I spend a lot of time in the Indian ocean and when I hunt I do fairly long aspettos around 2-3minutes. Very often during this period of stillness on the bottom reef sharks swim in very close to me they come right at me until I turn and make eye contact with them and often jerk in surprise. My concern is what happens when I don't see them coming and they are on top of me-are they going to take a probing bite or bump me or what. I know they aren't that aggressive but I know I'm a foreign object lying still on the bottom that they must be curious about. anyone have similar experiences, tips? thanks
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reef sharks and aspetto
- Thread starterholdown
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Thread Status: Hello
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This sounds like an excellent question and I'm curious to hear some inputs from shark experts.
For sure, the aspetto technique was "invented" and developped in an area, the upper Mediterranean, where seeing a shark is a very rare event or, better said, you could dive every day for a lifetime without EVER seeing any shark of any kind, never.
Aspetto in sharky waters must be something make you feel a bit uncomfortable, I imagine.
For sure, the aspetto technique was "invented" and developped in an area, the upper Mediterranean, where seeing a shark is a very rare event or, better said, you could dive every day for a lifetime without EVER seeing any shark of any kind, never.
Aspetto in sharky waters must be something make you feel a bit uncomfortable, I imagine.
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those are long aspettos holdown. i hope you are diving with a buddy. I have a little shark diving experience, in the Galapagos, and in the Bahamas. Once you have seen them and they see you have seen them there is no problem, generally. Its the sneeky ones that cruise up and take and exploratory bite that you should worry about. A buddy on the surface clacking two metal bars together would let you know.
Some reefs are very very aggressive when there is speared fish smell in the water. That is only second hand info on my part as I have never speared with reefs in the area.
Some reefs are very very aggressive when there is speared fish smell in the water. That is only second hand info on my part as I have never speared with reefs in the area.
Hi Holdown,
Here in Mozambique i use mostly two techniques while spearing, one is the drift for its the only way possible of landing fish with strong currents, and the other is Aspetto (or Agachon for the French and Espera for the Spanish and the Portuguese).
Very often, blacktips, greyreefs as well as raggies (nurse sharks) will wonder around and come to check me, and even one or other zambezi (bull shark) does make the once over, but other then that nothing much happens...still while spearing in waters with the presence of sharks it does paid to trow a look behind your back every few seconds just to check the activity, other then that some fish such as GT´s or Jewfish do tend to aproach by behind, so its a good move to keep in mind.
The Aspectto is not just full imobility, some fish do require a litle amount of movement to appeal to their curiosity, amberjacks for instance are a example of that...
So, bottom story, trow a look on your back once in a while while waiting in the bottom and have your buddy watching you...i doubt you will have problems but its just an wealthy advice...
Good spearing to you all...
Here in Mozambique i use mostly two techniques while spearing, one is the drift for its the only way possible of landing fish with strong currents, and the other is Aspetto (or Agachon for the French and Espera for the Spanish and the Portuguese).
Very often, blacktips, greyreefs as well as raggies (nurse sharks) will wonder around and come to check me, and even one or other zambezi (bull shark) does make the once over, but other then that nothing much happens...still while spearing in waters with the presence of sharks it does paid to trow a look behind your back every few seconds just to check the activity, other then that some fish such as GT´s or Jewfish do tend to aproach by behind, so its a good move to keep in mind.
The Aspectto is not just full imobility, some fish do require a litle amount of movement to appeal to their curiosity, amberjacks for instance are a example of that...
So, bottom story, trow a look on your back once in a while while waiting in the bottom and have your buddy watching you...i doubt you will have problems but its just an wealthy advice...
Good spearing to you all...
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I agree with nuno, Sharks fallow their senses and are more than likely picking up on your electro magnetic pulses, and your heart beat. this is why they will come to check you out even if you are laying perfectly still. I would take into consideration what types of sharks you are dealing with. If they are just small reef sharks i.e. white tips, black tips, and so forth not much to worry about. On the other hand bulls, tigers, and whites may be more prone to giving an exploratory bite so just keep aware of your surroundings.
"A buddy on the surface clacking two metal bars together would let you know. "
Yep, but what if the viz is not good enough?
Hi - a comment from Natal (South Africa)
I also do fairly long aspettos (2min) and have not had any major issues with sharks. I have had bull sharks swim over the top of me and swim between the speartip and my hand! I find that provided you are relaxed on the bottom they will not give you an exploratory bite! I have seen hundreds of bull sharks under water and am sure that if they had wanted to I would not be sitting here typing! This is what makes me fairly comfortable around them. I do not take chances and will move spot if I feel that things are getting risky. Perhaps this is because I only dive off a boat and it is easy to move! These bulls have a tendency to sneak up behind you but when you see them they are usually on your fins.
The major concern for you should be their response to you swimming to the surface - I know of a few divers who have had their fins bitten on the way up.
Some of he guys who dive in the Cape reacon that if you see a white you need to get to the surface ASAP and that you do not want the shark to pin you on the bottom.
If you are very worried about sharks, I would suggest you buy a Shark Pod (Freedom 7) - this will keep 99% of the sharks (especially those you need to be concerned about) away.
Dont worry thee are worse things in the sea than sharks!
I also do fairly long aspettos (2min) and have not had any major issues with sharks. I have had bull sharks swim over the top of me and swim between the speartip and my hand! I find that provided you are relaxed on the bottom they will not give you an exploratory bite! I have seen hundreds of bull sharks under water and am sure that if they had wanted to I would not be sitting here typing! This is what makes me fairly comfortable around them. I do not take chances and will move spot if I feel that things are getting risky. Perhaps this is because I only dive off a boat and it is easy to move! These bulls have a tendency to sneak up behind you but when you see them they are usually on your fins.
The major concern for you should be their response to you swimming to the surface - I know of a few divers who have had their fins bitten on the way up.
Some of he guys who dive in the Cape reacon that if you see a white you need to get to the surface ASAP and that you do not want the shark to pin you on the bottom.
If you are very worried about sharks, I would suggest you buy a Shark Pod (Freedom 7) - this will keep 99% of the sharks (especially those you need to be concerned about) away.
Dont worry thee are worse things in the sea than sharks!
cheers guys I appreciate the tips. I've had some meaty bulls give me the once over on the bottom in the Bahamas. I was just curious what other experiences were. The vast majority of the time here in Indo it's just reef sharks, tho the spinner/white tips can be a tit aggro at times. I also only occasionally use a boat and must admit that I carry my fish on a stringer (I know don't say it-but you have to punch through the surf which can be quite heavy here) PLEASE Note the issue I was discussing initially was NOT when I had a fish on my belt-simply fishless and waiting on the bottom. I'm well aware that once theres fish on the belt the whole dynamic changes entirely. Thanks again to all for the input. clear, fishy waters...
I just had a pretty frustrating experience with some local tax collectors yesterday. My buddy and I were diving a spot off West Maui and I noticed a decent sized galapagos shark cruising the bottom. I didnt think much of it at the time. We got into a spot with some large Uku (green jobfish) and were working the area. We couldnt spark the ukus interest so we decided to palu (chum) up a small reef fish. Well guess who took notice then? That galapagos was real ballsy and would not leave us alone for the next hour or so. He would come right up to me on the surface and Id give him a light bump and he would take off, then Id be laying on the bottom and he would come up to me and Id have to bump him again.
This went on for about 45 minutes until my buddy finally shot a good sized uku ~10lbs. He gave the fish a little too much slack and when he finally got it in I dove down to intercept the shark and I guess I was a little too late. That shark made short work of that uku. Then 2 more size-able galapagos sharks came in. Now we were being bombarded by three sharks so decided to call it a day. I managed to get one more drop and shoot a smaller 5lb uku which I pulled in right away and tucked under my arm. I couldnt go in empty handed after that. The sharks actually left that one alone.
Though its not an Ideal situation it definitely adds a whole new dimension to diving when your dealing with 6-8ft sharks that are taking a keen interest in you. It was fun for about 5 minutes then just became extremely annoying.
This went on for about 45 minutes until my buddy finally shot a good sized uku ~10lbs. He gave the fish a little too much slack and when he finally got it in I dove down to intercept the shark and I guess I was a little too late. That shark made short work of that uku. Then 2 more size-able galapagos sharks came in. Now we were being bombarded by three sharks so decided to call it a day. I managed to get one more drop and shoot a smaller 5lb uku which I pulled in right away and tucked under my arm. I couldnt go in empty handed after that. The sharks actually left that one alone.
Though its not an Ideal situation it definitely adds a whole new dimension to diving when your dealing with 6-8ft sharks that are taking a keen interest in you. It was fun for about 5 minutes then just became extremely annoying.
Sharks can be annoying,and a little disconcerting to be sure! A cute girl I'd met the night before and I swam about a mile off shore on the East side of Key West, free diving some coral heads. Brought a pole spear with a paralyzer tip, but my dumb ass forgot to bring any kind of a net or stringer. I shot a couple good sized hogfish and had them jammed in my left pocket (swimming in my cargo's . They were more than halfway out and the only thing keeping them in were their sharp fin barbs poking into my shorts..heh. I also had two spiny lobster tails in my right pocket. On the way back to shore a sneaky 6 or 7 ft. nurse shark bumped me from behind checking out those hogs. Came around a second time but a little poke with the spear sent it packin. What made me more nervous than the nurse though were barracuda. They are so freakin fast and were 3 or 4 circling almost the whole time back to shore with vis about 20...so i'd lose 'em. On a funny side note, there was a little yellow fish, not sure of the species that decided to accompany us back to shore in between my friend Erin's boobs. After a few shoo's...and it kept coming back, we just ignored it. It would leave for a bit and come right back. Followed us almost the whole way. All in all a fun trip and a reminder to watch your 6!
. They were more than halfway out and the only thing keeping them in were their sharp fin barbs poking into my shorts..heh. I also had two spiny lobster tails in my right pocket. On the way back to shore a sneaky 6 or 7 ft. nurse shark bumped me from behind checking out those hogs. Came around a second time but a little poke with the spear sent it packin. What made me more nervous than the nurse though were barracuda. They are so freakin fast and were 3 or 4 circling almost the whole time back to shore with vis about 20...so i'd lose 'em. On a funny side note, there was a little yellow fish, not sure of the species that decided to accompany us back to shore in between my friend Erin's boobs. After a few shoo's...and it kept coming back, we just ignored it. It would leave for a bit and come right back. Followed us almost the whole way. All in all a fun trip and a reminder to watch your 6!