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>> Allow me to clarify, I like to surface straight to the boat. I stay within
>> the no-deco limits. If you want to hang in the water decompressing, go
>> ahead. Around here you are very likely to be eaten by something.
>One of my personal goals in diving is to have the risk of shark attack be
>the most hazardous aspect of the dive. This is not to say that I want to
A worthy goal.
>Having said that, I feel compelled to assert that the statement "Around
>here you are very likely to be eaten by something." is a bit of a stretch
>- even if "Around here" refers to southern Australia. Yes, people do get
>eaten by white sharks (or, "white pointers", as you call them), but I have
Carcharodon carcharias (The Great White, or White Pointer) has eaten (not
just attacked) 1 member of the dive club of which I am a member (serindipity
only prevented me from going on THAT particular club dive), 1
semi-professional scallop diver and 1 snorkel diver in South Australia. I
won't count deaths outside SA, such as the diver in Tasmania taken while
swimming with seals. Non diver deaths include only one surfer that I am
aware of (although that may have been a Bronze Whaler). I won't mention
Rodney Fox.
>to say that, unless the threat of a big hungry shark is immediate and obvious,
>you are probably enhancing your chances for a long and healthy life more
>by pausing at a few meters' depth after ANY dive.
I agree, except at places where Carcharodon carcharias are known to
frequent, such as the Aldinga Reef or the Stanvac Barges, I prefer to get
back into the boat.
>Just some ramblings from a diving neurophysiologist...
/Rat
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shelps@ac*.ma*.ad*.ed*.au* | Stephen Helps Ack! ___/|
FAX (08)232-3283 | Anaesthesia & Intensive Care \O.o|
Voice (08)224-5495 | University of Adelaide =(___)=
| ADELAIDE, 5005, South Australia U
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Repugnare ut detur vacuum sive in quo nulla plane sit res.
(That) it is contrary to reason to say that there is a vacuum or space in
which there is absolutely nothing.
DESCARTES 1596-1650
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