The Hawaii Islands are home to a few large species of predatory sharks: The Galapagos, Tiger, and Oceanic Whitetip. Many people swim, surf, and dive in Hawaii. Seals also frequent the islands. My question is: How come there are relatively few shark attacks in Hawaii each year? Any theories?
Hello Shark Experts?
- Thread starter fnicklaus
- Start date
Sharks arent the mindless killers Jaws made them out to be. They are at the top of the food chain. So being at the top they can pick and choose what/who they want to eat.
I believe people don't get attacked too often because sharks don't want a fight. they want a cheap meal. there is a lot of meals in the sea.
Most of the time when a shark attacks they will take a bite and wait till you die till they come in to eat. no sense them risking injury for no reason.
That being said. If a shark thinks you might put up a fight they will probably pass you by and look for a nice little seabass, lobster, or turtle.
There is an interesting book called "Hawaii's deadly sharks" and they list all the recorded shark attacks ever in Hawaii and the situation surrounding it.
I believe people don't get attacked too often because sharks don't want a fight. they want a cheap meal. there is a lot of meals in the sea.
Most of the time when a shark attacks they will take a bite and wait till you die till they come in to eat. no sense them risking injury for no reason.
That being said. If a shark thinks you might put up a fight they will probably pass you by and look for a nice little seabass, lobster, or turtle.
There is an interesting book called "Hawaii's deadly sharks" and they list all the recorded shark attacks ever in Hawaii and the situation surrounding it.
I just thought that it was interesting that there are many surfers in Hawaii. Tiger sharks are surface feeders,probably share the water constantly with swimmers,but rarely attack. Obviously food source and water clarity have alot to do with it. Divers swim with tiger sharks and bull sharks with are thought to be responsible for alot of attacks. Few dare to swim with great whites, athough in clear water and at the right time of day, you'd most likely be safe. Right? I think that divers are unmastakeable as a non food source below the surface and maybe sharks are not sure whether you are their predator. However, maybe swimmers and surfers are not in that much of danger neither. It seems like alot of the attacks are in murky water or at dusk or dawn. Is Florida water that murky?I know that more attacks occur there as well as California, but I realize that alot of their food sources are gone. Is there some validity to this point?
zoanthid2009
New member
because all those species only attack when provoked
That is not true at all. I dive with sharks every year, and Im talking about in the states but in australia, caribbean, figi, all over. The fact is sharks attack when hungry and they mistake you for food. Surfers is a perfect example. Looking at a board from underneather water with 2 legs it looks like a big seal. You don't have to provoke the shark to attack you he just will. They usually only hit once then move on since humans arn't that tasty to a shark. It's amazing swimming with sharks. It is intimidating though. Sharks in Hawaii are well fed so are less inclined to look in shallow waters near surfers for food. Florida has clear water but is heavily fished. It's very hard to "provoke" a shark to attack. We would push their sides and usually just dart away and are more curious then mean. Just my 2 cents
They don't move on because we aren't that tasty. they move on to wait till we won't fight back then come back and eat us. I know of one shark that bit a guy in half and left him for a few hours. My friend was working as rescue and found the body missing his head and one arm. when he was going to retrieve it the shark came from underneath him and bit the victim in half again.
Sharks are predators. they attack when they need to or when it is easy prey. they are just like people who hunt. we will wait for the one that gets closest, shoot it, let it run till it dies then go get it. I don't know any hunters that shoot something then go in and wrestle it till it dies. its just seems unnecessary.
as far as the coconut theory. I personally don't know anyone that was hit with a coconut. I know two guys who have been eaten by sharks. but I see your point. driving a car is definitely more dangerous.
Sharks are predators. they attack when they need to or when it is easy prey. they are just like people who hunt. we will wait for the one that gets closest, shoot it, let it run till it dies then go get it. I don't know any hunters that shoot something then go in and wrestle it till it dies. its just seems unnecessary.
as far as the coconut theory. I personally don't know anyone that was hit with a coconut. I know two guys who have been eaten by sharks. but I see your point. driving a car is definitely more dangerous.
Thanks. Great information. Sorry pactrop about the people that you knew that were attacked. I think that it makes sense about whether or not the sharks can find their normal meal. What are the details as far as when the people you knew were attacked. What time of day? How far out? I am also interested whether the ocean topography has an effect as to how far the sharks come inland. I think that in Florida waters, the Gulf stream leads to fish coming inshore, and the sharks follow them.
You should buy this book. It has great info and detailed accounts of all the documented attacks in Hawaii.
http://www.mutualpublishing.com/bookinfo.aspx?bookID=339
http://www.mutualpublishing.com/bookinfo.aspx?bookID=339
