“Selfie” shows what sharks are like?

When it comes to sharks, the news coverage is pretty atrocious. It seems like they either portray the sharks as mindless killers, or harmless pets. The people that get coverage, are invariably doing something stupid, or flat illegal.

An example of the stupid kind is the latest report by the “Mail Online“. They are posting an article that features a diver taking “selfies” while leaning way out of a cage, while diving with great white sharks at Isla Guadalupe.

This picture reminds me of a professional photographer that was leaning out of a cage, filming a shark and never realized that a second shark was coming at him, with his mouth open. If it wasn’t for another diver smashing his camera against the sharks nose, it would have taken the photographers head off. After the dive, the photographer didn’t believe that there was a shark behind him and to this day, doesn’t believe that he was within inches of being bit.

It is not the shark that you see that will get you, it’s the one you never know is there.

For the diver in this picture to make a statement like: ‘I began making selfies with all kinds of sharks – mostly for fun. ‘Only later I realized that they could show people what sharks are like – when behaving normally, there is no danger.

Yep, you want to show people what sharks are like by taking a “selfie”. You could not possibly achieve this by filming the sharks and show, how they behave. Nope, you have to get yourself into that picture to accomplish that. Trying to get your 15 minutes of fame had absolutely nothing to do with it. Newsflash, while it is true that we are not on their menu, great white sharks are NOT harmless, specially when you are in a baited situation.

The full article is here.

I don’t understand why people who say they love sharks, feel the need to portray them as something they are not. Are those people somehow ashamed that great white sharks are apex predators and not harmless pets.

If you want to come face to face with a great white shark and believe in doing is “safe and sane”, give us a call at 619.887.4275 or email staff@sharkdiver.com.

We are looking forward to showing you these awesome sharks from inside a cage.

Cheers,
Martin Graf
CEO Shark Diver

About Shark Diver. As a global leader in commercial shark diving and conservation initiatives Shark Diver has spent the past decade engaged for sharks around the world. Our blog highlights all aspects of both of these dynamic and shifting worlds. You can reach us directly at staff@sharkdiver.com.

Nov 2014

By Shark Diverstupid media, UncategorizedComments Off

The killers just off our shores!

Here is another stellar piece of journalism! The “Mail Online” has an article with the headline “The killers just off our shores”

Now what creature do you think they are talking about? Shark diving, swimming with sharks,
…. yep, a blue shark. In the article they state two things.

1 “The recent heatwave is thought to have brought killer blue sharks closer to the coast of Cornwall than ever before”

and

2 “Swimmers aren’t in danger from these sharks. They are highly unlikely to bite humans.”

Hmmm, say what? Killer blue sharks that are not a danger to swimmers!? Now I know about sensationalistic headlines, but contradicting your headline in your article seems to be something any self respecting journalist should avoid!

The article also has plenty of pictures of those “killers”, calmly swimming amongst humans.

The article also incorrectly states that 4 people have been killed by blue sharks in the last 5 years. According to the international shark attack files, there have been 5 fatal bites since 1910! So aside from contradicting his own headline, the author shows a complete lack of interest in getting his stats correct.

Cheers,
Martin Graf
CEO
Shark Diver

Mar 2014

By Shark Diverkiller shark, shark adventure, stupid media, UncategorizedComments Off