Replies

I formerly owned and operated a 65 foot live aboard dive boat out of Palm Beach. I ran diving charters to the same areas as the Shearwater and I used to Captain that boat as well, prior to Jim Abernathy’s ownership. I have been on many, many shark dives and have been pursued by aggressive sharks frequently. It can easily happen when you add spearfishing or chum and bait to the equation. Of all the shark species, none is more aggressive than the Bull Shark. Discovery Channel correctly reported it on the list of the top ten most dangerous sharks as number 1. The only other shark that comes close is the Great White and people just don’t spend as much time in their enviornment as they do with the Bull Sharks of temperate waters.
As I indicated, I think Captain Abernathy is a highly experienced operator, and this is certainly a regretable tragedy, but setting up shark dive sites all over the Bahamas is not in the best interest of divers or sharks.