Comments for Sharks and Sea Kayaks at http://www.surfski.info , comment 0 to 5 out of 5 comments http://www.surfski.info Sat, 30 Aug 2008 03:59:11 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/172/154/#pc_1067 I too have experienced the snub of a shark- huge tiger shark, between the heads at Sydney harbour in march 2006. It rubbed the bottom of my ski and circled very, very close for a bit too long. then lost interest. The shark was two-thirds the length of my ski and I clearly saw its broad squarish nose, which is still etched in my brain and i can reproduce it in a drawing most accurately. I did the right thing- stood totally still, not due to my wisdom of knowing it was the best thing to do, but because i was frozen stiff from fear. It wasn't by choice, just cowardice. I would agree with the theory that, given sharks have relatively poor eyesight, and they detect objects through vibration, heartbeat and smell, then if you stay wholly within the craft you won't likely be attacked. Unless you are in their nesting area where they will be more territorial. From the different ways they move through water, a shark can probably differentiate an animate object from an inanimate one. Anyhow, thats the theory that lets me keep paddling out in the open blue. ;) Jo Dounias Sydney Australia - Jo Dounias Sat, 30 Jun 2007 07:19:10 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/172/154/#pc_1008 ...until some shark discovers the creamy center. - Tecpartner Thu, 21 Jun 2007 16:50:30 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/172/154/#pc_378 There\'s a cunning device invented in South Africa and commercialised in Australia called the Shark Shield. Dawid uses them at Surfskischool (attaches them to buoys off the beach) and one of my buddies uses one on his ski. You can read about them at: http://www.sharkshield.com/ - robin.mousley Fri, 02 Jun 2006 10:50:09 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/172/154/#pc_377 I don\'t know a lot about sharks, but I read once that they are ultra sensitive to electricity and that their sense of smell is phenomenal. It isn\'t too far fetched to suppose that a Sea Kayak is the equivalent to a stealth aircraft to the sharks \"radar.\" A surfer is partly in the water all the time, and they get munched regularly here in Hawaii. The reported behavior of the great whites around the kayaks seem to indicate that the sharks do not detect life/meat/food because a paddler is quite insulated from the medium surrounding the shark. First, by the two layers of hull, and second by the paddle that keeps hands/scent out of the water. For those brutes, a kayak must appear to be nothing more than flotsam, with occasional interesting splashes and detectable movement, that arouses their \"curiosity\". A paddler in the water, or dangling a foot, and all bets are off. I know that If I cross paths with one of these beauties, I\'m going to be sure to keep my hands and feet on board, and away from that best of all conductors........... salt water. Just a thought. Aloha to all, Geo. M. - GeoM Thu, 01 Jun 2006 05:55:15 +0100 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/172/154/#pc_240 8) - Guest Thu, 16 Mar 2006 04:56:59 +0100