Shark Attack - Swimming Offshore

[PippaB]

News report out of the Canaries, a 17m catamaran sailing S off the African coast toward the Cape Verdes. Apparently someone swimming alongside the boat (have done that many times ) was attacked by a shark and died as a result.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/shark-a...lands-sailing/

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe...ds-2024-09-18/

https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/18/europ...ntl/index.html

A German woman died after she was attacked by a shark while swimming beside her catamaran in high seas between Spain's Canary Islands and West Africa, a police spokesperson said on Wednesday.
The woman, aged 30, was travelling on a catamaran that had sailed southbound from Gran Canaria island on Sept. 14. She was attacked by a shark that bit off one of her legs, the police said.

[JPA Cate]

What a shame, poor woman.

My condolences to her family and friends.

****************

I confess I have swum alongside our boat at sea, only rarely, and with great caution. Maybe it was foolish of me....

[PippaB]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

...

I confess I have swum alongside our boat at sea, only rarely, and with great caution. Maybe it was foolish of me....

I confess that I have done so hundreds of times (no exaggeration). When the boat is ghosting along in the tropics from 0-2 knots it is pretty much a regular occurrence for us. Sometimes multiple swim sessions in a day. Something about being 1000 miles from land with only your head above the water....

Have never seen a shark, but this report, although it is only one such, certainly makes me consider the wisdom (or lack thereof).

[DougM]

tragic. We had a similar incident a few years ago in my part of the world, where i've been swimming offshore many times over the years. once i had a very large grey seal check me out. never a shark, but this young lady had a visit from one. i don't swim offshore anymore.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-...eton-1.6140890

[Wilyum]

Would there be higher propensity for attacks offshore in deep water?

[mako]

Good question @Wilyum, but I would doubt it. The open ocean is a big, lonely place. But this story perhaps reminds us that a safety diver in the water is good practice.

[fxykty]

Originally Posted by Wilyum

Would there be higher propensity for attacks offshore in deep water?

Depends on the location of the deep water. Knowing whether you’re on a a shark migration route is useful - great whites like warm currents bringing nutrients and fish to colder waters: SE coast of Africa, E coasts of Australia and New Zealand, NW coast of Africa, etc.

If we lose way or are sailing really slowly, there’s almost nothing better in warm climates than to jump off the bow. A spotter on deck with a whistle or, even better but not likely, a gun, is a good idea, but generally we're all in the water.

[GordMay]

International Shark Attack File [ISAF] ~ Florida State University [FSU]
➥ https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/shark-attacks/

Originally Posted by ISAF

“The International Shark Attack File (ISAF) is the world’s only scientifically documented, comprehensive database of all known shark attacks. Initiated in 1958, there are now more than 6,800 individual investigations covering the period from the early 1500s to the present...”

ISAF offers resources, for reducing your risk of a shark bite, and instructions for what to do, if you encounter a shark.
➥ https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/sh...s/reduce-risk/

[Onthewater222]

Ever heard of a FAD? Fish aggregating device
That’s why I refrain from swimming around a boat in suspect waters

[El Pinguino]

As anyone who has sailed in the tropics knows there isn't much shade.
We like shade, sharks like shade, there is shade under your boat.

[Johan Leopard51]

In tropics we are in the water a lot whether swim, snorkel or scuba. The water is always around 28 Celsius so we snorkel for hours and hours, sometimes on shallow outcrops in middle of nowhere but I suppose mostly around atolls and islands. Sometimes we do see grey reef sharks but they come look and then move on. I’d crap myself if saw a great white.

Seychelles has had one fatal attack and that was of person swimming off a beach. In that case, a French film crew had been chumming and filming sharks offshore and the great white followed them in to their anchorage at Anse Lazio waiting for more free food.

I do my nut when I see yachts merrily cleaning fish and/or discarding foodstuff while at anchor among many other yachts! That is like walking through the veld with a bleeding carcass over your shoulder and being surprised if the lion and hyena pay attention.

We clean fish and discard organics very far from where we anchor.

Have not noticed sharks cruising along under the catamaran but one stunning experience was a whale shark that accompanied us for a bit.

[Johan Leopard51]

Originally Posted by Onthewater222

Ever heard of a FAD? Fish aggregating device
That’s why I refrain from swimming around a boat in suspect waters

We encounter them often, they are a major hazard on a night crossing. Makes sense that sharks and other predators would rather hang around a floating reef with lots of fish, out in 3000m water.

If anybody visits Seychelles, keep an eye out for FAD but also for lines of yellow buoys that will have rope and nets below.

[Johan Leopard51]

Originally Posted by Wilyum

Would there be higher propensity for attacks offshore in deep water?

We do encounter big sharks joining the party when tuna/swordfish herded shoals of bait fish even out in 3000m water. So, the big sharks do occur out there but I’d say hundred times more likely in the shallows, especially where atoll or reef estuary current enters surrounding ocean, although never see big sharks (over 2 meters) in the shallows at Seychelles.

[barcoMeCasa]

https://www.ibtimes.sg/german-touris...-islands-76130

Shark attacks are extremely rare in the area, Atlantico Hoy reported, saying only six such attacks have been recorded in the area since records began in the 16th century.

The universe runs on probabilities, suspect the boom has killed many many more people on boats.....

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

As anyone who has sailed in the tropics knows there isn't much shade.
We like shade, sharks like shade, there is shade under your boat.

Several times, we spent [4 - 5] months, on a mooring, in 20 Ft of tidal [near Big Rock cut, Staniel Cay, Bahamas] water.
Every time, we acquired a resident Barracuda, sitting under our boat [in it’s shadow].
It would sit, nearly motionless, facing the incoming/outgoing tide, and took no notice of Maggie/I, when we were bathing, off the stern.
Although there were numerous sharks [nurse & hammerhead], in the area, we never saw one take up station, near our boat.