TJ> you, im still trying to get my C-Card but i have been doing a little 
TJ> scuba diving with my uncle and aunt just for practice, and i dont 
TJ> think iu would ever even consider doing a shark dive. 
When I teach the basic open water class I have a little cartoon book that I 
give out that describes the most dangerous aquatic animals that you are most 
likely to encounter as a diver.  The first on the list is the barnacle, for a 
number of reasons.  The second, is the sea urchin, also for a number of 
reasons, all sharp. The third is listed as "Carcharadon Imaginus" namely, the 
incredably huge, insatiable shark-type toothy fish that resides in your 
imagination.  This particular fish is always worse than anything most of us 
will ever encounter, emphasize the word MOST in overwhelming fashion.  New 
divers in particular have a heightened case of carcharadon imaginitis which 
effects your resoning ability more than anything else.  The bottom line, no 
pun intended, is that sharks are no different than any other large preditor 
that we share this world with.  They are driven pretty much by the same set 
of forces that govern any other animal on this planet, ie survival instinct, 
some form of interpersonal social interaction within their own species, etc.  
As part of the ecosystem we certainly need to afford these animals the 
respect that is their do, without getting carried away.  As for my thinking, 
it is one thing to observe something in its natural habitat, under normal 
circumstances, with whatever reasonable precautions are due the situation, 
and the calling together of a batch of preditors with food related stimulus 
so that I can have a floor show of granadose (?) scale.  I have worked with 
and socialized with a number of fairly well known practitioners of the latter 
practice who think that I'm being "a wimp" but since it's my own stress level 
I'm dealing with they can call me what they like to no avail.  This is not a 
critisism of those folk who wish to participate in these activities per say, 
but we all have our own flavor of diving that turns us on and takes us down
 
Jeesh, enough already.
 
Be wet and well.
 
Dennis
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