Chumming

[Fly Navy]

They told us in survival training that it wouldn't happen, but is it common for something like the signals from the ELT or the loud noise of a crash to actually attract sharks to the scene of someone who has just ditched over water?

Sharks are attracted to loud splashing and their sensors in their nose will pick up electrical impulses and electrical/magnetic fields around metal objects (by chance, it's supposed to pick up signals of moving fish, etc). Sharks have a habit of showing up to disasters at sea, a plane crash wouldn't be any different, just smaller.

You vs. the perfect predator in its home territory... never a good thing.

 

[Gatordev]

While I understand what you're saying, Fly, I think it's just more along the lines of sharks have a habit of being everywhere. If there's something in the water (boat, tree stump, bale of cocaine) the sharks will be there. It was interesting to see what object we could find in the water on cruise, and then count the number of sharks underneath it.

Besides, on any given day at the beach in the summer, there's a shark about 50-100 yards farther out than you, just cruising. Always fun to see during HTACs in the HTs or in the pattern at KBay.

 

[Fly Navy]

While I understand what you're saying, Fly, I think it's just more along the lines of sharks have a habit of being everywhere. If there's something in the water (boat, tree stump, bale of cocaine) the sharks will be there. It was interesting to see what object we could find in the water on cruise, and then count the number of sharks underneath it.

Well, there are something like 300+ species of sharks in the world, present in every ocean, even the arctic and antarctic circles. Naturally they'll be present everywhere. Some sharks trail ships, like the Oceanic Whitetip (a nasty bugger too... they tend to eat shipwreck victims). They rather enjoy what you boys throw overboard, especially if it is food. If you go down on a ship or a airplane crash, sharks will probably be present within a few hours. They're attracted to the noise, EM fields, and blood. I hear what you're saying though, they ARE everywhere.

Besides, on any given day at the beach in the summer, there's a shark about 50-100 yards farther out than you, just cruising. Always fun to see during HTACs in the HTs or in the pattern at KBay.

Oh for sure, I saw one at least 8 feet long feeding on the surface about 150 yds from shore around Navarre Beach when I was flying a Cessna one day. If the people that swam the Gulf Coast had any clue how close the sharks were, they'd flip out.

 

[Brett327]

If there's something in the water (boat, tree stump, bale of cocaine) the sharks will be there.

Great, that's just what we need - feeding frenzy and they're on coke. We used to bounce down at Patrick AFB and we would regularly see huge sharks cruising up and down the beach area.

Brett

 

[Lawman]

Great, that's just what we need - feeding frenzy and they're on coke. We used to bounce down at Patrick AFB and we would regularly see huge sharks cruising up and down the beach area.

Brett

Yeah, I lived at Patrick for 6 years of my life, and Daytona for 2. One during that summer where they had nothing better then to report the shark attacks going on just 10 minutes down the coast. Honestly though, Jellyfish scare me a hell of a lot more then Sharks. Though getting wrapped up in one when I was 19 might have had something to do with that.


Fly, much like you said though. If their is food to be eaten, there will be something there to eat it, the Ocean is no exception.

 

[Gatordev]

Some sharks trail ships, like the Oceanic Whitetip (a nasty bugger too... they tend to eat shipwreck victims). They rather enjoy what you boys throw overboard, especially if it is food.

I don't know if I appreciate the tone of your post. "You boys?" I only ride on them, I don't drive them. Man, what if someone said "You TacAir guys and your ascots..." The indignity.

 

[gaijin6423]

Sharks? Jellyfish? Pure childish fears.

Now, SPIDERS... Don't get me started.

Even worse: CLOWNS. Sheer, utter terror...

 

[FLY_USMC]

I think I remember reading that a shark can smell 1 drop of blood in the water at over 100 miles away, much like SNA's and SNFO's can smell 20 with 2 children at an equal distance.

 

[gregsivers]

I think I remember reading that a shark can smell 1 drop of blood in the water at over 100 miles away, much like SNA's and SNFO's can smell 20 with 2 children at an equal distance.

Thats a skill you pick up quickly when your first station is Lower 'Bama.

 

[Fly Navy]

I don't know if I appreciate the tone of your post. "You boys?" I only ride on them, I don't drive them. Man, what if someone said "You TacAir guys and your ascots..." The indignity.

Now that's just mean.

 

[Fly Navy]

 

[Lawman]

Sharks? Jellyfish? Pure childish fears.

Now, SPIDERS... Don't get me started.

Even worse: CLOWNS. Sheer, utter terror...

Awww... he isnt that scary.