Defensive Detecting in the Water

Sir Gala Clad

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Jul 9, 2012
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Pilots use check lists to visually inspect their aircraft before taking off so they know the condition of the aircraft and their equipment before taking off. They also practice simulations of possible problems/situations they may encounter while flying so that they know what to do and not panic.

A possible scenario for detecting in shallow water is:
You are wading in waist deep water, approximately thirty feet from shore, near a manned life guard station. There are sunbathers on the beach as it is a beautiful day and the sun is not to hot.
The sea is calm, there are light currents, water visibility is poor.
While retrieving coins/rings, you notice the tip of an exposed fin slicing through the water near you.
What would you or should you do?
 

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TooManyHobbies

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Dec 24, 2007
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I'm going to stand my ground, since I know I can't outrun a swimming shark (assuming it's not a kid with a fake fin). Use scoop and detector as barrier to push off / nosebump the fish.
 

DirtStalker

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Crap my pants and hope the cloud confuses the shark.
 

G.I.B.

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Feb 23, 2007
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You are not what he is looking for.

Walk towards the beach and come back when it's not feeding time.
 

Terry Soloman

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Reach over and cut the fat guy with the Excalibur II (that I've been following with my Sand Shark), give him a shove toward the shark and start wading to shore yelling "SHARK!"
 

G.I.B.

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Reach over and cut the fat guy with the Excalibur II (that I've been following with my Sand Shark), give him a shove toward the shark and start wading to shore yelling "SHARK!"

Show him all the neat stuff he has been missing right before the shark eats him.
 

MrMikeJackie

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That's it, I'm done.
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As I am aware of the sharks presence I would maintain a visual on it as best as I could. I would then try and motion over to the life guard stand (30 feet away or so) as inconspicuously as possible to the presence of said shark, without causing a panic. I can take care of myself but don't want to see anyone else get hurt. Wouldn't want to apply pressure, tighten a tourniquet, or pinch an artery if I don't have to.
 

DirtStalker

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You don't have to outswim or outrun the shark just the person in front of you. I find it amazing that the media has spent so much time on this including saying that fishermen are drawing in the sharks. No baitfish are. And we are waist deep in the sharks dinner plate.
 

sonnar28

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Dec 2, 2011
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Pilots use check lists to visually inspect their aircraft before taking off so they know the condition of the aircraft and their equipment. They also practice simulations of possible problems/situations they may encounter while flying so that they know what to do and not panic.

A possible scenario for detecting in shallow water is:
You are wading in waist deep water, approximately thirty feet from shore, near a manned life guard station. There are sunbathers on the beach as it is a beautiful day and the sun is not to hot.
The sea is calm, there are light currents, water visibility is poor.
While retrieving coins/rings, you notice the tip of an exposed fin slicing through the water near you.
What would you or should you do?

I would quickly do a 360 degree scan to make sure there were no other fins visible, with a double check on my 6. I would detach my safely whistle and put the keyring on a finger of my right hand.

If the fin was coming directly at me, I would turn so the fin was approaching at 10 o'clock (my scoop side), free up my detector arm, get a firm grip on scoop handle with both hands with scoop heel up and scoop 1/2 foot or so deep. I would blow my safety whistle. If the fin charged, I would strike hard at snout. If it was meandering, I would firmly push it away. Once it hopefully left, I would move deliberately to the wet sand.

If the fin was not moving directly at me, I would stand still to see if it would leave the vicinity. If it left immediately, I would then move deliberately to calf deep water and keep detecting. If it did not leave in several minutes, I would then slowly move to calf deep water while watching the fin and then keep detecting with an eye on the fin.

And would have head on a swivel in all senarios. If more than one fin was visible, I would blow safety whistle and would move deliberately to the wet sand.

And would be prepared to have a good laugh if it turned out to be a dolphin !
 

CASPER-2

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No one has said - "Id pull out my dive knife" -
if Im in waters where I have to worry - I carry a dive knife
I'll put it in my pouch - (if I have to hide it) or duck tape to my scoop handle or detector rod - Im one of the "get in as sun rises and out before the first swimmer hits the water"- so have never had a prob with someone saying I had a weapon
when using my hookah or snuba - that is what I use to dig - so its in my left hand anyways
what I always wondered - I know people getting bit did not see it coming - but wondered if you did see it coming
and you had some sort of pepper spray and released in water - Id think it would blind them
I still don't know why scientists cant come up with some sort of sounding device that disrupts their senses or bothers the crap out of them - where you could place floating buoys that emit a signal that can be placed in swimming zones - the military has sonic weapons now that send a wave that can make troops nauseous
 

sponge

Bronze Member
Nov 15, 2012
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Im gonna yea Its a SHARK. ITS A SHARK. ITS A SHARK.
sent from a sending device
 

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SonnyFl

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Remain calm! Keep an eye on it! Start backing up! OR Drop your crap and run on water! :tongue3:
 

TheRingFinder

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There is a guy in South Africa that swims with Great Whites, there's a video out there on the net. He carries some kind of a rod and if they get too close he pokes them . Sharks don't want to fight, they are scavengers - little kids splashing around look like a wounded fish to them..........So, just poke at them with your Excal and you will survive - if you have a Tesoro, you'll probably die as those things are prone to fall apart :laughing7:
 

OBN

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There is a guy in South Africa that swims with Great Whites, there's a video out there on the net. He carries some kind of a rod and if they get too close he pokes them . Sharks don't want to fight, they are scavengers - little kids splashing around look like a wounded fish to them..........So, just poke at them with your Excal and you will survive - if you have a Tesoro, you'll probably die as those things are prone to fall apart :laughing7:


LOL ....... I have yet to be confronted by a sand shark or shark.. seems the old blue don't leave much of a trail...
 

OP
OP
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Sir Gala Clad

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So You are the One!
Reach over and cut the fat guy with the Excalibur II (that I've been following with my Sand Shark), give him a shove toward the shark and start wading to shore yelling "SHARK!"
 

SouthFLdigger

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Guys on 3 occasions i have been approached by sharks in FL, on commercial in FT Lauderdale while snorkeling. They come in to investigate, always have a long stick "shovel" works well i had a spear-gun, and poke them with if they get too close. As someone else said keep a constant eye on them and vacate calmly. If its a bullshark or tiger shark, continue poking away as they approach eyes and nose are sensitive and back away out of the water those two species are a pain in the ass. If you don't see one coming,i rather have a knife on me rather than just harsh language.
 

jyt2017

Hero Member
May 7, 2010
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Stay still make no splash...99% it will pass. I'm on phone check later an post more.
 

WaterWalker

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If Casper dressed as a seal and his knife did not deter the shark - it would me - and it was left up to a WaterWalker, I would pull out my WASP Injector Knife and use it! Just look at what it can do to a WaterMellon at:



WaterWalker would be 1 and shark 0.
 

G.I.B.

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There are two Ninja's with detectors just behind the sharks.

They never saw them... there is your answer grasshopper.

Screen Shot 2015-07-05 at 10.59.16 AM.png
 

sponge

Bronze Member
Nov 15, 2012
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The best defense is to play dead. Float on your back and they will just nudge you a throw your body around like a beach ball. Stay calm and they will move on.

sent from a sending device
 

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