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February 27, 2008
Posted: 08:50 PM ET

Editor’s note: Last weekend, diver Markus Groh died after being gnawed during a shark dive in Bahamian waters.  Rob Stewart is an photographer and documentary filmmaker who has vast experience with sharks.  He is a guest on Wednesday’s 360° at 10p ET.

This is a tragedy that should be thought of as a terrible accident.  It’s the first death in history from any shark diving tourism.

The shark that bit Markus Groh was biting at a box of fish very close to the diver, and when the sand was stirred up and the visibility decreased, the shark bit Markus’ calf instead.

The shark didn’t remove any flesh, and didn’t come back for a secondary bite. That alone shows that the intention of the shark was not to eat him, it was to eat the fish that attracted the shark to the area.

Shark populations have dropped so dramatically that it’s extremely difficult to find sharks underwater without bringing food into the water to attract them.

Hopefully, this incident will not further our fear of these important and threatened animals, and demonstrate that sharks are not predators of people.

Shark diving is still a safe and effective way of changing the public’s view of sharks.

- Rob Stewart, Photographer/Documentary filmmaker

Filed under: Shark Attack


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Cindy   February 27th, 2008 8:59 pm ET

I can’t believe that they were even allowed to take out people on these types of dives! To put food in the water and then let unqualified divers go down in the middle of them feeding is ridiculous! Sharks have a bad enough reputation as is with out some nuts doing junk like this adding to it. I hope they get some serious time for this. And I feel really bad for Markus’ family!

Cynthia, Covington, Ga.

Annie Kate   February 27th, 2008 10:20 pm ET

I’m sorry but its hard to believe that shark diving is a safe pursuit especially if you are bringing food to lure them. I understand your point about the shark not going for the man but for the fish, but I agree with Cindy that untrained people shouldn’t be doing this sort of thing. Whatever happened to glass bottom boats where the passengers can see the sharks without being in the water with them?

Annie Kate
Birmingham AL

Robert - Jakarta   February 27th, 2008 10:41 pm ET

I’m a master diver. Diving should be about the respect of sea life, not its exploitation. If you don’t see a shark on a dive, then you don’t see a shark on a dive.

Diver’s and people not involved in their research should not be baiting sharks just to get a good picture or a nifty experience, nor should they do this for any other sea animal. Respect them from a distance, no touchy-touchy, and no feeding.

This was an “accident” only relative to the experience of those familiar with sharks or this tour operator. But from the common sense perspective, this was no accident.

Robert
Jakarta

Robert - Jakarta   February 27th, 2008 10:45 pm ET

… and to speak about the public’s perceptions of sharks. Sharks are not dangerous. We humans are the danger. When one group that does not respect or understand another group of animals occupy the same space at the same time, unpredicable results occur.

Sharks should not be exploited for food. Sharks should not be feared. Just like a dog, cat, or snake, sharks should be respected and kept at a distance when possible.

Robert
Jakarta

william demarco   February 27th, 2008 11:33 pm ET

humans live on land, we are invading their terrotiry. we should not be in the water as much. its ashame people have lose their life, but its our fault….

Bissel   February 29th, 2008 4:30 pm ET

If you intentionally play Russian Roulette, it isn’t an “accident “when the gun discharges every six times. This was sort of like that, only the gun had more chambers. This incident wasn’t a “tragedy,” and it wasn’t an accident. It is normally called “suicide” and t’s predictability is actually quite funny.

I am of reminded of the whole croc hunter thing. People were “shocked, schocked” to hear that some guy um, like died while filming a show callled, like, um, “The World’s Deadliest Sea Creatures.”

John Bantin   February 29th, 2008 5:04 pm ET

So one person has been killed by a shark since shark feeds started, say, fifteen years ago. Can someone tell me how many people have been killed by gunfire in the USA during the same period?
Isn’t it time you people got things into perspective and looked at the REAL problem?

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