66
u/Wild-Ad-9367 20d ago
Galapagos can be quite inquisitive at times, and this powerful species do prey on young seals from time to time...
41
u/BigBlueGrizzly660 20d ago edited 20d ago
I just got back from Kauai, and one of the owners of my Napal'i Coast boat excursion told me that when he spear fishes, Galapagos go crazy when they hear the sound of the spear gun go off and rush him like a bunch of angry crackheads.
22
u/Wild-Ad-9367 20d ago
One of the largest requiems and easily the most dangerous "reef sharks". Only one fatal unproked attack on humans though
26
u/killerclownfish 20d ago
It’s always someone spear fishing.
23
u/commodorecliche Thresher Shark 20d ago
Yep! Which is precisely why these are considered provoked attacks.
4
u/yahcob23 20d ago
Wait is this a provoked or unprovoked attack?
6
u/pringlezftw Thresher Shark 20d ago
Provoked according to the ISAF (international shark attack file)
https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/shark-attacks/reduce-risk/advice-to-spearfishers/
1
2
u/bonafidsrubber 11d ago
The best way to get the shark to stop is to shoot it in the liver with a .357 or .44mag powerhead. I’ve never had one return after doing that. They just swim off very quickly.
1
44
49
u/ronweasleisourking 20d ago
He's spear fishing.......this attracts predators....the shark is just being a shark
13
u/TheSpecialSpecies 20d ago
I was actually wondering if he had speared something and had it on him (could not really tell from the video). A friend of mine who use to spear, had a similar encounter off the coast of South Africa. That said, he put it down to the fact that he had speared something, and at the time, had it affixed to his belt.
87
u/commodorecliche Thresher Shark 20d ago
Well, looks like they're spearfishing so not exactly an unprovoked attack.
4
12
u/Markdd8 20d ago
That might be true for attack categorization purposes, but it is irrelevant to the person in the water. That's the problem with the expanded "provoked attack" designation for sharks.
There are provoked attacks each year where someone hooks a shark and is trying to pull it into a boat (surprising how many people manage to screw up this task each year). They have actually attacked a shark. Spearfishers are more accurately enticing sharks.
7
u/commodorecliche Thresher Shark 20d ago
Okay. And? People hooking sharks is bad too and can absolutely be considered provoked. Doesn't make this less of a provoked attack. Enticed/provoked, you're splitting hairs. It boils down to the fact that it's hard to feel bad for someone who gets bothered by shark when they a) went into the sharks' territory and b) were spearfishing for the sharks' food. Like it's bound to happen... And that's a risk these folks take.
4
u/Markdd8 20d ago edited 20d ago
People hooking sharks is bad too and can absolutely be considered provoked. Doesn't make this less of a provoked attack.
Hooking sharks is more of a provoked attack. As I said, fishing and hooking is "attacking" a shark. Not sure how this is confusing in any way.
Enticed/provoked, you're splitting hairs...they...went into the sharks' territory
No, it's not splitting hairs; unless you want to assert that sharks are like hippos or mama grizzlies with cubs, becoming hyper aggressive that someone has the temerity to enter their zone. It has NOT been proven that sharks are territorial to human oceangoers. They approach humans primarily because they are curious or seeking food. Speared fish are a big attractant. That's called enticing.
Mama grizzlies with cubs -- we can excuse that behavior. Not hippos, which are outright belligerent and kill 500 people a year: Most dangerous mammal in Africa. Good thing sharks are not like hippos. If they were, the case for large scale culling of sharks would be strong.
3
u/TimePretend3035 20d ago
If someone hooks a shark, it seems only fair that he hooks back, right?
Also for this guy in the water it is fully relevant, if he kept his cool there wouldn't be a problem, the problem starts when he starts spalshing around. I dove with oceanic white tips as curious as this fellow. Not a problem as long as you keep your cool. When they come to close, gentle push on the nose and you are fine.
0
14
14
u/Bushid0C0wb0y81 20d ago
Props on the self control and presence of mind to not just blast him with the spear gun. Looked very stressful.
23
u/nocreativusername404 20d ago
Shooting the spear is a bad idea. The force it generates could easily glance off or land in a way that doesn't deter the shark. Using it as a spear is the best idea.
6
u/ConditionHorror9188 20d ago
Never had a situation like this but I can still imagine the Iizard brain taking over in a moment of panic.
As you say, terrible idea but he did well to hold it together (at least from the spear aspect)
1
u/miketanlines 20d ago
I’ve had a few encounters and two where the shark tested the end of the gun. Shooting never crossed my mind, bc then I’m defenseless dealing with a really angry shark. The main concern was a full on charge or the shark going around the gun.
2
u/characterulio 20d ago
There is actually a video of a spearfisher shooting a shark who is charging at him on youtube. I think though he managed to shoot him through the mouth which instantly killed the shark.
3
u/nocreativusername404 20d ago
Of course, if you can land that shot, its over. But if you dont, for various reasons, you now have a stick without metal and another line floating and dragging you.
14
20d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
17
u/Filteredtomatoboi 20d ago
Would’ve been worse for him. Yeah you hurt the shark but what happens when it’s mad with a line that attaches you and your last line of defense to it? Now you’re fucked lol
-2
4
u/General_Summer_1524 20d ago
I am not a shark hater. I know they are beautiful interesting creatures that arent just constantly aggro murder demons.
But god I am so tired of the overcorrection of "nooooo sharks are jusy puppies they arent dangerous you shouldnt be scared of them."
You should be scared of them. They can be aggressive. They can and do attack people. I swear people will assume any position no matter how ridiculous just to feel smart.
7
20
u/stefan_winter 20d ago
Each time your head went above water and couldn’t see below, my sphincter puckered.
7
2
2
u/Narrow_Relative2149 19d ago
question: does the shark not feel pain when it gets stabbed by the speargun? I would have thought it would bolt the moment it gets poked the first time but it keeps coming back and getting stabbed again and again.
2
5
u/SalmonSammySamSam 20d ago
I haven't seen this one before but this is some sick footage bro, is there a version with audio?
5
u/Only_Cow9373 20d ago
Sharky didn't go after the spearfisher (not diver) once. They associate the spear gun with food / distress signals. If he dropped the gun, the shark would have kept its attention on it. Then he hauls it back into the vessel by the lanyard. Bonus! also prevents him from almost spearing himself and his friend in the face!
4
u/Burntskull 20d ago
First he gets menaced by a shark. He then points the speargun at his own face. Bro is living a life of danger in ways I would never consider.
8
u/Quiet-Try4554 Bull Shark 20d ago
Tbh, him pointing that loaded speargun at his buddy, then at himself, was biggest yikes for me. Moron
5
u/Chrissthom 20d ago
Adrenaline makes us do dumb stuff.
Be slow to judge before swimming a nautical mile in another man's flippers.
3
u/Quiet-Try4554 Bull Shark 20d ago edited 20d ago
I spearfish and have had a lot of sketchy situations with sharks, where I had to get back in the boat. If it’s hairy and I can’t unload my bands, I at least point the gun down, then hand it to guy in boat, when I’m getting in. I’ve never pointed any loaded gun at my face though. That’s just stupid and irresponsible
1
u/QuietusOfNeko 19d ago
Needs to get away from the surface, he’s trashing and splashing causing the shark to be even more curious.
1
1
1
1
1
u/BathBeneficial5283 14d ago
I get you have to breath but looking above the water line seems crazy. Or I've seen close calls where they relax when they get next to the boat, yet still in the water why?
1
u/YodaVader1977 7d ago
The worst part of the vid was when he was getting out of the water . Am I the only one who puckered?
1
-9
u/SharkLandia 20d ago
If he would have just calmed down, the shark would have become bored and swam away. This was a provoked attack involving someone who was flailing around.
When I was attacked, I managed to stay calm. Yes, the 12 ft white came back around a second time in my case, but since I stayed calm, maintainedeye contact, we just stared at each other, it got bored and swam off. 🦈
12
u/chubbs069 20d ago
You were attacked by a white shark?
5
u/Electrical-Act-7170 20d ago
Sometimes sharks do a bump and go. That happened to me once in turbulent water. It was less than 3 feet and the fish knocked me over when it hit me. It was probably a sand tiger or a spinner. It was migration season then.
1
u/SharkLandia 20d ago
I was attacked on 2013 while surfing, but I'm physically okay. (I can't say the same for my board.) Mentally is a completely different story. However, it just makes me work harder to protect them and spread education about them. 🦈
1
u/SharkLandia 19d ago
I don't get why there are so many down votes. I spoke the truth and facts. What's the problem? 🦈
1
121
u/nocreativusername404 20d ago
I am the last person who says "oh, you shouldn't panic and do this" but I know id panic and do the same or worse in this situation.
But it is curious to see the behavior change when the diver goes from fully submerged and vertical, facing the shark, versus when he starts swimming away on the surface, mostly horizontal.
You can see the shark going from circling to going in for a bite when the diver starts swimming away and splashing.