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Lurking in the depths

© Jacqueline Dell

Anyone who has ever occupied the same water's with a shark will know what a hair-raising experience this can be. Approximately eight years ago, I went on a twilight swim with my husband to be. We waded out in the water until it was up to our chests and there we swam and splashed around. We were in the water for less than half an hour when a man standing on the beach where we had entered the water yelled out, "Quick, quick get out of the water there's a shark!" I can tell you that neither of us stopped to question his sighting or to ask where. Sure enough, when we got to shore the bystander was able to point out a fin bobbing in and out of the water. Of course we didn't know what kind of shark it was, and it may even have been a dolphin, but we were not going back into the water to find out. After that heart stopping experience I have a vague idea of how someone feels right before they are attacked.

Unfortunately or maybe fortunately most people that are attacked by sharks do not know that it is going to happen. Instinctively sharks attack from behind and like to use the element of surprise to stun their victims and gain a better chance of getting a meal. These attacks come in two types, the kind just described, also known as "hit and run," usually involving swimmers not far from shore. The second type is the one that causes the most extensive injuries and fatalities. These are called "Bump and bite" attacks or "sneak" attacks. They generally involve divers or surf boarders and usually occur in deeper waters, although they can also take place in the shallows. In these cases the shark circles and bumps it's victim before coming in for the kill. The injuries incurred from these attacks are usually very severe or fatal.

There are between 70-100 reported shark attacks every year worldwide, and these numbers have been seen to be increasing. South Australia, my home state, had a terrible time with sharks last year. Included in the fatal attacks was a man on his honeymoon, a young teenager surfboard riding, and a father of three in Western Australia. Incidentally the largest reported capture of a Great White Shark took place in Western Australia. It was estimated to be around 19 feet long and weighed nearly 4000 pounds.

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