08/29/2006 13:07:48

I think I'll say this coz wasn't my leg... But I'm crazy bout these animals...
Well, False Bay is that place where the great whites jump out of the water, isn't it??
Damn... are there waves in False Bay? Or is it near from there?
Once I saw some very little sharks where I was boogin... I paddle out from the spot as I never did before... hahaha
Take care urself

08/29/2006 10:06:00

That really sucks.I don't know why..but I've always wanted to face a great white..

08/14/2006 04:08:05

A perfect surfing day - then enter a shark


August 14, 2006


One minute veteran surfer Bernie Shelly was among dozens of surfers making the most of a balmy, sunny winter Sunday at the legendary surf spot at the Corner in Muizenberg, with perfectly shaped waves of about two feet.

The next minute - at about 11.30am - there was pandemonium. Helicopters were flying above, a sea rescue boat was whizzing around beyond the backline, sirens were going off, policemen were gesticulating for surfers to get out of the water and shark spotter Patrick Davids was running frantically along the beach blowing his whistle to alert surfers to clear the water.

As word spread that there had been a shark attack -with no indication of where it had taken place - confusion and chaos gripped the beach area. Panic-stricken parents rushed, fully clothed, into the water to haul their young children out of the water.

Within minutes, the water was cleared of surfers and crowds gathered on the beach to work out what all the drama was about.

Word spread that the attack had taken place a few hundred metres along the coast off Sunrise Beach, and that a lifeguard had his foot bitten off.

Shelly, who is a grandmother, recounts: "I was in the water, and saw some activity at Sunrise nearby. But I didn't hear any sirens, and the shark spotter's flag had not altered from black (meaning poor visibility), so I didn't react.

"If a shark had been sighted, it would change to a white flag with a shark on it. Next minute, a local kid paddled over and told me to get out of the water because of a shark. Then I heard the whistles from Patrick, the shark spotter.

"I was one of the last surfers to get out, and didn't like that."

Bac on shore, she sent an SMS to her family that read: "It wasn't me."

Adele Baleta had been watching her 12-year-old daughter, Tatjana, surfing when she saw a police officer calling surfers out of the water.


"He went into the waves calling the surfers out, and then a guy ran across the beach blowing a whistle. People on the beach galvanised, calling their loved ones out. There was chaos, and I couldn't find Tatjana in the beginning."

Tatjana had been on her second attempt at surfing.

Suddenly she saw a helicopter above. "Then I heard whistles, and I saw a lady screaming, 'Wayne, Wayne, get out of the water, there's a shark!'

"I thought it was all very exciting, and made my way to the shore."
Pam Sutton, 39, who had been boogie-boarding with her 10-year-old daughter, Samantha, was slow to react.

"I was a bit dof," she said. "I saw the helicopter landing at the nearby beach at Sunrise, and the emergency vehicles. But I didn't get out because the commotion was not happening at the Corner. Then the cops came to the shore, and word spread that we had to get out.

"The funny thing is that when I went in to surf in the morning, my husband said that I should go out to the back, because the conditions were so good.

"I said, 'No ways, Wayne, the sharks are at the back.' "

Her daughter Samantha reacted immediately. She had heard her dad shouting from the shore to get out.

"I didn't delay, but got out immediately," she said.

At about noon, regular surfer Adrian Gebers arrived at the Corner with two children, aged nine and 12, to surf.

By then, the white shark warning flag was up, and Patrick, the surf spotter at the beach, had told the crowds that the surf spot was closed for the day.

Like many other surfers, he lashed out at the authorities. "They really should do something more to prevent attacks. The shark- spotting programme is insufficient."

08/14/2006 04:01:52

yeah, Rat told me this. It sucks man. CT used to be pretty safe compared to Buffels baai etc. It's that fucking cage diving shit!!! Fine, they attract tourists and everything, but how many surfers don't wanna come to SA, because of the shark stories they hear. I swear, more people will visit SA if there was less attacks. This shit just aggrovates me. hope you doing good!! Heads up from Mid East!!! J

08/14/2006 03:37:57

crap that sucks dood