Austrian Tourist Killed on Scuba Adventures' Shark Dive

On Monday, February 25th, Markus Groh, an Austrian tourist died from a shark attack off the Great Isaac Cay in the Bahamas after shark diving with Scuba Adventures, the Miami Herald reported. George Burgess, director of the International Shark Attack File, said that his will be the first shark-bite death of the year; it will also be the first shark-feeding-dive death recorded. Groh was rushed to a hospital by the United States Coast Guard shortly after taking a bite on the leg, but it was too late and the doctors were not able to save his life.

Jim Abernethy, owner of Scuba Adventures, a Florida-based company, offers shark-diving experience. He has been warned by others, according to the Herald, to stop taking divers into the sea, dumping shark bait, and then allowing them to dive without a steel cage to protect them in the past; however he has never taken this seriously, thus the loss of Markus Groh.

In the state of Florida, in 2001, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission banned the kind of shark-dives that killed the Austrian tourist. It's because of this that Abernethy takes his customers to places in the Bahamas.

Markus Groh was on a trip that was supposed to last six days at sea, while shark-diving to find hammerhead and tiger sharks to look at. Abertnethy's Scuba Adventures company, advertises the ability to find lemon, bull, and other dangerous sharks like that as well. "No one can get you closer," is a line used on their website to lure in customers in search of a great shark diving experience.

Since the accident Jim Abertnethy has issued a statement in which he said "My heart and soul goes out to the loved ones and family members who are affected by this unfortunate accident." However Jim has not released any statement saying he will halt his operation. Scuba Adventures has been warned in the Bahamas by the Bahamas Diving Association to provide better care. The association issued a "cease-and-desist" letter the previous year to Scuba Adventures letting them know that they should not allow cage-less dives to be done, unless they're being done around safer species' of sharks.

Although the Scuba Adventures' website lets potential customers know about the dangers that this kind of shark diving can bring, the only thing needed to be able to shark dive with them is cash, a scuba-diving certification, and the want to go into the sea.

Sharks have always fascinated me. Although I have not swam with them, in recent years, I do consider myself to be a shark expert. I have spent numerous hours studying them for the past 7 years now in detail at the university level, and with material from books and the Internet. I have learned all about what they consider to be food, what attracts them, and why they attack humans on occasion. I also know about some do's and do not's that should always be taken into consideration if you are going to be near these not so friendly animals, and below you will be able to read them.

Shark-Diving Tips:

- Do not dive in an area where sharks have been seen recently unless you are prepared to handle yourself.
- Avoid going shark diving unless you are going with a company that has a good reputation for providing that kind of service.
- Do not wear jewelry or bright clothing, as this may attract the shark to you.
- Try to not do your shark-diving during the hours when the sun is rising, and when the sun is setting, as these are the hours where you are most likely to find hungry sharks.
- Attempt to shark-dive near reefs, in order to hide yourself from sharks in case they become aggressive.

Adam H. Beasley, "Cageless shark-feeding dive turns fatal", Miami Herald