There were two shark accidents in this past month of October 2015. However, shark accidents are rare and there are reasons why a shark would be caught in an accident, according to Juan Oliphant, a shark conservationist, photographer and co-owner of One Ocean Diving Company, a shark research and conservation company.
Of all the species of sharks in the sea, there are three that are known to have attacked people: Tiger, white, and bull shark. While bull sharks don’t live in Hawaii, and great white sharks are rarely seen, tigers are native to Hawaii and keep the ecosystem healthy, said Oliphant.
“Tiger sharks are designed to eat things that are sick, dead, and dying,” explained Oliphant. “People aren’t a food source. They are designed to eat everything else in the water, except for us.”
“Sharks have no interest in us at all,” said Gavin Nuttall, a junior studying biology from California, who said sharks may be curious to see what a swimmer is. Because of his fear of sharks, Nuttall said he decided to learn all about them so they would not be so terrifying to him.
There is a unique reason for every shark to be caught in an accident, said Oliphant, but usually there is a food source in the area the humans are swimming in. There also may be something dead in the reefs and a shark will be looking to eat that.
Sharks are necessary for a healthy ocean. “Sharks are a keystone predator. Without sharks, the ocean would die,” said Kenzie Painter, a junior studying marine biology from Utah. She said without sharks to mediate and control certain species, there would be a boom in that population and reefs would be wiped clean.
Oliphant said he views the shark accident that occurred on the North Shore on Oct. 9, as a success story because learning about shark behavior can save human lives. Oliphant personally knew one of the witnesses at the shark accident, having met the man on a pelagic dive, and helped educate him on shark behavior.
“He saw Colin [the surfer] get bit and went to save him. He felt like he was empowered because he knew sharks... and went to rescue him unlike other surfers,” said Oliphant. “If Colin had to swim in on his own, he would be dead because with a wound like that, there was no way he was going to make it without hurting himself.”
Accidents with cars, deer, vending machines, and coconuts kill more people than sharks do, according to multiple sources. However, statistics show that most shark accidents happen in the month of October, shared Oliphant.
Carl Meyer, a leading researcher of tiger sharks, proposed a theory that this could be because October is the birthing season for tiger sharks. After tiger sharks have given birth and haven’t fed in so long, they are on the verge of starvation and have to eat fast to survive. Sharks are also very shy animals.
The One Ocean Diving Company sees a majority of sandbar and Galapagos sharks, with the occasional brave tiger approaching. “It's hard to get them to come in closer and we have to work hard to earn their trust,” said Oliphant. “Cautiousness saves them.”
There are many other types of sharks that swim in the waters of Hawaii, and a common one for snorkelers and divers to interact with are white tip reef sharks, said Oliphant. These sharks tend to stay in shallower areas, being cautious and hiding in caves. Hammerheads are common to Hawaii but are endangered just as tigers are, and not as likely to be seen. “Most people only know the scary sharks, but there are a lot of different varieties,” said Nuttall.
He said beyond Hawaii, there are nurse sharks, angel sharks that lie on the bottom of the ocean, and a Greenland shark that is the same size as a great white, but never attacks people. Just as humans have their own personality, every tiger shark has its own disposition and behavioral pattern.
“For me, I’ve noticed that they are a little bit more aggressive and assertive younger,” said Oliphant. “The older ones are more relaxed and more cautious.”
One behavioral pattern of tiger sharks is the checking pattern, where the shark will come in and come out, shared Oliphant. This is usually to claim dominance in an area, and if this is seen, it's usually better to give the shark some space and get out of the water. “It’s not worth it to stay and surf in an area where a shark has been seen. Get out of the area and give it what it really wants in the area.”
If a diver sees this, it is usually better to swim backwards and keep eye contact with the shark. Despite the stereotype of great white sharks, they are known to keep their distance and be wary of humans, said Oliphant.
Bigger and more mature whites patrol a larger area in the ocean, and will usually avoid humans because they know they are dangerous. These sharks will also keep more juvenile sharks away. “They know what’s a food item and what’s not a food item,” said Oliphant. Tiger sharks are meant to keep the ecosystem healthy by eating the dead or diseased.
Oliphant explained a test done that showed the food preferences of tiger sharks. Three different food items were provided: a live fish on a line, a dead fish, and a nasty and rotted fish. Tigers were shown to choose the nasty rotted fish rather than the other options. “Tiger sharks want things that are dead. That’s what they are designed to do,” said Oliphant.
The low amount of sharks tracked by Carl Meyer show the ecosystem in Hawaii is far from healthy, said Oliphant. Sharks are not likely to attack people, but there are still preventative measures to ensure that sharks won’t attack you. Oliphant said, “Always surf with a partner, and choose a better time in the day to surf.” Sharks are less likely to harass a pack of people than they are to attack a lone figure.
Stay clear of surfing in dirty or murky water, because tiger sharks like to hunt in dirtier water. To ensure safety while swimming, be sure to wear a mask and fins. With these, swimmers will be able to see what is coming or around, as tiger sharks are slow to approach and more timid with eye contact. With goggles, looking around more in the water and staying close to shore in clear water is safer, said Oliphant.