SO> Nicely put. But I believe you forgot one little fact. While you are 
SO> in thewater, you are in the "incredably huge, insatiable shark-type 
SO> toothyfish's environment. While down there with them, you are just an 
SO> oddity.But intheir eyes, you can change from oddity to main course 
SO> real easy.Afford them their respect? Good idea. But you should also 
SO> throw incaution, common sence, and good old fashioned parania too. I 
SO> have to deal
SO> with them on a daily basis. I know from which I speak. But you did 
SO> say anawful lot that made sence.
Actually the carcharadon imaginus is referring to a state of mind more than 
anything else.  It's letting your paranoia run away with you.  As for the 
level of respect you afford these guys it definitely takes into account that 
sharks are large predators in their own environment.  The current EMT courses 
refer to the state of mind I'm trying to convey as "having a high index of 
suspicion". Call it what you like I think we're talking pretty much about the 
same thing.  
 
I actually have a theory on shark behavior.  Letting fear get the better of 
you makes you look scared.  If you look and act scared the preditor starts to 
wnoder what you have to be afraid of (ie are you hurt, sick, etc) and goes 
out of its way to check you out.  The less you project the impression that 
you are something that they should attack the less likely you will be 
attacked from a fish that would otherwise not bother.  This is not to imply 
that a shark that has other motives to attack other than a "bite reflex" to 
certain stimulus patterns won't aggressively pursue and attack you, just that 
it reduces the liklihood of triggering the bite reflex type of attack.  
Studies on other preditory animals have shown that you can trigger attacks 
with certain stimuli, even when the preditor inquestion is not actively 
feeeding.  The whole idea of respect that is their due includes actively 
attempting to prevent triggering reflex attacks (thus my researvations about 
feeding sharks and chumming as recreatrional dive practices).
 
Anyway, thanks for writing.
 
Be wet and well.
 
Dennis
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