The sharks are there to eat fish, not people.

You are far more likely to get run over crossing the road in Sharm, even if you look both ways, then you are being attacked by a shark.

Sharks are amazing creatures who deserve our respect rather than fear, it can be as exhilirating swimming with sharks as it is with dolphins, turtles or whatever else.

So my advice to you is go to Sharm, make bubbles and hopefully you will be lucky enough to see one of these magnificent creatures.

Hi Benzonar

Thanks for your reply

I do agree with you they are a magnificent species but sadly one which is feared by most . I do think they can be unpredictable and this is what frightens me. I have swam with dolphins in the past and i found this the best experience ever but im sorry i cant share the same enthusiasm for swimming with sharks as much as id like to. Thank you though i can relax a bit now knowing the chances of me maybe seeing one are slim.


Debs

Debs,

Sharks are generally pretty shy animals, and live to survive. There is little chance of people being attacked by sharks, it's believed that they only attack humans when they confuse them with normal prey (seals etc), which is why surfers are at risk.

The only other time sharks are really interested in when theres blood in the water, they can then be unpredictable.

Rule of thumb in the sea is to stay calm, if your diving and see a shark, enjoy it, dont panic (any sudden movements startle most predators).

All the best

Oh my God Debs

That's my biggest fear!

I had a pm conversation with someone about this some time ago, think it may have been Swiss actually.

I hope I don't see any, stunning creatures though they are, I have no desire to see one.

I was in the Maldives just before Xmas and was snorkelling by the reef about 40-50yds offshore. There were three 4ft black tip reef sharks swimming nearby (sometimes circling us), close enough to see them clearly, but just far enough away to not cause concern. Generally, they tend to keep their distance. Shouldn't be any problem. Just don't get too near to them and they'll leave you alone, they're just inquisitive.
Really there are only 3 types of shark you don't really want to encounter, Tiger, Bull & Great White.

Not scarey at all, huh?

Hi all

I dont mean to alarm you Pippy but i read there were 320 species of shark in the Red Sea :yikes. Now i dont know how genuine this article was but 1 wee shark in the sea frightens me. I did however read today that there usually only 24 shark species your most likely to come across so i guess thats a blessing : . As much as people say dont panic and stay calm im sorry i dont mean to laugh but i got scared in Mexico at the Barracuda and i dont think my ticker could cope seeing jaws in front of me. Maybe something this size would be better.

Thank for all your help everybody

Debs

It's ok Debs, you haven't alarmed me, I already knew there were sharks there, and have heard of a possible attack which allegedly took place last year.

I'm still going snorkelling though!

Nothing will keep me from seeing all those stunning fish

If I may elaborate on Benzonars reply... you more likely to be run over by a car in Sharm than even seeing a shark in the Red Sea !

I have on only two occasions definitely seen a shark in the Red Sea... once back in 1986 off Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and once off Pharoahs Island in around 1995 or 1996. ( That time it was whopper ).

There are supposed to be lots, like there are supposed to be lots of dophins, but the Red Sea is a whopping big, deep sea indeed !

one in six years is one to many, surely if care is taken and as suggested you keep yor distance you will be safe....just dont fancy being a one in six tho

DUH brier what happened to that post????? everyone must think what on earth????

whoa....didnt see that comming

Check this site http://www.scubaradio.com/gsaf/index.cfm
Data is from the Shark Research Institute (INVALID URL it catalogues reported shark attacks in all of 2004. Only 73 incidents and they are all listed by place, injury, activity and type of shark where know. Not all were even by sharks of course.

Only 2 alleged incidents in Egypt. One in Sharm (that's the one Briar refers to I guess) and one in Dahab. Now, I haven't been to Dahab but it isn't far from Nuweiba and the guys at the dive school there told me they haven't seen one in years - a holidaymaker claimed there was a Black tip under the jetty one day while we were there, but no corroboration - I certainly couldn't find it. Some websites suggest the incident in Dahab was a Barracuda...

Oh - incidentally the Shark Research Institute claim 100000000 sharks were killed last year by humans - one for every 60 people - so who should be scared?

That attack in Sharm was the one I'd heard about.

Someone my Mum knows actually saw it happen.

Hi Debs, I have been to the Red Sea 8 times, Sharm 6 times and have never seen a shark despite spending approx. 4 hours per day looking for them (I think I am Kate Aidy! love danger and adventure!) I would love to see one, but having said that I was totaly freaked out in September when suddenly I had a 5 ft. Napoleon 18 inches from my face- and they have a reputation for being super friendly, 100% non-dangerous fish!
Have fun
Love SB xxxx

now am really scared about going into the sea
Four missing after Red Sea dive

The Red Sea is popular with divers from around the world
A search is under way for four divers missing since Saturday in the shark-infested waters of the Red Sea, Egyptian officials have said.


*Merged to existing topic Briar

I'm one of the divers who go there hoping to see sharks. On my last trip which included the area that the divers were lost in I spent over 20 hours in the water on various dives. Guess what, no sharks seen. The encounters with sharks are rare and they are mostly found in the deeper waters wher normal swimmers dont go. You will be in MUCH more danger crossing the roads in Egypt that a shark attack. I know its easy to say it but dont worry, statistically you have more chance of winning the jackpot on the lottery. Enjoy your holiday.

I think this is the story from back in January. Reported, for example, on the BBC News website with just that phrase about "shark-infested waters". Oh, I wish... Would love to see one when I next go diving ni the Red Sea.

I`ve loged more than 50 dives in the Red Sea and I`ve only seen sharks on 3 of those dives twice at the back of Jackson reef and once at Yolanda I keep hoping to see more

We seen two sharks last year which was really lucky as it was October.

Both were seen from a boat, one on a snorkelling trip to Tiran and one just outside Naama Bay on the return journey from Ras Mohammed diving day.

On both occasions the boat crew started shouting about and pointing them out. It was different boats and crew but we got photo's on both ocasions.

We also seen Dolphins and the videographer on the boat had a dvd from a few days earlier of a whale between two boats, she said it was unheared of for whales in the Red sea, especially at that time of year.

Both sharks we seen were Ocianic White tips we were told.

While diving I also seen various turtles & rays.

I suppose I have been very lucky as I've only been twice but I have dived 45 dives over that time most at either Ras Mohammed or Tiran sites.

Gee, I have been soooo looking forward to snorkelling again when returning to El Gouna this year but I dont think I shall be able to go in the water now.