Apparently the fatal attack by a Great White on a swimmer at Cottesloe beach was broadcast all over the world. There were some good aerial pics in the West Australian newspaper, and my Perth windsurfing spot is about 200 metres south of the place where it all happened. Anyway, the beaches were closed for a week or so and a violent debate raged in the media on whether the shark should be fed, killed, monitored or left alone. And if the coast should be abolished, netted, electrified or just patrolled.

The fact, that everyone EXCEPT me was quite upset warrants an explanation. Ever since I started using the ocean, I've been very much aware of the millions of sharks lurking in the depths. I'm petrified of the animals. While trying to avoid them, I've already seen about six in the past half year. They're all over the place! They're out to get me!

Ozzies on the other hand, are in a state of denial regarding the beasts. In my scanty spare time I've been collecting the many reasons why it's hunky-dory for them to join the toothy monsters in their element.

1. THERE ARE NO SHARKS HERE!
It was a local windsurfer in Geraldton who told me this. Later on the same day I met a fisherman who cought a 17-foot Mako off the Geraldton coast, followed by one which he couldn't get into his boat to measure as it was slightly larger. And the fisherman's brother used to be a fanatic diver, until one day, while happily finning along the reef a shadow fell over him. He looked up and saw the front end of a very large shark. The shadow grew bigger, and bigger, and bigger as the shark passed overhead. The brother has given up diving altogether.

2. PLENTY OF SHARKS BUT THEY LEAVE YOU ALONE.
This is what another local said about Gnarloo. When I ask WHY, the answers are as follows:
- THEY'RE ONLY REEF SHARKS which don't bite humans. 'They're more scared of you, than you of them!' When I point out that there's other sharks in the ocean too:
- There are of course bronze whalers and mako's, but there's plenty of fish at Gnarloo. They're TOO WELL FED to bother you! And someone else offered the following:
- Sharks are fish or seal- eaters. The water at Gnarloo is so clear that THEY DON'T MISTAKE you for their prey.

3. THEY DON'T ACTUALLY BITE.
This is a classic. I met someone who had surfed on the South Coast- where the Great Whites breed. A local had told him that over the past 15 years, he'd been bumped four times by big sharks, but none had actually bitten. Personally I'd develop hydrophobia if any great whites started nuzzling me, and during the Olympics, two surfers were nudged rather nastily in South Australia and not a bit of them was left.

4. THE SHARKS THAT YOU SEE ARE NOT A PROBLEM. This is a brilliant piece of reasoning, not dissimilar to a child's closing the eyes and pretending to be invisible. Apparently, sharks in attack mode cruise at about 50 km/h. In good visibility underwater you may get a second's warning IF you happen to be looking in the right direction. Sharks that you see, ergo, are not going to bite and you needn't worry!

I'm sure I've missed out on some. Keep me updated on any good sharkdenialstories that you hear!

Kees