Underwater Thrills: Shark Riding

News Type: Event — Seeded on Wed Aug 9, 2006 7:14 PM EDT

Article Source: ABC News

odd-news, sharks, scuba, natural-selection, marine-life, extreme-sports, bait, cousteau, shark-riding

Traditionally, those brave enough to enter the chum-filled water cocooned themselves in reinforced cages, or stood aboard the ship and ogled as ravenous sharks were fed from the deck.

But for some that's just not a strong enough buzz. The solution? Shark riding.

The footage depicts the two divers cautiously approaching a great white shark. Carefully positioning themselves near the animal, they take turns grabbing the shark's dorsal fin to be whisked away before safely letting go.

Published to:

Calvin Tang's Column, All of Newsvine
Groups: none
Regions: none

Public Discussion (2)

What's this?

Who's leading the conversation?

This visualization below allows you to see the impact that each user has on the current conversation. The top row contains the group of users who have had the most impact, the 2nd row the group of users who have had the 2nd most impact (et cetera). Users with similar impact are grouped together, and the average score of the group is shown to the left of the group. The author of the article is also shown on the left, in their corresponding group. Each user's score is based on the number of comments the user has made plus the number of votes their comments have received. The scores are calculated relative one another, so while their absolute value is not particularly important, their relative difference does indicate a larger difference in impact on the conversation.

1.4

{"commentId":244492,"authorDomain":"pmgraham"}

Peter M Graham

... the intention of the expedition was to disprove the popular myth that sharks are bloodthirsty killers.

Oh! THAT'S how you prove a shark's not a bloodthirsty killer - sneak up behind it and grab onto its dorsal fins. When it gets pissed and merely dismembers you but doesn't quite finish the job you'll have your proof that it in fact was merely a "bloodthirsty maimer"

{"commentId":244492,"threadId":"36078","contentId":"319140","authorDomain":"pmgraham"}

1 vote

#1 - Thu Aug 10, 2006 1:34 AM EDT

{"commentId":245419,"authorDomain":"WillyVolk"}

Willy Volk

Unfortunately, the only way to promote a healthy understanding of sharks is to get close to them. However, sneaking closer and closer to them is bound to wind up bad, someday, for somebody. And that somebody probably won't be the shark. It's cool to view them through a cage; I don't believe we need tour guides encouraging people to swim freely with sharks.

{"commentId":245419,"threadId":"36078","contentId":"319140","authorDomain":"WillyVolk"}

1 vote

#2 - Thu Aug 10, 2006 2:43 PM EDT

{"commentId":1302516,"authorDomain":"sharkdiver"}

Shark Diver

It's just a matter of time before the Shark Cowboys come across an animal that does not want to play. Can anyone say Tim Treadwell?

{"commentId":1302516,"threadId":"36078","contentId":"319140","authorDomain":"sharkdiver"}

#3 - Wed Dec 26, 2007 11:06 AM EST

{"commentId":1305614,"authorDomain":"sharkdiver"}

Shark Diver

Willy speaks truth. It's just a matter of time before someone somewhere gets hit and hard. Sharks are predators in the same category as Polar Bears. You do not see operations up north offering extreme encounters, or out of the box encounters with these critters.

It comes down to respect. Respect for the animal, respect for your divers, and respect for nature.

In the end shark diving is good for sharks as it educates the divers. Pushing the envelope in any wild animals encounter is just plain stupid.

{"commentId":1305614,"threadId":"36078","contentId":"319140","authorDomain":"sharkdiver"}

#4 - Thu Dec 27, 2007 2:10 PM EST

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"36078","isPrivate":false}

CALVIN TANG

Backyard

Underwater Thrills: Shark Riding

Published to:

FUN STUFF:

COMPANY STUFF:

LEGAL STUFF: