No need for any of that pepper....I 100% understand and respect treasurehunters position. I also respect all his Florida heritage and past. He's very right in saying it's unlikely to be attacked by sharks, and much more likely to be killed in a car crash than by a shark. I was almost killed in a car crash in the Bahamas, coming home from the beach !! So I understand....trust me !!
I myself also understand that by circumstances alone my chances of being attacked are much greater than the average!! What I disagree with is the whole "odds" game quoted so casually as fact here in this thread ?? Through out the thread this number of four million to one odds has been bantered around as fact ..... without knowing the math problem behind the number, and how that calculation is reached, well then I don't know where I fit into the equation/food chain ??
As you can see from a brief search....these plug in numbers of the math problem, and the wording of the sentence make a huge difference. Right away one source says 11 million to one, and another says 3.7 million to one.....obviously there are differences in data being collected, or the plug in equation numbers are vastly different or the equations are calculated with different data points....I don't know ? A difference of 7+million to one odds is huge, and that number error alone is almost 2 X greater than what was quoted here in this thread that I authored. Because this is such a great discrepancy, and because I don't know what data is being used, I disagree with it being used here. The term beach and shallow water naturally denotes that we are interacting in an environment that increases your chances of attack from sharks. So I have to now start to assess my own personal odds of being attacked and any general odds numbers I have to assume don't encapsulate the beach and shallow water hunters who practice this hobby at a high level....because....we interact in an environmental situation that increases those odds inherently!! This is also why I chuckled at treasurehunters comment about "holding up the sand scoop in a thunderstorm and lightning strikes" if the odds are 1/15000, then you are increasing your odds by what factor by holding up that scoop ??
3 people in this thread alone have been attacked....only one in this thread made the news, and it was brief and short. Just the 3 of us here in this thread throw the whole odds game into question..... what constitutes an attack, and are all attacks counted in this odds making calculations....do you have to lose a limb, or die, and how many countries participate in this calculation ?? I've been attacked in my view 3 times....I only escaped being bitten by quick reflexes, and 110% situational awareness...hyper focus is necessary to survive this. I was only able to escape injury twice, and the third time I was grazed by teeth that left a nice 2 inch long laceration in my arm. So right away 4 million to one odds don't apply to me, or probably anyone else in this forum that get in the water like I do (as much) and I'm not counting other bumps, nudges, and thumps I suspect might have been sharks !! So my thought was to have a thread that could be used as a tool to at least be alerted in the shallow water hunting community as to where, and when these attacks are occurring and happening. This could help us plan trips and at the same time know which beaches and shallow water spots should be avoided. An example of higher odds and the importance of getting your own odds worked out is this
If Walton beach has a known population of bull sharks migrating along the shallow water, and 3 people get attacked in a day....well the 4 million to one odds are out the window at this point, and I would recommend not going in there because your "odds of being attacked are much greater than 4 million to one ..... aren't they ? So that's my disagreement with treasurehunters quoting of the odds !! Those odds are not relevant to me, and especially others here in this forum....the forum name alone denotes a higher chance of shark interaction just by association with the term beach and shallow water. This thread means alot to me in the fact that I am a shark expert, and have worked with many top researchers tagging, tracking, catching, and dissecting these animals for 20 +years....the numbers are taken from us on research trips, and I Guage my expertise level by how many other experts seek out my opinion on matters concerning sharks....there's no piece of paper or a plaque that says bonifide certified shark expert...the title is given to you by people that have DR. behind there name or you call them professor....when those people want your opinion your an expert....even with the expert opinions there can be a 7 million to one discrepancy in numbers ?? So this is why I disagree with posting odds.....if you work in the sea like me as a fisherman, spearfish, shell dive, snorkel guide, scuba dive, treasuredive, and generally get in the ocean 2-4 times a week....the odds game is constantly being considered, and not just for sharks....jelly fish, sea lice, barracuda, moray eel, sea urchins, fire coral, man o war, bristle worms Etc. Etc. Etc...
I would hate to give out odds that can't be verified or confirmed as hard data on a thread I authored....that's why I disagree .... no offense towards treasurehunter, and I'm always trying hard to get my point across in any disagreement....the word cordial, and the word disagreement are tough to use together, but I will remain respectful, polite, and courteous....as always.