Flipper… shark repeller!

Symon — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 06:47:00 +0000

Q: What do you get when you cross Flipper with Jaws?
A: A fish that will bite you in half then save you from drowning.

But seriously folks, as a follow up to my Surfing With Jaws story, I would like to retell the events which happened at a local beach (about 45 minute’s drive from here) in 2004.

Four people were doing lifeguard training about 100 metres off Ocean Beach, Whangarei when they were menaced by a 3 metre great white. Frightening stuff indeed (I wonder if it was the same shark that menaced me? ;-)

Incredibly, a pod of dolphins came to their rescue and surrounded them until they could get to safety. The dolphins ‘herded’ the swimmers to shore, continuously swimming tight circles around them and slapping the water with their tails to scare the predator away, which at times was only a couple of metres from them. The ordeal lasted a lenghty 40 minutes and the group were in no doubt that the dolphins were trying to protect them.

It sounds almost too good to be true doesn’t? Lovable Flipper and his friends protecting man from certain death by Jaws… At the time it made global headlines. What is more startling, is that it isn’t the only time this senario has played out.

In November 2007, Surfer Todd Endris was badly mauled (sharks maul?), by a 12-15 foot shark and was in desperate need of a miracle. I wonder if he prayed, because miraculously a pod of dolphins surrounded him and safely got him to shore, where he was air-lifted to hospital (read the story here).

I have always had a bad attitude towards dolphins. Mainly due to the fact that so many people love them more than unborn children. I guess it’s not the dolphins fault that mankind is so badly misguided.

So in conclusion, I say hooray for Flipper… shark repeller!

Surfing with jaws

Symon — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 07:57:00 +0000

It was the summer of 99… oooo yeah (in my best Bryan Adams voice). Me and my good buddy Les were surfing at Elliots’ beach, Far North, New Zealand. It was a brilliant summer’s day, the waves were small but clean, and I was out the back by myself waiting for the next set (Les was grovelling further in due to his board being too short).

While waiting for the next set I saw a huge form cruise slowly past me, about 10′ away and about 4′ from the water’s surface. It took a couple of seconds for my mind to register what it was… a huge shark, longer than my 9′ longboard (10′-12′ would not be an exaggeration). For a brief moment I was in awe of the creature, until I realised that it looked remarkably like a Great White, and that my legs were in very close proximity to it’s jaws.

Anyone else ever had a terror-rush? It’s something you never forget.

I prayed silently while trying to gently catch a wave in using only my fingers to paddle with. Somehow, I managed to ride in (an angel must have pushed my board ;-). I came up beside Les, who was in wastedeep water, and pointed to the water out yonder. We both saw the shark’s silouette in the oncoming wave… it was a truly awesome sight, albiet for only seconds. Wonder had overtaken fear.

Needless to say, we didn’t go surfing again… that is, at least for a couple of hours.

I’ve read recently that it is not the shark you do see that is dangerous. It is the shark that you don’t see that is dangerous, as sharks use the element of surprise and attack their intended morsel unseen from underneath. So, next time you are out surfing or swimming, remember… if you don’t see a shark, be afraid… be very afraid.

symondrake.com » Sharks

Flipper… shark repeller!

Surfing with jaws