In a message dated 8/1/2002 11:43:04 AM Pacific Daylight Time, AgentOrange05_at_aol.com writes: > What's this "yum yum yellow" theory you are speaking of? > To my understanding the term Yum Yum Yellow was first coined by divers, clad in yellow body or wetsuits. The color originally was developed as an effort to distinguish humans from typical shark prey. Indeed, sharks see fairly well and can distinguish color. However, efforts at camoflage resist success due to the variety of sharks, their feeding habits and the persons activities in the water. Those interested in minimizing encounters with sharks should read scientific periodicals about the sharks common in the area they most often paddle. Avoid the Attack related material ( Summer of the Shark!) as its intention is different from the cold data about the habits and capabilities of sharks local to your paddling adventures. A kayaker has an interesting profile to a shark. It is an side stroking, elongated silhouette that appears to be swimming slowly or weakly compared to other prey. A color matters little as objects at the surface are usually seen in silhouette from below. Thus from the kayakers point of view Yellow is not necessarily an attractant to sharks. The profile is far more stimulating than the color in silhouette. One shark in particular, the Great White, most often strikes from below and behind. they have good daytime vision, owing to the high density of cone receptors in their retina. They are not attracted to visual shapes that do not suggest typical prey, such as squares, triangles, etc. Unfortunately for shortboard surfers, their boards, regardless of color, appeal lustily to the Great White. They look very similar to Elephant seals, their favorite prey. They have been known to attack kayaks off the California coast, though very, very few of them. Number one on the shark vs human interaction list is surfers. From there it is a long list of water sports enthusiasts til you get to kayaker. (Read American Scientist: Volume 82; 1994, March-April; The Predatory Behavior of the White Shark, by Dr. Peter Klimley.) Hanging out in warm water estuaries is a great way to be bumped by a shark. My wife was bumped 2 or 3 times in the 10,000 islands area of Florida. Murky water transmits color very poorly, though the hulls of both our kayaks are black. Activity has a lot to do with attacks, color very little. While we are on the reflective tape thread, be advised that barracuda and sharks love bright flashes. If you are a tropical or subtropical paddler with reflective tape installed on your paddle blades you might be attracting undesired undersea company. Reflective tape flashes might have the appearance of the sun's reflection of fishes fusilage or scales. I once entertained a 5 foot barracuda while diving as he or she was intrigued by a very polished stainless steel watch. I took the watch off and buried it in my wetsuit, never to take it to the water again. Have fun, Rob G *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Rob, Your reply is way too long to reproduce but hits the major points of shark behavior as I know it. Fortunately second hand. Any object will take on the appearance of its basic shape when seen from below, underwater. Dark against sunlit silver. We do look like big seals, or sea elephants if you prefer, with a serious propulsion problem. By virtue of the size, 16 to 20 feet we may have a slight advantage but I'm reminded of the story of a double found off Monterey, CA with no occupants and a VERY large shark bite. When? what? no one knows but it is a spooky tale around the campfire. And if you trail a big silver lure be aware, your dinner may just may have the same idea about you. Kevin *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
on 3/8/02 2:20 AM, knelson_at_actionpoint.com at knelson_at_actionpoint.com wrote: > Any object will take on the appearance of its basic shape when seen from > below, underwater. Dark against sunlit silver. We do look like big seals, > or sea elephants if you prefer, with a serious propulsion problem. By > virtue of the size, 16 to 20 feet we may have a slight advantage but I'm > reminded of the story of a double found off Monterey, CA with no occupants > and a VERY large shark bite. When? what? no one knows but it is a spooky > tale around the campfire. Kevin About 5 years ago off Cottesloe Beach Western Australia 2 guys were paddling a double surfski one morning when a Great White came out of nowhere and latched onto the front of the surfski just in front of the foot peddles. The bite missed the guys foot by about 2 inches. The 2 guys were knocked into the water and while the shark was still chewing on the ski another couple towed them to shore. By the size of the bite the shark was in the 18-20 foot range. Cheers Colin *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I haven't followed this thread but I hope y'all don't seriously think that the color yellow attracts Great White sharks. Sid Taylor *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
From: knelson_at_actionpoint.com > or sea elephants if you prefer, with a serious propulsion problem. By > virtue of the size, 16 to 20 feet we may have a slight advantage but I'm > reminded of the story of a double found off Monterey, CA with no occupants > and a VERY large shark bite. When? what? no one knows but it is a spooky > tale around the campfire. Reminds me of the headless horseman, the severed arm stuck in the car window, the killer scarecrow on the loose in the night. What's a good campfire without a good monster story? :-) Jackie (pumpkinhead is a good one, too) *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
My favorite scary story is of my mother in law vacationing with us at Disney. She got a room next to ours with an adjoining door that never closed. I still get chills................... Jim et al > >but I'm reminded of the story of a double found off Monterey, CA with no occupants > > and a VERY large shark bite. When? what? no one knows but it is a spooky > > tale around the campfire. > > > Reminds me of the headless horseman, the severed arm stuck in the car window, > the killer scarecrow on the loose in the night. > > What's a good campfire without a good monster story? > > :-) > > Jackie (pumpkinhead is a good one, too) *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Hi Colin, I remember the first dive I was on when I saw my first shark. I was 14, and even though it was not dangerous it surprised me. I think I must have sucked 3/4 s of the tank down in 1 breath! Man...............something starts chomping down on MY boat..............I won't need a paddle, I'll be the guy running on water. Kevin Kevin About 5 years ago off Cottesloe Beach Western Australia 2 guys were paddling a double surfski one morning when a Great White came out of nowhere and latched onto the front of the surfski just in front of the foot peddles. The bite missed the guys foot by about 2 inches. The 2 guys were knocked into the water and while the shark was still chewing on the ski another couple towed them to shore. By the size of the bite the shark was in the 18-20 foot range. Cheers Colin *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Kevin wrote: <SNIP>>>>> By virtue of the size, 16 to 20 feet we may have a slight advantage but I'm reminded of the story of a double found off Monterey, CA with no occupants and a VERY large shark bite. When? what? no one knows but it is a spooky tale around the campfire.<<<<<<SNIP> I don't think I've heard of this one. I'm wondering if it isn't really a mis-retelling and combining of other incidents, one off of Santa Barbara (the other near Monterey-see "Deep Trouble"). Two paddlers in two fiberglass sit-on-top kayaks were missing off of Santa Barbara. One kayak was found with the bottom caved in (the other was tied to it). The woman's body was found with numerous small shark bites on it obscuring one larger bite to the extent that the species of shark that had made it was not identifiable. The man was never found. Speculation was that they had been attacked by a shark but since no one saw what happened we can't be sure of that. Interestingly today a personal post from South Africa had the following sentence in it: "PS: We recently had a 5-6m great white buzz/attack 4 paddlers in yellow and orange plastic sit-in Prijon kayaks". Matt Broze http://www.marinerkayaks.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
wrote: " I don't think I've heard of this one.I'm wondering if it isn't really a mis-retelling and combining of other incidents, one off of Santa Barbara (the other near Monterey-see "Deep Trouble"). Two paddlers in two fiberglass sit-on-top kayaks were missing off of Santa Barbara. One kayak was found with the bottom caved in (the other was tied to it). The woman's body was found with numerous small shark bites on it obscuring one larger bite to the extent that the species of shark that had made it was not identifiable. The man was never found. Speculation was that they had been attacked by a shark but since no one saw what happened we can't be sure of that. Interestingly today a personal post from South Africa had the following sentence in it: "PS: We recently had a 5-6m great white buzz/attack 4 paddlers in yellow and orange plastic sit-in Prijon kayaks"." I don't think you can be entirely sure of this either, hence the spooky tale comment. I've never read it anywhere. It's been related to me by a number of individuals in the area and I'm sure I heard it in a local newscast, which make it all the more suspect.The shark accounts in Deep Trouble are all too graphic thanks. Did I mention the time I had to fight off a Kraken with only my paddle? Kevin *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 8/7/2002 6:21:08 AM Pacific Daylight Time, mkayaks_at_oz.net writes: > Two paddlers in two > fiberglass sit-on-top kayaks were missing off of Santa Barbara. One kayak > was found with the bottom caved in (the other was tied to it). Matt, The last two shark fatalities for Santa Barbara were 1994. Does this jibe with your info? See the address: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Sharks/Statistics/GAttack/mapCA.htm "We recently had a 5-6m great white buzz/attack 4 paddlers in yellow and orange plastic sit-in Prijon kayaks". I have an orange Prijon river boat...does...this...mean...? Rob G *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> From: Rcgibbert_at_aol.com > In a message dated 8/7/2002 6:21:08 AM Pacific Daylight Time, mkayaks_at_oz.net > writes: > > > > Two paddlers in two > > fiberglass sit-on-top kayaks were missing off of Santa Barbara. One kayak > > was found with the bottom caved in (the other was tied to it). > > Matt, > The last two shark fatalities for Santa Barbara were 1994. Does this jibe > with your info? > > See the address: > http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Sharks/Statistics/GAttack/mapCA.htm This is pretty interesting. I think Matt is referring to the same attack I mentioned in my previous post because they were paddling two white fiberglass sit-on-tops and this occurred in 1989. I notice that in your above graph only *one* fatality is now mentioned for 1989 but does not state who or what on that graph. I believe that is Tamara McAllister. At any rate, it appears Dr. Burgess has at least removed one of the two kayakers from that incident report (he did state in his earlier message to me that adding body counts without a body or witnesses is not what he usually does in his count though he had done so in the McAllister/Stoddard case). Wooo hooo! Logic rules! This is a fairly recent change in the statistics for 1989, I believe. As for the 1994 incidents near Santa Barbara, I don't think those are sea kayakers. They could be divers. Not sure as I haven't found the graph yet which indicates what activity the victim was involved in at the time. Here's another interesting graph from ISAF: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/Statistics/CAdrownings.htm Cheers, Jackie *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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