9- Ming Chan
Ming Chan, a Chinese traveler, visited Guadalupe Island, in Mexico, one of the most popular
destinations for shark lovers. He was the only one in the reinforced cage when a shark
was attracted to the chum placed just outside the bars. It lunged at the piece of tuna only
to accidentally crash against the metal rods. It managed to enter the cage, much to Chan’s
horror. The wild animal actually swam by Chan’s
side for over 20 seconds. The diver tried his best to keep some distance while the boat’s
crew frantically attempted to help him. It was only when the top was opened that the
shark could finally swim away. A video of the entire encounter shows the beast bleeding
profusely, having injured itself during the struggle. Luckily, Chan survived the potentially
deadly encounter.
What is it?
Shark diving is an extreme activity that mixes snorkeling or diving with nature observation.
Participants enter a cage, typically underwater, to keep themselves protected from the animals
around them. It can be practiced for scientific, cinematographic, or touristic purposes.
Sharks are usually attracted to the cage with the use of bait, a process which is called
chumming. These cages are also used during decompression processes, to avoid becoming
vulnerable to attacks. There’s a rare and extremely dangerous variation, in which practitioners
bypass the use of cages altogether. The famous explorer, inventor, conservationist, and filmmaker
Jacques Cousteau is said to be the first to use this device during the production of his
1956 movie, “The Silent World”. The cages work not only as a physical deterrent for
attacks but also as a visual one. Usually, it keeps sharks from even attempting to bite
the divers inside it.
8-Great white shark death
During what seemed to be an ordinary cage diving experience, a great white shark got
trapped after savagely colliding with the enclosure’s metal bars. The incident, like
many others in the list, happened in Guadalupe Island, which is considered one of the most
important great white sanctuaries in the world. Four divers watched from inside the cage as
the shark fruitlessly struggled to break free. It soon began bleeding profusely but there
was nothing to do but wait for the wild animal to escape. The shark was badly injured during
the struggle and bled to death. After 25 minutes, the predator finally broke
free, with blood oozing from its gills. Soon after, it stopped moving, and its corpse dropped
to the ocean floor.
7- Mark Currie
Mark Currie was vacationing in South Africa when he decided to go shark diving. He noticed
an 18-foot white shark and that it kept circling the boat. It was only after the massive animal
began to ram and bite at the cage’s bars that the British man realized he needed to
get out as soon as possible. The boat’s captain attempted to distract the shark, but
it seemed set on reaching Currie. It wasn’t until the beast was struck on the head with
an iron pole that Currie was given enough respite to swim off the top of the cage. He
was rushed up onto the boat, while the shark kept trying to get to him. Fortunately, Mark
Currie survived his ordeal thanks to the crew’s fast-thinking. He would later recount how
he feared drowning or being viciously mauled by the raging shark.
Where is it located?
During the early 2000s, shark diving grew increasingly more popular among the general
public. South Australia considers this to be the most “iconic nature-based tourism
experience.” They report it contributes $11 million to the local economy. Other well-known
spots for this activity are the Bahamas, Cuba, the coast of Mexico, Cocos Island in Costa
Rica, and Galapagos Island in Ecuador. There are several locations in the US that welcome
tourists interested in swimming with sharks within a controlled environment. Isla Guadalupe,
in Mexico, is considered the best destination to dive with white sharks. It’s only reachable
via liveaboard, and the pristine waters allow for exceptional visibility.
6-Craig Bovim
Craig Bovim wasn’t diving inside a cage when he was attacked by a great white shark,
but he blames his injury on this activity. Bovim, an avid snorkeler, was searching for
lobster at Scarborough. This area is well known to shark diving aficionados, and several
boats dedicated to this practice can be found along the region’s coasts. He was bitten
by a great white shark and barely managed to make it out alive. Bovim considers that
chumming is to blame for his injuries, as it has radically altered sharks’ behavior.
These animals are, according to the attack victim, more prone to approach human beings
in search of food, and more violent when failing to receive it.
5-Nancy Lasuzzo
Nancy Lasuzzo was vacationing in Mexico when she visited Guadalupe Islands, a popular tourist
attraction. While there she decided to go cage diving and recorded the whole experience.
As she was being lowered underwater, a great white shark swam straight towards the cage
Lasuzzo was in. Unable or unwilling to change course in time, it began pushing against the
bars, trying to break inside. Nancy would, fortunately, survive the encounter, and recorded
it all, including the tense moments of the shark gnawing at the cage’s bars. In the
end, the young diver managed to escape unscratched but shaken up.
How will it kill you?
Diving among sharks, even when protected by a cage, has inherent risks. The pens are specifically
crafted to resist bites and ramming attacks, but they aren’t 100% effective.
Bull sharks have a bite force of 1,300 pounds, meaning they’re able to destroy bones and
shells. This makes their attack as vicious as that of a grizzly bear or a fully-grown
gorilla. With this kind of force, any sort of exposure to its massive and plentiful teeth
can be lethal. Extreme blood loss, broken or even severed limbs, drowning, and death
are potential risks of participating in this activity. Those who oppose shark diving believe
chumming could lead to aggressive behavior among the beasts, as they could easily get
used to approaching humans in order to get fed.
4-Roger Gray
After getting married, Roger Gray felt the need to participate in some adrenaline-inducing
experiences, during the first day of his honeymoon. It happened back in 2013, while the newlyweds
were enjoying their trip to South Africa. He decided to go, alone, on one of the area’s
most popular extreme activities: shark diving. While underwater, he encountered several different
sharks. However, one seemed particularly violent and decided to ignore the bait being dangled
outside the bars. Instead, it managed to get its head inside the cage and started biting
around wildly. Gray ducked in time and avoided the shark’s massive serrated teeth. Eventually,
the monstrous marine animal swam away, and Gray was able to return to his honeymoon,
none the worse for wear.
3-Katie Yonker
Katie Yonker and three other friends had spent little time underwater, protected by the thick
bars of the shark tank, when they saw a 15-foot specimen swimming nearby. Without warning,
the great white shark lunged at their air supply, creating an explosion. Moments later,
it got stuck in the bars. The incident occurred in the Mexican region of Baja California.
Unable to breathe and trapped with a massive beast thrashing around, the divers had to
react quickly. One of them swam up to alert the crew that they needed to pull up the cage.
Once that happened, the trapped tourists could breathe, but the shark couldn’t escape.
The crew helped the tourists get out, one by one, before tying a rope around the shark’s
tail. By submerging the cage back underwater and pulling on the knotted rope, they managed
to help the grand large beast separate itself from the cage.
How to survive?
In order to survive shark diving, it’s vital to follow instructions and safety precautions
and to avoid taking unnecessary risks. Attempting to feed, bother, or pet the sharks is strictly
forbidden. Every boat transporting participants must carry medical kits and oxygen supply.
Respecting the environment and the animals swimming around the cage is usually the best
way to avoid any injury. Other common-sense safety measures include keeping all limbs
inside the cage during the duration of the activity as well as avoiding collisions with
other participants, and entering the cage calmly and steadily. Understanding the basics
of diving before going underwater is also necessary. Without proper training, the risk
of drowning or suffering decompression-related illnesses increases exponentially.
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2-Jeff Kerr and Andy Casagrande
Back in 2015, Jeff Kerr and Andy Casagrande were determined to get footage of a rumored
20-foot-long shark. They had been filming in several locations, while trying to finish
their documentary on the subject. The next point in their agenda was New Zealand. At
first, things didn’t seem to go right for Kerr and Casagrande. Upon entering the underwater
cage, several sharks approached them. Their attitudes were markedly aggressive as they
were whipping their tails against the bars and circling the two filmmakers repeatedly.
The sharks started hammering the cage with their noses but then everything went quiet.
The beasts swam away swiftly, almost as if to indicate that something bigger was approaching.
Kerr and Casagrande were shocked to see the 20-foot shark swimming nearby. They recorded
as the animal attacked their cage over and over again. In the end, after failing to break
inside the cage, the shark gave up and swam away. No injuries were sustained by the documentary
makers.
1-Markus Groh
Markus Groh was devoted to his work and wanted to get great pictures of the sharks he’d
be swimming around. It was one of the reasons why he refused to slide into a cage in order
to keep out of harms way and remain safe. Instead, Groh decided that he’d be diving
among the sharks in their natural state, with nothing between the massive predators and
his own body. During one such session, a bull shark attempted to bite the bait Groh had
used to attract animals to his location. Instead, it accidentally attacked the diver’s leg.
Moments later, and realizing its mistake, it let go and swam away. Groh suffered from
severe blood loss and was rushed to a Miami hospital via a coastguard helicopter. Doctors
did everything in their power to save him, but in the end, he died as a result of his
wound.
Thanks for watching! Would you rather go shark diving or prepare a puffer fish with an online
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