The Puffer Forum

Dove right here 6 years ago & will be going back in October:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-11891450

I'm glad that the public plan is not to kill the shark. Hopefully they actually follow through with that

I'm not afraid of sharks, I'd dive there.

im sure my tude would change upclose with one...but i would like that opportunity,i enjoy the sharks for what they are.definetly not aquarium pet,just beatiful in their space..we are treading on their turf my kill them been around for a long time.i myself would go down in shark cage just to be in their surroundings-just for a bit

Been in the water with sharks off of Marathon Key/Sombraro Reef area. I went in there all brave thinking it would be nothing, I was wrong. They caused such a guttural instinct to flee that was very difficult to not panic and cause commotion. Once that first instinct went away I thought it was the coolest thing I'd ever seen. Later in the week we were fishing off the reef and I hooked a large Barracuda, about 5-6 feet long. I never got to measure it though because as it got to the side of the boat a Black Tip Reef Shark snatched all but about a foot of the head and about tow feet of tail.....I mounted the head and the tail......

CDWS statement update (3 December 2010 14:00): CDWS members and staff conduct exploratory dives along Sharm el Sheikh coast.

On Thursday 2 December two sharks were caught by the South Sinai National Park on the Sharm el Sheikh coast. The National Park is currently studying the results of an autopsy and a detailed study of photographic evidence. No further details have been provided by the South Sinai National Park, headed by Dr Mohammed Salem, with regards to this operation or reasons why the animals could not be relocated to remote waters as was previously suggested.

Recent reports from doctors in Cairo indicate that the condition of the three injured snorkelers - two females from Russia and one male from the Ukraine - remains unchanged. One of the victims is still in a critical condition.

Late on 2 December the Ministry of Tourism ordered the closure of all beaches and dive sites along the Sharm el Sheikh coastline, with the exception of Ras Mohamed National park on Friday 3 December.

CDWS has monitored the situation closely and will continue to work with shark experts and authorities to determine why the three attacks happened. CDWS chairman Hesham Gabr highlighting is echoing his previous statement that people should remain calm and that this was an extremely rare incident.

CDWS would like to clearly state that as an organisation it does not wish to see any harm to any further sharks. Therefore, Hesham Gabr highlighting acquired the approval of both the Minister of Tourism and the Governor of South Sinai to allow exploratory dives to take place today, Friday 3 December, where photographic evidence and details of any sightings can be recorded and reported back to the Ministry of Tourism.

At this time, six groups are currently in the water, each with two photographers, monitoring an area from Near Garden, Naama Bay to Ras Nasrani, Nabq. It is hoped that as a result of these exploratory dives, CDWS will report the dive sites safe and advise the Ministry of Tourism to declare the area open to divers, snorkelers and bathers tomorrow, Saturday 4 December.

Mr Gabr: 'This incident has clearly shocked our community and the CDWS is continuing its investigation into why this may have happened. It is clear from our initial discussions with shark behavioural experts that this highly unusual spate of attacks by an oceanic white tip shark was triggered by an activity, most probably illegal fishing or feeding in the area. Once again, our thoughts go out the victims and their families at this time.'

People I know live in Sharm and have confirmed that so far two sharks, one Oceanic White Tip and one Mako, have been caught and killed. Autopsies will be performed to see if they are the fish involved in the incidents.

Tourism is the main source of income in the area so authorities will do whatever it takes to make people feel safe. Whether that be temporarily closing dive operations and beaches or killing numerous sharks, they will do it.

In the area where diving is still allowed there have been several sightings of Oceanics but they have not approached the divers.

I have dived in Sharm many times and have also done liveaboards in the Red Sea and dived with Oceanics there. It is an easy way to go through a lot of air while scuba diving! Absolutely amazing though and I didn't feel threatened at all. In fact, I am very much looking forward to my next trip there, a Northern Wrecks and Reefs liveaboard in February.