Shark Week!

katiemae1277

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Anyone else love this programming on Discovery Channel? I think I've watched it every year for the past 20 years


They have 6 new shows this year
but my favorite show ever is Air Jaws, where they show the Great White sharks of South Africa leaping out of the water
I am beyond petrified of sharks, but going to S Africa to see this in person is one of my life dreams
 

sharky

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Nah I dont love it
LMAO.... I have watched since it first came on
 

calico2222

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Here are some sharks I was actually in the water with:





Just little reef sharks but they were impressive just the same. When I was diving we had a special signal to let us know if a tiger shark was around. I heard that once and got my butt out of the water asap! Tiger sharks you don't want to mess around with and I thing that is what attacks a lot of people in the US. They are EXTREMELY aggressive and territorial. A combination I didn't want to even mess with!
 
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katiemae1277

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I would have been so scared!!!! that is so awesome tho!
 

calico2222

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Naw, these were white tipped reef sharks and they are basically harmless unless they are antagonized. Actually they only grow to about 5-6 ft so they can't eat a person.

The only thing I don't like about discovery channel when it comes to sharks is it doesn't show the nice ones (I don't have cable right now so if they are showing the nice ones, please let me know). I would never get into the water with a tiger shark. A great white? HELL no! (well, maybe in a cage and with protective gear on...and extra air).

My old boss (dive shop) went diving waaaaay out and ran into Mako sharks. Not a fun experience! Not all sharks are the same.
 

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Yeah, that show was awesome. I watched one last night about shark attacks. One of the persons was a guy who was filming a segment for Discovery with the program host in shallow water surrounded by sharks to show that sharks only attacked when disturbed. Wrong! A shark attacks him and bites one leg. That shark took out a muscle and hit an artery. They showed the bitten guy, with a much smaller leg wading in the water to try the experiment again.

Okay, this guy has a Ph.D?

Originally Posted by katiemae1277

Anyone else love this programming on Discovery Channel? I think I've watched it every year for the past 20 years


They have 6 new shows this year
but my favorite show ever is Air Jaws, where they show the Great White sharks of South Africa leaping out of the water
I am beyond petrified of sharks, but going to S Africa to see this in person is one of my life dreams
 

calico2222

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Originally Posted by butzie

Yeah, that show was awesome. I watched one last night about shark attacks. One of the persons was a guy who was filming a segment for Discovery with the program host in shallow water surrounded by sharks to show that sharks only attacked when disturbed. Wrong! A shark attacks him and bites one leg. That shark took out a muscle and hit an artery. They showed the bitten guy, with a much smaller leg wading in the water to try the experiment again.

Okay, this guy has a Ph.D?
Did they say what kind of shark it was? If he was wading in I would guess a sand shark or a nurse shark...neither one are deadly and he probably stepped on it, which would disturb it! They both lay in the sand..and yes, they do have teeth (hence why they're sharks). But that doesn't mean they were "attacking". It just means they are saying "get off me!". Most sharks bite becuase they are curious. Yes, it's painful to us, but not deadly.
 

littleraven7726

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Originally Posted by calico2222

Did they say what kind of shark it was?
I've seen that one several times. He was researching with Bull Sharks, which are known for human attacks.

I love the Great Whites and Tiger Sharks. I would like to see less programming on attacks though. I liked the year Mike Rowe hosted Shark Week the best. I've been rather disappointed with it the last 2 years.
 
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katiemae1277

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They have been showing a lot of the attack shows now that you mention it
all 3 of the new episodes so far have been about attacks
I also like to learn about the sharks, their behavior, where they are, what they eat, etc etc. Maybe I will send them an e-mail about that


I've seen that one where the guy's leg gets bitten a couple times too, they were both just standing there, not moving, and that bull just came up behind him, bumped him and then took a big ole bite
I wouldn't call it an attack per se, but it bit him with a purpose. Bull Sharks are nasty nasty nasty, they are the sharks responsible for most human attacks. They are extremely aggresive because they have the higest testosterone level of any animal: human males has a level of about 40 and a male bull shark has a level of about 900
I did learn that this year so far


there was a show last year (I think) about a guy that was swimming out with Tiger sharks, like touching them and swimming next to them and stuff
Tiger sharks are pretty unique in that once they bite a human, they keep going (um, eating) while other sharks realize their mistake and leave. They also had show about a guy who swam with Makos, his name is Manny, now that was scary, Makos are so freaking fast!!!

and Hope, i know reefs and tips can't eat you, but they can still bite
and that would hurt
 

calico2222

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Originally Posted by katiemae1277

and Hope, i know reefs and tips can't eat you, but they can still bite
and that would hurt
Oh, I agree!! But a bite from a reef shark (while DEFINITELY not good for the human) is usually not really from aggression but more out of curiosity, where a bite from a bull or tiger or a few other species is more based on aggression and territorial behavior...not to mention can cause more damage due to size alone. I guess don't like all the attack shows because some people lump all sharks into the same catagory because all they see and hear about are attacks. I just wish some people (not here!) would learn a little bit more about the different types and not think that every shark is out to kill you.

My ex boyfriend went spear fishing one time at night (dumb move!) and kept the fish on a short line attached to his dive gear...then was surprised when he realized he was being circled by 4 reef sharks. At first he tried to defend his dinner with a 4 inch dive knife
then finally realized it wasn't worth it and cut the line. The sharks left him alone after that and needless to say, we ate at McDonalds!
 

calico2222

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Originally Posted by CoolCat

look at this!-....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33yRa...ature=featured
Now, I don't think you could pay me enough to get in the water with a great white! Not even in one of those cage things...nope, no way! Although, they said on the video that there was no blood in the water and nothing to provoke it...but when they did the underwater shot there was a huge school of fish right under the boat so he was probably feeding and the boat was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I've seen video of sharks (not great white but other big sharks) jumping out of the water going after what is called a "fish ball" trying to get as many fish in it's mouth as it can. If he really was after the guy in the boat, he wouldn't be alive right now.
 
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katiemae1277

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I watched a show yesterday about Great Whites, I think it was called Great White Appetite, and the guy was in a small inflatable speed boat type of thing near Guadalupe Island and a huge Great White came up and bit the boat
the look on the guy's face was priceless
luckily he was right next to the regular boat and leaped on board. I don't think that would have happened if they had planned it. I think the guy had to change his wetsuit


ETA awesome! I found it on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33yRa...ature=featured

do not try this at home
 
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