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Shark trying to bite through steel cage?

“Watch terrifying footage of great white shark trying to bite through steel bars of diving cage”  screams the headline of the “Daily Mirror”.  “Open-mouthed great white shark charges unlucky cameraman” shouts the “New York Post“. 

So what the heck happened? 

First off, the shark is not trying to bite through steel bars to get at the photographer. It was going after a fish head that was pulled straight over the cage (not a safe practice for a shark diving boat) and ran into the cage while doing so.  Since they don’t have a reverse gear and can only swim forward, it looks like it’s trying to get into the cage, when in fact it is just trying to get away.

Of course this doesn’t stop tabloids like the New York Post from making statements like this “In a scene straight out of “Jaws,” the open-mouthed great white clamps down on the cage with its razor sharp teeth just inches away from Bray’s camera.”

The “Daily Mirror” tries to put a conservation spin on the story  by saying “The great white shark and many other shark species are under threat, so research into their breeding habits can help come up with scientific solutions to the problems surrounding their possible extinction. 

The main problem is education, most people have grown up thinking sharks are dangerous and scary, and we have Stephen Spielberg’s ‘Jaws’ to thank for that. Yes that, and your stupid headline “Watch terrifying footage of great white shark trying to bite through steel bars of diving cage”  

We at Shark Diver specialize in “Safe and Sane” conservation shark diving. We respect the sharks and try to show them for what they really are. Awesome predators that don’t need to be feared, but respected.

If you want to encounter them in their natural environment, come joins us at Guadalupe Island this fall. We still have a few spaces open. Call us at 855.987.4275 or 619.887.4275 email staff@sharkdiver.com

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.

09
Apr 2015
By Shark Diversafe and sane shark diving, sensational media, stupid media, UncategorizedComments Off on Shark trying to bite through steel cage?

Do sharks really mistake humans for seals?

Do sharks really mistake humans for seals? that is the headline of a report in “The Sydney Morning Herald”. The article says that Researchers test ‘mistaken identity’ theory  by conducting some studies on sharks in a pool.Photo: Taronga …

06
Apr 2015
By Shark Diverstupid media, UncategorizedComments Off on Do sharks really mistake humans for seals?

How do you make a viral video?

This is a fun little video I took at Tiger beach, diving with Shark Diver. Little did I know that it would be a hit on Facebook. Within an hour of posting it, people watched it over 2000 times. Come join us and take your own pictures and videos and maybe yours will goes viral as well!


Lemon Sharks at Tiger Beach. Diving with Great White Shark Diving
Posted by Martin Graf on Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Of course, we don’t just encounter Lemon Sharks, we see plenty of Tiger Sharks as well.  This is truly a trip of a lifetime! Since we only take 6 divers at a time, you’ll be sure to get up close and personal with these amazing animals.

This is our schedule for Tiger Beach trips in 2015.
April 12-18, 19-25
May 3-9, 10-16, 24-30 and 31-June 6
September 14-20
October 4-10, 11-17
November 15-21

For more info on the trips and a complete itinerary, check here, or you can call us at 855.987.4275 or 619.887.4275 We are always happy to talk “sharks”!

Let’s go shark diving!

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.

26
Mar 2015
By Shark Diverswimming with sharks, UncategorizedComments Off on How do you make a viral video?

New shark research method?

“Are you sure he only eats plankton? Daring marine biologist hitches a ride on the world’s largest shark” is the headline of the “Mail Online”.
Combining the term “marine biologist” and riding sharks peaked my curiosity. Has someone found out that riding sharks is beneficial to them? Have I been wrong all these years, condemning that practice?  
The article started out with “Marine biologist Forrest Galante has swam with some of the most fearsome creatures in the sea, including the terrifying hammerhead.” So immediately I realized, this is a highly scientific article and thankfully they’re not going to use sensationalistic language. (sharkasm intended!) “Terrifying Hammerhead” indeed.
In this picture you see the “heroic” Forrest Galante in his death defying act of riding a 45 ft. whale shark!
The caption for the picture below reads“Galante and his team were measuring the giant “whales” who were returning to the secret Mexican location.” 

I have to admit that I’m not a scientist. Apparently I know even less than I previously assumed. Who know what whale sharks are “whales”? And the secret location? Is it Isla Mujeres? We wouldn’t want them to start a whale shark watching industry there. Or maybe it’s Baja California? Same thing, I hope nobody starts whale shark watching there.

So what was this research that the local marine biologists needed his expert help with anyway? “I was helping out a team of marine biologists conduct a survey on whale shark population estimates, to identify returning sharks year on year and to see growth rates of individuals.” No wonder he needed to ride those sharks! I mean, how else could you measure a shark than by riding it. The watch you see on his wrist must be a super secret measuring device!

Anyway, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t find any other references to anything remotely research related in the article here.

I did however find the real reason for Galante’s antics. On his facebook page he writes  

“Hey I’m back in the ‪#‎news‬!
Thanks Caters News Agency and Daily Mail for another fun interview and thank you to the team of hard working ‪#‎biologists‬ who are helping save these magnificent creatures! so proud to have been a part of it!

Just as I thought, it’s all about him. Not the sharks or anything “Hey I’m back in the ‪#‎news‬!” is what it’s all about. 
Hey Forrest, you got your wish, you are back in the news! “DaShark” writes “Forrest Galante, disrespectful moron!” Well put “DaShark”!
Even the “fans” on your facebook page agree

  • Luke Penks As a whale shark researcher, I find it such a shame that you are promoting incredibly bad practices like this. Interaction with any wild animal should be as non-invasive as possible, but you are spreading the opposite idea, which is disgraceful for a marine biologist.

    Here’s a paper showing that touching sharks is hugely associated with stress: http://www.butandingnetwork.net/…/2014/05/2007-Quiros.pdf

  • Marissa Fox Agree with Luke Penks. Promoting behavior like this counteracts the scientific conservation work so many of us are working so hard for.
Yep Forrest, you are sooooo cool! Riding a whale shark is really something everyone should do! You call yourself a researcher?! Are you one of those guys who says “do as I say, not as I do?” Is this somehow furthering your “research?” Do you have a new paper coming out “Riding whale sharks is beneficial to sharks!” Your headline on your Facebook page says it all  “Hey I’m back in the ‪#‎news‬!” because that’s what it is, all about you! 

We at Shark Diver are all for respectful interaction with these magnificent animals. You can have an awesome experience, like we did last December at Socorro Islands with the Nautilus Explorer. The video below shows that you don’t have to touch the sharks to accomplish that. When you look at the guy next to the it, you’ll get a great idea of the size of this whale shark. No touching or riding required!


Let’s go shark diving!

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.

20
Mar 2015
By Shark DiverForrest Galante idiot, stupid "scientist", stupid media, UncategorizedComments Off on New shark research method?

Deadly shark attacks in California?

Today NBC 4 in Los Angeles had the following headline on their website. “Maps: Deadly Shark Attacks Off California Coast”.There was only a very short 2 paragraph article and a map that are both shown below.The map below shows locations where fatal shar…

16
Mar 2015
By Shark Diverstupid media, UncategorizedComments Off on Deadly shark attacks in California?

Switzerland bans the importation of shark fins!

Fin Fighters UK has just made the following announcement   On the 5 march 2015 a government council banned the Import of fins into the country. The Swiss national council accepted the proposition on thursday by 160 votes against 19 and was pa…

14
Mar 2015
By Shark Diverswitzerland, UncategorizedComments Off on Switzerland bans the importation of shark fins!