California Shark Dive--Attempt II!!!!!!

Matthias Voss wrote:
> jbeck wrote:
>
> > In my several hundred open water dives, I have *never* seen a shark.
>
> That is not reciprocal.
>
> Matthias

I fish for largemouth bass and the best advice I've got for someone who
wants to catch a smallmouth is to cast away from shore from the same
spots you've been casting towards shore. In the same way you're not
likely to see many sharks when you're facing a reef but as Matthias
points out, they can see you.

Cam

"Greg Mossman" <mossman@qnet.com> wrote in message
news:120tu4vr7402o48@corp.supernews.com...
> "jbeck" <jNOSPAMbeck@zianet.com> wrote in message
> news:440cd7cf@nntp.zianet.com...
>>A couple of my 'ol buddies and I have discussed the idea of doing a shark
>> dive in California.
>>
>> Two of us are fairly strong and/or competant in the open water skills,
>> and
>> two have limited experience.
>>
>> Suggestions? Comments? Insights?
>
> Southern California shark dives, other than the white shark charters to
> Guadalupe mentioned following your first post, are occasionally done by a
> handful of local operators with the intent of finding blue sharks in open
> ocean. Often a mako will show up as well. The "divers" sit in a cage,
> usually just with snorkels not scuba gear, and the boat chums until the
> sharks come in. Therefore, your buddies don't even have to be certified
> divers to enjoy the thrill of waiting endlessly for the sharks to arrive
> all the while being coated in an oily, smelly fish scum.

Fish scum hair...I wonder how luring that would be for a nice mermaid?


>
> On the charter I was on (the Aquatica), divers with a minimum of 50 dives
> (their rule) could opt out of the cage and instead hang on a weighted line
> at about 20 feet. This was a much better experience. When you get 4-6
> blues circling you, it's impossible to keep your eyes on all of them at
> the same time. They give you a "shark billy", basically a filled section
> of PVC pipe, that you are supposed to use to push the sharks away from you
> if they come too close. I never used mine, idiotically pushing my face up
> against one as it swam by, and touching another on the tail. But I
> supposedly benefit from professional courtesy and don't recommend you try
> this at home.

This is the link that I googled: http://www.diveaquatica.com/

Several posters seem to think highly of that operation:

http://www.scubaboard.com/archive/in...p/t-79297.html

I think the information on Aquatica is right in line with what I was looking
for. This is the direction that our group will probably pursue.

I really do thank you for your time in sharing this information.

Joe

"jbeck" <jNOSPAMbeck@zianet.com> wrote in message
news:440f3fb5@nntp.zianet.com...
>
> > So I'm just wondering, do you usually only do local dives/freshwater
> > dives?
>
> A few of my dives have been fresh water, but by far most have been
> throughout the Caribean and Sea of Cortez. Also have a few cavern dives
> (nope, no sharks there). Nikonos Cameras used to sponsor shoot outs, and
I
> participated in a few of those...a few years ago <sigh>. So far, top dive
> location for me personally: Cayman Brac. Most overrated: Cozumel. Just
> my humble opinions. Is that enough feel for my background?

Bummer for ya. You've been robbed.