Sharks and Surfers
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Only last night I was standing talking to a surfer at Pelican Beach about surfing and sharks. We were checking out the waves and discussing the practice of going in surfing late in the day or super early in the morning when sharks are most active. The guy was telling me about the sharks that you get out the back only a mile out when out fishing – port jacksons, mako’s, bronzers, hammerheads, and of course the Great Whites! Thankfully – and this is what I tell myself – the sharks are well feed and preoccupied eating the abundant fish and have no need nor interest in surfers. This is also why I make a conscious decision not to pee in the water when I’m surfing, as that would only attract sharks. Furthermore, I never go surfing on my own over here – the more surfers in the water the better! Seriously, on the beach, pre surf, I often pray that the Lord will keep me from harm when out surfing, me and all the other surfers, either from injury or attack. Thankfully I’ve never even seen a big shark in the water when out surfing. I’ve been in surfing around the corner at a different beach only a couple of hours after a local surfer was knocked off his surfboard by a Great White – it took a chunk from his board but not him. I’vc been in the water when other people have spotted a shark but been completely oblivious – probably much like this guy in the photo. Apparently (and I don’t know how accurate this is) for every one time you see a shark, there has been nine occasions when they have spotted you. Scary biscuits!
