maldives

Hi,

I plan to go on holiday in Maldives in Reethi Beach Resort (RAA Atoll).
I m a rookie for diving and I wonder if there is any danger with
Sharks in Maldives ?

Are sharks coming near the beach ? or do they stay behind the coral reef ?
Is there any danger for children during snorkelling ?


Thanks
Ludovic

On 19 Sep 2003 13:15:24 -0700, lquesnelle@hotmail.com (Ludovic) wrote:

>Hi,
>
>I plan to go on holiday in Maldives in Reethi Beach Resort (RAA Atoll).
>I m a rookie for diving and I wonder if there is any danger with
>Sharks in Maldives ?

Lots. They are a real pest, you should take a loaded bang stick in you
hand luggage, so that you can fend them off. Every dive you are pushed
around and intimidated by them. I pick shark teeth out of my equipment
after every dive.

>Are sharks coming near the beach ?

All the time. You've seen the pictures of killer whales taking seals
off the beach? It's like that, one minute you are walking along the
beach with a loved one, and bang, they are gone, dragged away by a
Tiger Shark to be consumed in the depths.

>or do they stay behind the coral reef ?

They are all over. The place is infested with them. Sometimes, the
locals show off by walking from Island to Island on the backs of the
sharks. They hardly get wet.

>Is there any danger for children during snorkelling ?

For the ones that survived the wrath of fellow passengers on the long
haul flight out there having the backs of seats kicked, there is as
much danger as possible. Sometimes the sharks play with them before
killing them, tossing the small, helpless, bodies around before
finally consuming, alive, what is to them, a small snack. The screams
are terrible, but after a week or so you get used to it. From my point
of veiw, as a photographer, it's the blood in the water that reduces
visibility that's the real issue here.

And then there are the night dives, with glinting eyes watching you
from the darkness, never quite knowing what is out there..... They
come in so fast..... Your buddy could be snatched from your side
before you've have time to get out your monster, I'm an expert diver,
knife. It could be you next. I've actually seen sharks coughing up
dive kit in preparation for the next kill. The carnage is terrible,
but most divers survive with the odd limb missing. The tourist board
don't talk about it much.

To help the sharks it would be good if you could wear a small
cylinder, as these cause less harm to the sharks teeth. Also, if you
could avoid any kind of suit? These do tend to clog the sharks
digestive system. The Sharks seem to be able to cope quite well with
other types of dive kit, either spitting it out, or passing it through
the gut.

Of course the biggest and most dangerous of all the sharks are in the
corners of dive centres, just behind the cash register........

Pete S.

On 9/20/03 1:52 AM, in article l83omv8hig1vfc1bl1r9jkujdndm7v4ika@4ax.com,
"Pete S." <Pete S.> wrote:

> On 19 Sep 2003 13:15:24 -0700, lquesnelle@hotmail.com (Ludovic) wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I plan to go on holiday in Maldives in Reethi Beach Resort (RAA Atoll).
>> I m a rookie for diving and I wonder if there is any danger with
>> Sharks in Maldives ?
>
> Lots. They are a real pest, ......
Big snip........

> Of course the biggest and most dangerous of all the sharks are in the
> corners of dive centres, just behind the cash register........
>
> Pete S.
Better than the Sunday morning comix! Thanks