Not all sharks are predators
With the recent shark attack in Khor Fakkan, an expert diver has affirmed that there is no need to panic, and that can never be a phenomenon, and divers here are trained and equipped enough to deal with such emergency situations.
“I have come across so many sharks in the Fujairah waters with no harm at all,” 35-year-old expert Emirati scuba diver and IDC (Instructor Development Course Staff Instructor) staff instructor Faisal J. Al Hammadi, told Khaleej Times.
Most of the sharks swimming in the UAE waters are not offensive or aggressive; they are so friendly and even run when they see divers; they just attack to defend themselves, he added.
“I tried several times to take pictures with shark fish, but unfortunately they were always afraid, and ran away,” he said.
Out of Al Hammadi’s 10-yearexperience in diving which he started in 2007, he believed that the recent shark attack of Khor Fakkan was for a solid reason.
“The shark might have been afraid or felt that the diver was attacking or planning to attack it by coming closer to it. The diver might have approached its breeding area as well.”
Sudden and loud movements and diving close to other fish that the shark might want to eat, he explained. “Leaving no space for the shark to run away is an additional reason for shark attacks.”
According to Al Hammadi, shark attacks in the UAE are very rare. “We have not heard about such attacks for a long time. I even doubt the boat shark attack reported in January 2016 as sharks are very friendly and never aggressive.”
Training is mandatory
No one is licensed for diving unless he or she is totally trained and equipped for the same, he underlined. “There are certain skills that need to be mastered before going diving.”
Al Hammadi, who started scuba diving in 2007 seeking adventure and exploration, said there are different levels of diving. “One should clear a number of courses at the hand of a certified diver to start diving.”
Amateur or beginner divers are permitted to dive deep to maximum 18 metres , Al Hammadi who works with a government department in Abu Dhabi, said.
“To dive deeper to 40 metres, one should pass an advanced diving level during which he or she must acquire a number of critical skills.”
Advanced level includes rescue mission, he pointed out. “This level is not only for entertainment and enjoying the coral reefs but rather for broader scope diving and rescue missions.”
Most of the favourite diving areas in Khor Fakkan include the Shark Island and Martina Rock which are known for their charming and colourful coral reefs, clear water and soft currents which are suitable for diving, he said.
“There are so many places for diving in the UAE, but on top of these are Sharjah, Khor Fakkan, Fujairah and Diba; but the deeper and more frequent you dive, the more wonders you enjoy.”
Marine guns are banned
Al Hammadi said that divers here are not permitted to use marine guns while diving. “As per the directives of the bodies concerned, knives are only permitted for emergency cases, like being stuck in anything deep down the see.”
Each and every diver must be equipped with certain tools and must clear a mandatory checklist to go diving.
“These include the Signaling device, mask defog, scuba cylinder, compass, mask, fins, snorkel, gloves, dive boots, dive hood, thermal protection, dive knife, dive light, gear bag, weight belt, weight system, BCD or buoyancy control device, regulator, pressure and depth gauges, bottom time, computer or eRDP.”
Al Hammadi said there are enough diving schools in the country in general, but more schools are need in the eastern region. “Many organisations, like PADI and NAWI, are open here, and they have much helped produce competent divers who are not licensed for diving unless they clear very strict standards and tests.”
Divers are first trained to be open water divers during which they can dive for maximum 18m whereas the advanced open water diver is quite different. “In this advanced level one can dive deeper, longer and at night.”
Training differs from one level to another, but all start with detailed explanation of all the necessary skills to be obtained. “This is followed by diving for two or more days in the swimming pool, and then two or more days in the open sea.
There are so many types of shark fish, but none of the wild ones come to the UAE coasts, he said. “The wildest sharks, as far as I know, are in Australia, and they always hunt for food.”
Al Hammadi did not expect diving sports to be put off in Khor Fakkan or elsewhere. “The diver hurt in the recent shark attack was not going diving, he was going for hunt, and was equipped with a marine fun for this reason.”
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com