Fancy a dip?
To swim or not to swim, that is the question. Certainly, three sharks attacks in and around Sydney in as many weeks have lodged doubts in a few Sydneysiders' minds. "Shark attacks leave city in fear," screamed Sydney's The Daily Telegraph this morning. A tabloid touch of poetic license, perhaps, but it may be on to something.
I happened to be at a Stag event - or buck's party, as they are called here - on Saturday afternoon, which started in the surf at Bondi. It's the kind of event where normally there would be no shortage of beer-fuelled bravado or dare-devil Dutch courage on display, but when someone suggested a headland-to-headland ocean swim there weren't many takers.
By strange coincidence, my mate's bride-to-be started her hen event with a surf at Avalon, on Sydney's northern beaches. It was there, early on Sunday morning, that a shark attacked a 15 year-old boy. The teenager suffered severe lacerations to his upper thigh, and might have been in an even more serious condition had it not been for the presence - and presence of mind - of his father, a gold medallion surf lifesaver, who immediately applied a tourniquet to his son's bleeding leg.
Not long after dawn this morning, I went down to Bondi to see if anyone had been put off by the latest attack, which came a fortnight after a mauling at Australia's most iconic beach, the first in 80 years. But the surf life-savers reckoned there were just as many people in the water as normal. One swimmer told me he was more worried about the blue bottles, while another suggested there was more to fear from the loutish "red lobsters" - the drunken British and Irish backpackers. Sure enough, a little way down the beach a few of my compatriots presented themselves in a somewhat tired and emotional state, having consumed a six-pack of stubbies for breakfast. The real sharks, said another, were at Bondi Junction, a shopping centre up the hill.
One surfer said he had once seen a shark, and added with classic Australian understatement: "Ah....it makes you get out of the water pretty fast." Perhaps that feeds into the lively discussion below by giving us another insight into the Australian character.
What is behind this wave of attacks? Some experts say that the cleaner waters in and around Sydney - particular in the harbour - have attracted more fish and with them more sharks. But Professor Ross Coleman of the University of Sydney reckons we have witnessed a "statistical anomaly".
"You're probably something like 200 times more likely to suffer a car accident on the way to the beach than being bitten by a shark," he says. Shark numbers are actually in decline, which is why they are a protected species, and they don't target humans per se. They not only rely on chemicals in the water and electrical pulses to identify their prey, but also taste. "You're not going to know its food unless you try and taste it," says Professor Coleman. "So often these animals aren't trying to eat a human or aren't trying to eat a surfer. They're seeing whether this is potential food or not."
I've learnt a bit about shark nets over the past couple of weeks. They're meant as a deterrent rather than a shark-proof barrier, and the aim to disrupt the sharks and to prevent them from staking out territory. Obviously, they don't stretch all the away along the coast, but most beaches have them and they're regularly moved to keep the sharks on their toes, or the anatomically correct version of that.
So a simple question: would you venture into the waters?
I'm 
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~03~RS~)
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"Red lobsters". That made me laugh
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Well there really couldn't be more bad news from Australia, could there?
As an Australian traveling in Europe, I am very aware of both the lack of coverage of Australia in the news, and the emphasis on bad news in what does get covered.
I am however slightly heartened by the reporting of bad news, as it may slow the flood of new residents to Australia, and head off the arrival of some of the problems prevalent in large European and American cities.
Australia has a unique situation in that almost everybody lives in cities, and so they are huge. Governments in Australia have been unable to comprehend or respond to the enormous pressures on infrastructure, public transport, roads, town planning and environment. More people mean more problems sooner.
This terrible period may have a silver lining in that we get a chance to think about development and do it sensibly.
There is no need for Australia to blindly follow the rest of the world. We can do better if we give ourselves a chance.
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It hasn't put me off, you always know you're in their domain. About 6 weeks ago I was swimming off a friend's boat moored about 200m off the beach in Sydney Harbour and never gave one thought to sharks, sometimes you don't even think about them, now that the navy diver has been attacked in the harbour I might pay more attention when I next swim in the harbour.
I give more thought to when cleaning in the backyard for funnel web spiders. I think the thought of Jaws and getting eaten alive scares people more and gives sharks that image problem of 'the only good shark is a dead shark'. The key thing is they are part of the food chain and the ecosystem so we have to learn to live with them and with that the occasional attack.
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On Sunday afternoon I had the sea to myself at Coogeeydneysy beach near I thought the Austarlians must be keeping away from sharks I do not go very deep so enjoyed the waves and not having to be careful to fall on a surfer. I left the beach and a native looked surprised and said there were loads of bluebottles in the morning - being english I thought he was referring to flies- I assured him there was no such thing until another native pointed at a caution notice bluebottles are stinging jellyfish and there were still plenty out there I have not ventured in the sea since.
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I agree in part to what intestinal said about having time to reflect upon the infrastructure in Australia especially transport and housing.The train in Sydney and the rent both defy logic.However I am not heartened but rather saddened by the news in recent times..I hope some solution does come up soon and we are living in an improved Sydney....CHEERS!
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Nick Bryant:
....So a simple question: would you venture into the waters? (...)
I will not be going into these waters until the sharks are no longer in this patch of water...
~Dennis Junior~
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Fair enough, sharks to stem the tide of 'new settlers' in Australia... that's ripe, from an Australian traveling in Europe.
What do we need to put you off from coming here and using your ancestral visa to take our jobs while you have a holiday in the old world?
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@plateruena
Same way you'd stop anybody else. Apply for the job yourselves, while having the necessary skills and work ethic to be attractive to an employer.
Unless you believe that European employers are deliberately employing inferior workers, then the candidate with the best fit got the job, right?
I do find myself disagreeing with Intestinal, as I don't know what problems they're talking about. Nor how having less people is going to create an incentive to think about things differently.
As for the original post, as I don't surf the only time I go to the beach is during the day, when sharks tend not to be around so not a problem going swimming.
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@ BrisbaneBen
You are quite right mate, I must confess to not having lost work due to visiting Australians. I merely trotted out the old cliche see how it sounded the other way round. That said, there is one qualification that visitors from the antipodes have that an equally skilled, experienced etc. Brit, or European does not... that is the guarantee that they won't be staying permanently, therefore no worries about pensions, redundancy and all that. They have built in natural wastage, that makes them, on and even field, more attractive to hire.
Anyway, this thread is about sharks, and people being mutilated. Maybe the odd story about a Pitbull on the loose in Earls Court would be the equivilent.
My son is half Australian and can go live there when he likes, I have nothing against Australians, quite the opposite =8¬)
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intestinal, I am surprised Australia receives so much media coverage overseas. She has a population half the size of the State of California, and an economy about the same size as Los Angeles. Australia is a tiny community by global standards. However her natural wonders are very significant, and so it is no surprise that her natural wonders and disasters and her flora and fauna often rate a mention globally. I wonder why the BBC doesn't report Alaskan and Canadian bear attacks just as frequently. There are always a few every year, some fatal, but I still venture into the wild here in Alaska. I guess the difference between bears and sharks is that the sharks really do want to eat you, whereas bears often attack out of a perceived need for self defense, and rarely to find a meal. But bear attacks occur with about the same frequency as shark attacks, and are no less significant, in my view.
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WHY do Australian would-be suicides choose a shark's jaws to be sanwiched between?
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I grew up on the north coast of NSW and often saw sharks when surfing. The beaches there are still not netted and my nephew tells me there is still plenty of sharks.
I now live in Sydney and swim at Bondi regularly. In 21 years I've only seen 2 sharks at Bondi and 1 at Shelly Beach near Manly. I've noticed that Sydneysiders who are used to the safety of shark nets do get a bit hysterical about sharks, however that doesn't seem to extend to people who regard surfing, diving snorkelling or ocean swimming as an important part of their daily life.
As far as I'm concerned; it's the ocean, of course there are sharks!
David.
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While I know that there are more attacks in OZ than is reported (unless a victim is washed up chewed to bits, or is witnessed being attacked) I believe the phrase used is "gone missing". Even with all the bad news about OZ lately, I really enjoyed traveling there and if was younger, would definelty immigrate. Canada is great, but OZ is a nation unapologetic to itself like Canada is.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
It's put me off in a big way. I'm not a surfer and I don't go diving ; I'm just an occassional beachgoer. There's no way I'm going into the surf. I know the statistics say I'm more likely to be hit by a car on the way to the beach, and that's fine with me ...I can accept dying on the front end of a car..but I don't want to be mauled by a shark.
One of the best things about Sydney is that you can go to the beach. I think most people will prefer that some natural way can be found to encourage the sharks to go elsewhere, but if that fails, I think people will be happy with some controlled 'culling'. There will be pressure on the gov to fix it..and it'll become a politcal issue. Almost everyone on TV and in the media have been speaking about the nobility of the beautful beast and the fact it is their domain...and this has discouraged all those who don't quite love sharks that much to keep their heads down and keep their violently anti-marine life opinions to themselves.
I know shark lovers will find this provocative but I think it's true. Most of us selfishly want to go to the beach without the fear of being mauled. I heard culling won't fix the problem..ok then, I"m fine with that...just find another way before next summer ok.
The media will be our ally here. They love shark attacks. They'll build it into a political issue so that the gov has to part with extra funds for patrols, more netting, gun boats, whatever....!! I know this sounds very selfish but I'm pretty sure your average Sydneysider also has these same dark thoughts.
Sharks are lovely creatures when they're far from my beach.
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Sharks?? Pfft. Please!!
We all know the statistics.
Am I supposed to never go outside for fear of rogue lightning attack?
Now - I have a serious bone to pick with this article.
Nick. You have said yourself on many occasions that you weren't going to be another one of those foreign journalists in Australia squealing about crocodiles and dingoes and sharks and snakes, and yet - here we are.
You've taken a hyperventilated article from a tabloid and turned it into legitimate blog fodder here on the BBC.
I mean really - what next? Will you be blogging about how many German tourists might just find themselves inside the belly of a large crocodile this year? What about Japanese visitors who think that a lovely swim in wild seas sounds like a wonderful idea? You can then conclude that Australia isn't 'safe', and the world should keep away.
In fact, that's not such a bad idea.
I've lived in Australia, by the ocean, all my life. Sharks are beautiful and ancient creatures worthy of our respect.
If we enter the domain of a wild animal, we must accept all risk, calm the hell down and get on with it.
The same goes for international journalists in Australia. These kinds of stories read to Australians like "Central Australia in Summer Heatwave", or "Canberra Dull Say Citizens".
There are more important things to talk about than the facts of existence in this country. Even to those in other countries.
By the way:
"Not long after dawn this morning, I went down to Bondi to see if anyone had been put off by the latest attack"
Gee, it's a tough gig.
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Barry CASSIDY made a remark on INSIDERS to the effect that Australia has too many Journos and not enough news.
Draw you own conclusions as to the outcome of this scenario.
I'd better say something about sharks as it is the topic. I reckon we have more to fear from the corporate sharks circling looking for a feed at our expense. Now the taxpayer has to feed them as well. I wonder how long the supply of tucker will last.
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soft, the lot of ya.
I swim therefore I am.
Love and tender mercies,
The Token Aussie.
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Oh well - leave them be - whether croc or shark we go into the water and are in their territory. It is abit like - oh well another hot day in the middle of Asutralia. Sure no one wants to be bitten but its apart of our national heritage - we have dangerous species in the water and out of it. Be wise, be careful 1st March was Autumn then 1 June is winter so worry about next summer.
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Sharks make it near impossible to svim in the water.
Snakes and spiders make it near impossible to go in the bush.
Good, there is no danger in the air.
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You wouldn't walk down the middle of a highway and not expect to risk being hit by a truck. Swimming in the ocean is the same thing only a much much smaller risk. It is a shark's domain. But when compared to the risk of getting in your car and driving anywhere, it's not worth worrying about.
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#20 You are forgetting the Mozzies (and worse)
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