Mar 13 2009
Diver Fights and Kills 12 ft. Tiger Shark (Photos & Video)
Diver Craig Clasen grapples with a 12ft tiger shark to protect a friend
Craig Clasen was hunting yellow fin tuna with fellow fisherman Cameron Kirkconnell, photographer D.J Struntz (DJ Strunz’s portfolio) and film maker Ryan McInnis in the Gulf of Mexico when a 12 ft. Tiger Shark aggressively approached and circled Ryan McInnis in deep waters south of the Mississippi River’s mouth. Regarded by many as two of the world’s best free diving spearfishermen, Craig and Cameron have come into contact with thousands of sharks.
Craig Clasen immediately swam to his friend with his spear gun.
‘I positioned myself between Ryan and the shark and I tried to watch it for a second, hoping it would pass us by,’ explained 32-year-old Mr Clasen.
‘I noticed that the shark was getting tighter and tighter and just kept trying to get a back angle on us and behaving in an aggressive manner.
‘The shark made a roll and looked like it was going to charge us so I just went ahead and took the conservative route and put a shaft through its gills.
‘Cameron and I have been around sharks for years and we all have a lot of experience with them but this encounter had a different feel to it.
‘Down in my core I really felt the shark was there to feed. I didn’t want it to come to that.’
Craig spent nearly two hours wrestling with the giant 12ft shark, spearing it seven times and even attempting to drown the beast before eventually finishing it off with a long blade knife.
Craig Clasen uses his knife to kill a 12 ft. Tiger Shark
‘Once I shot it in the gills I felt a moral obligation to finish the job,’ says Craig.
‘I didn’t want it to go on any longer than it had to. I shot the fish like I would do any other fish and worked it up closer and did my best to kill it as humanely as possible.
‘I speared it in the gills which I knew would kill it and from that I tried to put a shaft into its brain as quickly as possible.
‘I shot it six times in the head with a spear and I wasn’t having much luck – it was a slow drawn out process.
‘Sharks are so resilient and so tough from millions of years of evolution they are just survivors.
‘The best way and quickest way to finish the job and kill the shark and recover it was to get a rope around its tail, drag it from the back of the boat and attempt to drown it.
‘In the end we had put a knife its skull once I got lose enough to it and use a long blade knife even after trying to drown it.’
Story at DailyMail.co.uk Transworld Surf
UPDATE:
When I wrote this post over a year ago, I had no idea it would garner such a big reaction and so strong opinions. Ryan McInnis, the photographer at the incident, recently discovered the post and left a comment and his reaction. As for everyone else, please keep it civil. I will delete any flame comments, so far I’ve had to delete multiple comments. Ryan, thanks for your comment and for clarifying the story.
Here’s Ryan’s comment reprinted from below:
Wow… I stumbled across this thread today and am amazed that 2 years after the incident there is still discussion about it. I’ll try to be brief:
- Spearfishing is the most ethical and sustainable way to provide seafood for oneself. We were there to take tuna and wahoo.
- We were also there to capture video and images of a new product line for a company. Businesses need promotional material of their gear in action.
- There was a combined 100 years of ocean experience in the water at the time this happened. 2 of us are from North Carolina where sharks are present on EVERY dive. I personally have spent hours outside a cage with big great whites. In other words, we know sharks.
- Our boat was over 50 yards away when this happened, getting out of the water would have been the first option of course. But this event happened faster than the boat could get to us, and swimming away from an aggressive sharks is the last option.
- Once the decision had been made and the first shot fired (which was a mortal shot), there was no other choice but to finish the fish. They are tough and yes it took many more shots to end the struggle. We took pictures and video because the initial danger was over.
- The mood was more than somber and the event cast a dark shadow on what was otherwise a great trip. Killing a shark is an awful thing, and this was the first time in all of our years that it had been necessary.
- One of us was working on a story with Outside Magazine, they ran a photo as ‘what you hope never happens’… then the national media caught it (10 months later) and before we knew it wild rumors and lies about the event began to spread.
And here I am today, still trying to explain why this happened. What got lost in all of this is that I was nearly attacked by a fish twice my size and my buddy came to my rescue. It’s no different than a grizzly bear in Alaska being shot for charging a hiker. It’s terrible but it’s part of sharing the outdoors with the natural residents.
We don’t hate sharks but we do love spearfishing. We did not benefit from this event at all, quite the opposite.
RM, underwater videographer
Holy. Crap.
[...] Craig spent nearly two hours wrestling with the giant 12ft shark, spearing it seven times and even attempting to drown the beast before eventually finishing it off with a long blade knife. (Rest of the story at SurfThereNow.com) [...]
Poor guy ! what a small penis you should have to proove your virility like that. You’re not a freediver, man… just trying to be celeb..
Did it ever occur to you to just simply get out of the water? Maybe your brains are smaller than the sharks! I mostly observe from this video that you are a threat.
Extremely brave fight, extremely good fotos, very well done,
Congratulations from Germany
These sharks attack humans all the time and what good do they do? what is the reason for their existing really? Kill them all !sharks that is
I am a diver, fisherman and a surfer I dont like sharks, but I have a respect for them. Now if you have a shark getting aggressive the first thing you do is to POKE him with your spear tip in the side or on the nose and at least give him a chance of leaving before completely murdering a live animal for no use other than for show (literally)
Never once mentioned it so you lost all my respect.
This was set up…the guy is a twat!
why not let guys just leave tiger shark alone then go back to boat and come back later so tiger shark wont be back. why continued to fight these shark that was silly. just swim and let tiger shark go. or iw as wrong. tiger shark kept coming for hunting. oh well! i feel bad tiger shark was died. i think he was ego as record.
Absolutely DISGUSTING this really pisses me off
This was a total uneccesary killing its seems they got some great video and pictures they must of been really scared that they all stayed in the water while this monster was trying to eat them
WHAT A CROC
I believe the real story is they see a Tiger Shark and think wow lets all shoot it and you mate take the photos while we Murder it we will be superstars.
What you really are are is a disgrace to the dive industry
If you look at where the spears are in the shark they are all shot from above the shark directly down on the sharks head meaning they were free diving down.
You could of easily left the water with each one of you covering the other if it was so aggressive.
The you just tossed it back into the sea I hope one day you meet your demise in a similar disgusting manner.
Ive had my rant
Gaz Cooper
DiveBelize.com
If you ever come my way, then we will see what kind of a fighter you are Mr. Craigpussyclasenfart !
I will put my fist up u’r ass and rip u’r tongue out and use it as a bait for the shark’s , and when they’r finished with it, they can have the rest of you cocksucking motherfucker !
This was a horrible thing to watch, I felt like I was watching the old “Blue Water, White Death” video from the 1970′s with Rodney Fox. Mind you years later he feels horrible for the number of sharks that were murdered out of anger after the attack on him by a Great White during a apear fishing tournament. Just goes to show that many humans still have no respect when they are in someone else’s backyard. What a shameful way to call yourself a “hero”….and as for Cathie..killing all the sharks would eventually kill all of us, you should do your research before you say something so ridiculous, they help keep the oceans that we pollute cleaner by eating dead or dying fish and mammals..
Tool! I wish the thing bit your big head off!
[...] Check out the STAB interview with the photographer DJ Struntz Read more about the news report at surftherenow.com [...]
it´s really a pity that the “brave” man
2nd attempt:
not the existence of these marvellous creature shark is a pity, but that of such “brave” men as this stupid diver…
to the poster Cathie who wrote:”These sharks attack humans all the time and what good do they do? what is the reason for their existing really? Kill them all !sharks that is”
Please rent “Sharkwater” it sheds a lot of light on this very ignorant pint of view. Yes, Jaws was a classic FICTIONAL movie. Sharks weren’t put on this planet to hunt down humans. We’re doing a pretty good job of that on our own. It must be pretty lonely up there on your pedistool.
There’s a reason why they’ve been on this planet much much longer than us and they shouldn’t be hunted down to extinction.
Crocodiles and Alligators kill more humans in a year than sharks have in 10. Yet, they are protected. I think killing off ALL sharks will cause a dramatic shift in the oceans.
I want to see PETA get on this case. That is an inhumane way to kill a shark and those divers should be ashamed of themselves. It is not bravery, it is an act of barbarian.
The shark was speared and killed. Why does anyone care? It is one less potential man killer in the ocean. Excellent. You bleeding heart shark freaks need to get speared too.
sharks being hunted to extinction is a bold statement; there is no good way to estimate the number of sharks worldwide. Humans are now able to catch an enormous quantity of fish. It would be difficult to disrupt the ocean ecosystem by killing the occasional aggressive shark. Besides, killing sharks is fun.
It is so unfortunate to read such ignorant comments and learn that people have such little respect for our planet and its creatures. These are the kind of people who are responsible for our current environmental perdicament – crisis, really. These ignorant, uneducated fools are not fortunate enough to experience the nature in which we live. They are too busy stuffing their faces, watching TV, and driving SUVs. As for the divers, they know what they did was wrong but care more about being on television. Typical. These other comments about the sharks being useless, those bother me more. Tell me this, Did you people even graduate from high school?
If anybody actually beleives this does not have a very good head on their shoulders. the shark looks like it was drugged up. i highly doubt they would have video taped it if their lives were truely in danger. they have no right to be in the ocean period. no reason to kill the shark. after one shot of a spear gun, knife, even a fist to the nose 99% of the time a shark would most likley turn tail and run. so to this i say to you..GOOD JOB DOUCHE DOUCHINGTON.
why dont yall dumbasses just leave the man alone he was defending his friend wat would yall do if yall was in his shoes give him a break
[...] Diver Fights and Kills 12 ft. Tiger Shark (Photos) [...]
FUck these guys, they are not divers, their murderers, im only 17 and know enough to know these guys are fakes
the spears are shot from above, the sharks could not have been that threatening, FAKES
I never heard of a sharko invading cribs and taking out humans..
“he was defending his friend”… who had the TIME & COMPOSURE to miraculously PULL OUT A DIGICAM & fire off several photos & a video sequence!? WTF?! what kook weekend-warrior can believe himself worth the air he breathes dressing up in a camo dive suite & planning a hoax ‘mate rescue’, then spearing a tiger shark from above & swimming down to stick in a knife when it’s as good as dead? This is why organisations like PETA & WSPA are becoming more and more present in the legality of what guys like this do when they’re not polishing each other’s knobs.
[...] Diver Fights and Kills 12 ft. Tiger Shark (Photos) [...]
Well well well * I do agree with must of the Common sense PEOPLE ( calling it an inhumane way to kill a shark ) IF THIS WAS THE CASE OF -” IT DIDNT HAPPEN LIKE THAT ” I WAS PROTECTING MY FRIEND**yeah right..! this footage and so called HERO ACT. IS WORST THAN THE LOW BUDGET MOVIES.. THE SHARK ISNT EVEN FIGHTING BACK. DIVER DOESNT EVEN HAVE A SCRATCH. SPEARS ON HIS BACK * PERFECTLY SHOT – on A video I saw , Diver Craig Clasen getting really close to hunt yellow fin tuna ANd HE EVEN STRUGGLED TO HIT THE FISH FROM UP CLOSE. IF YOU GET WHAT I MEAN-
I have never been in the Gulf of Mexico in deep waters south of the Mississippi River’s mouth. NOR free diving spearfishing- but I can definatly tell GAME and just for fun killing….
bullshit. just get out of the water. it’s sad to kill such a creature.
Dude your a douche. How would u like someone killin u for no reason. grow up!
Wow wow wow. Does anyone get so upset when someone catches a shark and eats it. All over the world people eat sharks.I do think they should have kept the shark for food at the least. Most of the posters on this site must be buddist. I do believe in live and let live and they probably appear to be showboating a bit. I think some of the reaction is a little overboard. Do any of you guys eat at QUIZNOS. ESPN mad sharkin fin tournament sponsered by you know who.Yep……..QUIZNOS…… CATCH IT EVERY SUNDAY MORNING. LETS POST SOME REACTIONS TO THAT.
I know quite a bit about sharks…I dive with them too! I’ve come nose to nose with a great white off the coast of San Diego, he was feeding too during a squid run and went about his business. I just got back from Costa Rica from a shark diving expedition, surrounded by dozens of sharks going about their business. I must say, this is the biggest red-neck farse, I have yet witnessed. It is the same “red-neck” related fun like the guy jumping out of helicopters on top of Marlins. This is the type of ignorance that gets a guy notoriety who is probably out of a job, thrillseeking water creatures large enough to spear and perhaps something large and exciting to plunder with a knife.
Alpha males such as this ones, are notorious for hunting and dispatching innocent animals just for fun or to prove their bravery! Gee look at my facebook or myspace, stabbing a small, 12 foot tigger! This looks more like a baby, you wingnutt! You murdered an infant tiger shark and that makes you what? A lil coward man, flexing in a camouflaged suit! I would have liked to see you try your bullshit with a real 25 footer punk! At that point you would have had to slit your own throat to survive the real agony you might have had coming! For all red-neck vigillante, killers out there! Sharks do have a purpose. To dispatch all you rednecks out there in the keys and everywhere else you think you might have some form of ownership near the water’s edge…It’s man that should perish, not the sharks! They’ve suffered enough damage from you bastards!
What a man! If you wanted to look so tough why not face the shark with your bare hands! I think these guys had the option to leave the water. Espescialy with so much experience with sharks.
You are a pathetic loser for killing that shark. You are not a hero.
You are a loser in every aspect of life and killing defenseless animals is your only means of feeling potent. You should kill yourself.
You mother should be ashamed.
just get out of the fucken water you dumbshit
there was a fucken boat next to you
fucken bitch
wow? I am from Vancouver the tree hugging capital of the world, and what I notice about all the people that are so concerned about the environment and the sharks are the ones that are first in line for sushi, and prawns. We are so incredibly pro-environment but at the same so ridiculous in our thought process. It is wonderful to make claims about these free divers and the red neck farse, however maybe instead of burning incense for the shark just remember.. you were not there, secondly,, I would jump in to help my buddy.. and love the shark all you want but why don’t you make the ultimate sacrifice and donate a limb to the cause. Baby shmabby… it is 12 feet long and will eat you.. or your friend. I think these guys could have gotten out of the water.. Yup.. you think .. that is correct … keep thinking.. and work your prosthetic.. support people first… it is a shark.. not a japanese whale killing boat.. wake up.. get out of your SUV.. for second.. what about all the oil drilling platforms.. you think they effect marine habitat.
Free tibet, free tibit..
you idiots
joel: you idiot, i know there is no grammar check here, but please know the difference between Effect and Affect.. sheesh… these divers had absolutely no reason to shoot it. they could have easily gone out of the water. the first part of the video shows the shark looking up at the camera and if the guy filming was truly scared, he would have not been filming so calmly. that is wrong in my eyes. and they know it is wrong in their hearts too. but come on people don’t exaggerate about the loss of this animal. these divers, although they are killing for fame, making them a total shame for the fishing comunity, are hardly AFFECTING the ecosystem at all. so, people if you really give a damn about the ecosystem, try to stop the Japanese. and quit whining. pussies
oh, and chimaeraproject, you are right they do have a purpose, they keep all other fish numbers in check. california had a problem with sea lions not so long ago when sharks were killed too often. sharks maintain a balance in the ocean. eating the weak, the slowest, the unhealthy. that’s how it has been for millions of years. and that’s the way mother nature intended it to be.
so fuck yall
Having just experienced two shark attacks in as many days, I can appreciate the need to do what had to be done. Seems a lot of critics condemn the killing of the shark, but they weren’t there, were they? I had ordinarily docile sharks stalk and attack my spearfishing buddy and me. They wanted our fish bag and would not leave us alone, despite snout pounding and other usually effective deterrants. We were 500 yds from shore, no chance to climb into a boat and options were few. If they had not been satisfied to tear into our catch while we swam away, it would have been rough for us all. My attackers were only 6 foot each, but the damage they might have done either of us divers, even a slight wound, might have been fatal that far from the beach.
Maybe diver-wannabees and animal lovers might want to climb in the water before passing judgment.
the way i see it, this shark was cruising along and you just fucked up his day. Very unimpressive.
And cathie, what are cathie’s good for, i say kill them all…bitch.
Yeah this was totally set up… a shark would never attack him and if it did he should have just let it happen. That is, after all, natural.
After all sharks should never be killed in any circumstance EVER.
Sharks lives are far more important than human lives.
Anybody who claims to have killed a shark in defense is a bald faced liar because there is no such thing as killing a shark in defense.
In fact to preserve shark populations I suggest that we start cutting our wrists and jumping into the shark feeding waters to help them out.
We should also look into putting a shark into office.
I hope I have effectively contributed to the overwhelming amount of moronic responses to this.
Thank you.
Thank you Thad! You just won the discussion! xD
The greatest experience I have ever had was with a 15 foot tiger shark off Kona HI. Just me and one rather big shark. That shark stuck around for at least an hour (there was a little food) swimming within hands reach. It was one of the most gentle awe inspiring moments ever. This shark never had it out for anyone, just like the one in this horrid encounter. Grow some real testicles and use your hands next time.
It wa simpresiv dat u managed 2 kill shark at close range…… after pumpin it full of spears u faggot. U pick a fite wiv sumfin dat hadnt dun nowt 2 u, den act like a hero. (Sarcastic applause). I wish da shark had eaten u
What a dick!! no need for him to do that!!!
he must have no balls and a tiny penis if he felt the need to go and do that to an animal,
I mean if it was getting that serious the first thing a normal human being would do is head back to the boat to safety not stay down there glorifying what they thought was heroism which in my eyes was nothing more than thuggery in its sickest form!
Fuck you losers drop dead!
Wow, Really? To me I think this is cruel.
Like sharks arent getting abundant enough?
Why would you do this to amazing creatures,
We need them and they need us too.
How would you like it if someone just started killing you?
I bet you would hate it wouldnt you? so thats why you should stop. This isn`t fair to the sharks either every time there is an attack more than hundreds of sharks are killed. Maybe you guys should open your eyes and see the stuff thats important in our envirement, Seriously.
Wow, I got a bad feeling seeing this, it really went through me. To see the positions of the spears shows me that it was an really unnecessary kill. It would be ok to self-defend (Who wouldn’t kill to protect yourself ) but it is disgusting to kill just for fun/ fame/ etc.. There is no need for dead sharks as they really keep the oceans clean.
I read somewhere that coconuts which are falling down from palms kill more people in a year than sharks do. Want to kill a threat? Kill Coconuts, not sharks. >_>
You guys need to chill out. It’s easy to watch a video and say what you would have done in the situation, but you have no idea what goes through a person’s mind in the situation. WIth adrenaline going through your system and you honestly believe that your friend is in danger, then yes. Kill the god damn shark. It’s easy to sit at your computer and watch this video and say you would have kept diving and left the shark alone, but you can’t honestly say that. It’s an impulse judgement call, and let me tell you an injured 12 foot shark could still f*ck you up. And to whoever the hell said that they should have just let the shark kill them if they were truly being attacked, f*ck you. If your life is that miserable that you would just let that happen, then okay, you can die. I’m sorry that I (probably a lot like the divers) value my life and have something to live for and would fight to survive by ANY means necessary. If a human came to your house with a gun, you wouldn’t run away, you wouldn’t injure them just enough so they were rendered weak enough to lose their status as a threat. You would eliminate the threat to your life. Don’t f*cking say you wouldn’t. These guys dive often, and they better than any of you can assess the situation and what means are deemed necessary. And as for the guy filming, yeah, people film during WARS where their lives are even more at stake. Him filming a shark attack is far from unbelievable. Shut the f*ck up and stop whining, thanks to him it’s the only way that they are all GUARANTEED to be alive today.
GFY.
P.S. Thad, if it’s such a non issue for humans to kill themselves to you, go ahead if you so lowly value human life. We who can appreciate our lives would like to keep ours, thanks.
I’m am deathly afraid of sharks, but you guys suck!! You were in the sharks domain and you should have respected that and left it alone. It was most likely after the mating squid, and since you spend so much time in the water with sharks you should have known that and left it to its meal in peace. Assholes, you only kill what you eat? You might as well have made shark fin soup… your bite of shark doesn’t count for shit. Stay out of the water.
if the shark was trying to hurt you then why didnt you just swim away or i ams sure the shark got the idea to go away by the time it had god knows how many spears in its head
Discusting!
It is sad to see so much experience go wasting the life of something that could be still alive today. The seas need preservation not this kind of gang ho attention that attracts other spear fishermen to do the same. Next time you are in the backyard of these animals, that have evolved millions of years before us, and are vital to the ecological balance of the seas, take some sort of shark repellent, there are a number of good devices like that, or else use your common sense to redirect the animal even with force, move it away, I do understand that the animal is a apex predator, but we are still on top of the food chain, and our understanding should search for a more peaceful solution.
Hello! I dive, fish, swim and Do other ocean activities. I’ve read alot of comments on this page, and I feel like alot of people who are criticising these divers are silly, and probably never been in that situation before. Yeah, sharks are the best thing of keeping our oceans balanced and flowing, but if your ever in a iffy situation like that and a predator on the top of the food chain is circuling you, and smelling you out, I hope you can swim pretty dam fast, if your planning on swimming away, I mean dolphin fast!
I would have thought that experienced spear fishermen and divers ( who had supposedly been around sharks a lot) would know that spearing a tiger would be the very last thing they should have done. They are dam lucky to have escaped injury. If they had been bitten, no doubt the incident would be reported along the lines of ‘brave divers attacked by killer shark’. I have dived with Tigers before whilst filming them and, although charged and bumped a few times, I have never felt a need to kill one.
If they get a ‘squirrely’ then just back away , keep watching them and return to your boat. You utter muppets.
So, is it just me, or does anyone else notice that the divers killed a fish? Seems to me that killing a fish when you go on trip to kill fish just makes since. I applaud the divers, nice kill.
First of all based of the video the shark did not look like it was acting aggressive towards the divers, so it was the wrong move to kill. I understand that when most people see a shark, especially a tiger shark, it’s scary, but as experienced divers who claim to be around sharks all the time they should have known better and should receive no praise or sympathy for their actions. Second, sharks are valuable for way more than just food, they are used for all kinds of things and it was horrible of them to waste it. I believe that sharks are some of the greatest creatures on the planet and what these guys did was selfish and I can only hope that it haunts them for the rest of their lives.
why does everyone care more about the fish than the divers?
[...] Diver Fights and Kills 12 ft. Tiger Shark (Photos) [...]
fucking idiots
The kind of sharks that are known to attack humans should be annihilated. Disrupting eco-system? Hahahahahahah….. You’d better go back to your high school biology class and learn about the resiliency of autonomous eco-systems. You may wish the eco-system went screwed once sharks are gone, but no, sorry, that won’t happen. Why? The shortest answer is: the man-eating sharks are on top of their food chain, and their role in the eco is next to none when compared to the humans’ fishing activities which have been exploding exponentially through the past century. A couple kinds of sharks going extinct do practically nothing to the global system, except sparing humans from further shark attacks.
Go goggle before you spit out your stinking pseudo-knowledge in eco-biology.
I know sharks are predators but killing them for no reason? That’s bad. I feel sorry for the shark and I hope people would stop hurting creatures that do nothing to you.
Sad enough that the shark was killed, regardless whether the divers felt they had to or not. Even sadder is all the publicity around it. Pictures are all over the Internet, TV interviews…seriously? So three, well, two guys fighting with a shark is newsworthy, but slaughtering somewhere around 70 to 100 Million sharks per year, with potentially devastating effects on the oceans’ ecosystem continues to be completely ignored. The best thing the divers involved could do now is to use their time in the spotlight and draw attention to the real issue, the overfishing and pointless killing of shark as bycatch. Look at Peter Benchley (author of Jaws) who focused on shark conservation in his later years.
This is awful!!!I saw NEMO….so I know fish!
Oh poor shark. I just hope nobody has been hurt in this story – even the shark. But I know what you did was self defense coz we all know that if you didn’t killed the shark, maybe someone has been bitten. Anyways, this picture is not that too good to look at. I pity the poor shark really.
I read your story, and I Know sharks have their place in the enviroment, but if your being presued. you have the right to protect yourself. I’m sry you had to experance that, but I’m glad no one got hurt. The shark is gone, and I hope next time you will be able to make it to your boat, or the shark will just go away. good job.
from: Texas
He shot the shark in the gill for defence then he killed the shark because it is stupid to mortally wound something then let it swim away to die slowly. Read the story before you comment and you won’t look like such a dickhead.
On another note, if these men are barbarians for killing one shark then what about commercial shark fishermen? Have you ever had fish and chips? There’s a good chance you support the slaughter of many more sharks, some of a similar size to this one. Sorry to knock you great righteous people off your high horses.
What kind of pussy would fight a goddamn shark for 2 hours straight?
If you can’t take them out in a few minutes, get out of the water.
HEY did she just say “just turned your camera on because you were documenting this for a commercial.” BUSTED
If that shark was pissed of at you, you probably wouldnt survive.
That being said it takes a badass to stab a shark while in the water.
That shark said “WTF am I being attacked by a HUMAN?”
You only take what you eat? Is that why you wear camouflage scuba gear. Who wears camouflage in the water? Only a soldier.
I agree with Timo,
These divers should be using this opportunity to raise awareness about unnecessary shark killing. If they do, then I believe their story. If they do not, then I do not believe their story.
I am a diver and spear fisherman, and would only shoot a shark if it were truly necessary. My cynical side tells me that they did not get out of the water because of the financial consideration of filming overhead. They stayed too long, even after the shark warned them. It was their greed that put them in a position of having to protect themselves.
The question is: whose rightful territory is it? the natives or the colonists? We have guns the natives do not.
[...] Diver Fights and Kills 12 ft. Tiger Shark (Photos) [...]
The ignorance in some of these posts (thankfully the minority) is saddening. Here’s a fun exercise, switch human and shark (or any other wild animal for that matter) in cathie’s post and see if it is a true statement:
These humans attack sharks all the time and what good do they do? what is the reason for their existing really?
Now a true statement. Removing sharks has many effects, most of which are unknown, but many of which are already being observed. Here’s just one, from a Nat Geo article on Kingman’s reef. Sharks and other apex predators there are about 70% of the biomass — much much higher than on other reefs. There, the population of small reef fish is much smaller because the sharks hunt them. They have found (and observed) a much lower concentration of microbes at Kingman than reef’s where sharks are fished out. These microbes are attributable to the small fish and have been found to be damaging to corals. So you can see removing sharks can be linked to coral bleaching events. And since coral reefs absorb something like 1/3 of the CO2 we release in the atmosphere, there is a very direct effect on everyone. Put simply, eliminating sharks has the potential to drastically reduce the earth’s ability to handle the CO2 we dump into the atmosphere (and unfortunately already has to an extent).
I challenge those viewing sharks and all the fish in the ocean to read Sylvia Earle’s book “The World is Blue: How our Fate and the Ocean’s are One” and after they have become educated, see if they can still say removing sharks will have no consequences.
Shit happens sometimes. Yea lets all do what the (cough fool) Experts say….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pjbH5OuBc4
How sad you all are, you must all be unhappy or something. If it was non aggressive, that’s on them for telling a lie for self gain (none of you were there) Your just a bunch of side line cry baby’s that would bitch if you had two hands full. NO life is worth more then another man. If you feel we don’t belong in the ocean, well you don’t belong on this land ether you hypocrites.
As far as eating meat goes ..I know I know….. You eat just veggies right? So because you can’t hear the scream when you cut or pick your food it’s ok? Are those little vegies not a living thing too? What about all the fish that die in the canals every year to water those veggies? Oh yea …that’s right we all justify our actions, right? Get my point? If it were you , you too would justify what you did. If you had something in your life on Youtube I’m sure people would knock your dick in the dirt also.
So…for the way the story goes…. Good for you to protect your friend. I would hope I too have a friend someday help protect me if I need it. If I have a Cam in my hand I too will try to get some of it on tape.
When you do good, others want to knock you down. When you do bad, they will also knock you down.
Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes they don’t. If you do and they don’t, shut the hell up because when they do and you don’t, you will get the same in return.
As far as removing sharks having no consequences, Please……… Everything that dies has a consequence. What living thing did you kill or eat today? hypocrites.
I’m going to Long John Silvers tonight (fish and chicken) Oh yea and some live veggies too ; ) If you like to eat shark, have some of that also. If you don’t someone else will, that’s a fact Jack.
No matter what you do something will always die for you to live.
May God save us all.
Wow… I stumbled across this thread today and am amazed that 2 years after the incident there is still discussion about it. I’ll try to be brief:
- Spearfishing is the most ethical and sustainable way to provide seafood for oneself. We were there to take tuna and wahoo.
- We were also there to capture video and images of a new product line for a company. Businesses need promotional material of their gear in action.
- There was a combined 100 years of ocean experience in the water at the time this happened. 2 of us are from North Carolina where sharks are present on EVERY dive. I personally have spent hours outside a cage with big great whites. In other words, we know sharks.
- Our boat was over 50 yards away when this happened, getting out of the water would have been the first option of course. But this event happened faster than the boat could get to us, and swimming away from an aggressive sharks is the last option.
- Once the decision had been made and the first shot fired (which was a mortal shot), there was no other choice but to finish the fish. They are tough and yes it took many more shots to end the struggle. We took pictures and video because the initial danger was over.
- The mood was more than somber and the event cast a dark shadow on what was otherwise a great trip. Killing a shark is an awful thing, and this was the first time in all of our years that it had been necessary.
- One of us was working on a story with Outside Magazine, they ran a photo as ‘what you hope never happens’… then the national media caught it (10 months later) and before we knew it wild rumors and lies about the event began to spread.
And here I am today, still trying to explain why this happened. What got lost in all of this is that I was nearly attacked by a fish twice my size and my buddy came to my rescue. It’s no different than a grizzly bear in Alaska being shot for charging a hiker. It’s terrible but it’s part of sharing the outdoors with the natural residents.
We don’t hate sharks but we do love spearfishing. We did not benefit from this event at all, quite the opposite.
RM, underwater videographer
posting the photos and videos questions your real motive for shooting the shark. Is it really self defense or for publicity?
just want to lest you know ,what gos around come around and it will not take that long …….
Hi All! Great posts! I am a spearfisher/freediver, photographer, AND marine biologist… if you are not any of the above, you would not be able to understand the situation these two guys found themselves in FULLY. I actually study Tiger sharks and have spent much time in the water with them. Although given the situation i may have tried to make it back to the boat while fending it off… I can’t truely say because I wasn’t there… A sharks life, vurses two divers… I KNOW they made the correct decision. “hind sight is 20/20″ There are hundreds of murderous fishermen out there killing hundreds of sharks a day, millions a year… This ONE freak and isolated incident is aweful, but not disrespectful or ill-mannered in ANY way! Sorry you guys were put in this situation, I have spent hours and hours in the waters with these gentle creatures… but as beautiful as they are… they are wild… People should not congradulate you for your kill, humor you with their ignorance, or damn you for working as a team and helping each other, but respect you BOTH as freedivers in a bad situation. For those that don’t know… freediving is ALL about respect, calmness, and being one with nature!
[...] Diver Fights and Kills 12 ft. Tiger Shark (Photos) [...]
[...] Diver Fights and Kills 12 ft. Tiger Shark (Photos) [...]
Fact: Tiger Sharks are one of the most aggressive sharks in the waters.
Fact: Circling Sharks do indicate aggression.
Fact: “poking it” to warn it off will definitely insure full on aggression putting yourself in a terrible position.
Fact: Swimming away from aggressive animals usually tends to provoke them.. similar to running from a bear or pit bull.
Fact: The shark can move the distance of a football field when attacking before you can kick your legs and swim 10 yards.
I’ve watched the videos and there is nothing to disprove both the photographer’s story and the actual diver doing the killing.
None of you who are mourning the shark’s death and attacking these two guys has a clue what it’s like to be in that situation. None of you were there to see what they saw prior to the video being created.
I would chose to err on the side of my safety given the same situation. No one wants to kill such a massive creature but sharks are hardwired predators and once they set their brain on a target or it’s prey… it is usually game over for the prey.
Go hug some more trees. There is no shortage of tiger sharks and nearly every attack i’ve seen or treated was from a tiger shark.
You should see what a small one can do in the blink of an eye… and you wanted these guys to turn their backs for a boat 50+ yards away… you would have likely never made it to the boat.
“All life that is taken away, is given back by nature… and when it seems harsh to think this way, think as death only as a part of life”