. I've got two books on sharks which I'll check tomorrow. The mind is a little clouded by a few Bushmills right now. Thanks for that, always interesting to hear about sharks elsewhere!!

I want a Bushmill!