Why do sharks ignore divers?
Divers don’t resemble prey: Sharks typically hunt fish or seals, and scuba divers, with their bulky gear and slow movements, don’t look or act like natural prey. Since sharks may have difficulty seeing warmer colours like red or yellow, these colours would not attract them, unlike other marine animals that might be drawn to more vibrant colours. Blue and green are more easily visible to sharks, especially in deeper waters, where they are still discernible.Often, attacks occur due to mistaken identity—sharks confuse people for their usual prey, such as seals or fish. Scuba divers, with all their gear, bubbles, and slow movements, don’t resemble typical shark prey and are not an attractive target.Sharks are attracted to high-contrast colours rather than specific hues. Bright, contrasting colours like yellow, white, and neon shades stand out in the water, especially in murky conditions. This visual contrast makes these colours more noticeable to sharks, potentially drawing their attention.
What kills free divers?
The victim of hypoxic blackout may have been seen to be hyperventilating before the dive, and typically the blackout will have occurred some time after immersion, often without surfacing, and usually close to the surface. The victim is subsequently found unconscious or dead at the bottom of the water. While there’s no precise depth at which a human would be ‘crushed’, diving beyond certain limits (around 60 meters) without proper equipment and gas mixes can lead to serious health issues due to the pressure effects on the body, including nitrogen narcosis and oxygen toxicity.The Golden Rule: Never Dive Alone One of the biggest take-home messages we are informed of is “never dive alone. Shallow water blackout is a potentially fatal outcome while freediving, and if you don’t have a buddy to rescue you, the event will likely end in death.Some recreational divers have descended to depths of 1,000 feet and beyond and survived the experience without any problems. However, the biggest concern is getting crushed from the increasing weight of the water. The water pressure can suffocate you to death if you don’t take precautions.