Are there sharks in the Red Sea? In what seas are sharks found? Blacktip reef shark
Although shark fishing is widely banned in Egypt, three shark species have already been nearly eradicated, including one species of nurse shark, the so-called sand tiger, and one species of blacktip shark. However, sharks can be found anywhere in the Red Sea. In Nayama Bay, near the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, divers saw silky sharks under a pier. One of the most popular shark spots is the reefs of the national marine park Ras Muhammad. It includes whitetip and gray reef sharks, as well as basking and scalloped hammerhead sharks, nurse sharks, zebra, tiger, silver, whale and whitetip sharks, as well as the blacktip reef shark, which often comes close to the shore and sometimes even enters the Mangrove Channel.
Reef sharks are not uncommon in Marsa Alam and around Sharm El Sheikh, for example in Shark Bay. There are also sharks on the Careless Reef. Sharks in the Red Sea can also be found around Safaga, including Panorama Reef, as well as in the Marsa Bereika area, such as Ras Atar and The Alternatives.
The most dangerous species are the white shark, the tip-nose shark, the tiger shark, the mako shark, and the longtip shark.
Species such as the hammerhead shark, gray bull shark, sand shark, brown shark, and whitetip shark are only slightly inferior in bloodthirstiness to their above-mentioned relatives.
Characteristics of the most common sharks in the Red Sea
| Type of shark | Squad | Family | Dimensions in length, m (up to) | Weight, kg (up to) |
| Whale shark | Wobbegong-like | whale sharks | 18 - 20 | 12000 |
| Tiger shark | Carchariformes | Gray sharks | 5,0 | 570 - 750 |
| Great hammerhead shark | Carchariformes | Hammerhead sharks | 6.1 (usually 4.5) | 450 |
| Mako shark | Lamniformes | Herring sharks | 3,5 - 4 | 450 |
| Silky shark | Carchariformes | Sand sharks | 3.5 (usually 2.5) | 346 |
| Bull shark (bull shark) | Carchariformes | Gray sharks | 3,5 | 315 |
| Scalloped hammerhead shark | Carchariformes | Hammerhead sharks | 3,5 - 4,2 | 160 |
| Rusty nurse shark | Wobbegong-like | Baleen sharks | 3,2 | 150 - 170 |
| Silver shark | Carchariformes | Gray sharks | 3,0 | 160 |
| Common sand shark | Lamniformes | Sand sharks | 3,0 | 159 |
| Longtip shark | Carchariformes | Gray sharks | 3.5 - 4 (usually 1.5 - 2) | 20 - 60 |
| Zebra shark | Wobbegong-like | Zebra sharks | 3.5 (usually 2.5 - 3) | 30 |
| Blacktip shark | Carchariformes | Gray sharks | 2.5 (usually 1.5) | 20-45 |
| Gray reef shark | Carchariformes | Sand sharks | 2,5 | 33 |
| Blacktip reef shark | Carchariformes | Gray sharks | 1,5 - 1,8 | 45 |
| Whitetip reef shark | Carchariformes | Gray sharks | 2,0 | 20 |
A shark is more dangerous when it is looking for prey. Sharks in coastal waters are more active at night. They rely less on vision, whereas in the life of pelagic oceanic sharks, vision is one of the important sources of information, and they hunt most during the day. At the same time, there are species, for example, the tiger shark, for which the time of day does not matter.
Red Sea- transparent, crystal clear - elemental. The sea is quiet and deep, joyfully calling and quietly whispering tells the old oriental tales. The sea, I am in the transparent emerald-colored depths, the sun refracts its rays on the foamy spray, the sea is in me and I am inside the sea. An endless expanse of water, and down there in the depths it’s amazingly beautiful undersea world, living its own unsolved life, attracting millions of people seeking to know the unknown. Among them there are harmless and aggressive, fearful and poisonous. So who are these dangerous inhabitants of the Red Sea? Today we'll talk about them. Let's start with the most harmless ones:
10. Corals They are brightly colored and you just want to touch them, but there is a special reticulated fire coral (Millepora dichotoma) that, although it looks like coral, is not one. Fire corals are hydroid species or polyjellyfish that form large colonies on reefs in tropical waters where there is strong current and plenty of light. They grow very quickly and look like flat bushes with short double branches. Millepores look very picturesque. Bright yellow or brown colors, nice roundness at the end of the branch. You just want to break off a piece as a souvenir, but it is there that the stinging cells (nematocytes) are located, with which the fire coral burns. The burn site does not heal for a long time and brings a lot of discomfort to its owner. It swells, a blister appears and the lymph nodes become very enlarged. It is better to immediately rinse such a wound with sea water, removing all remnants of coral and treat it with vinegar or alcohol, and if necessary, consult a doctor. It is also worth paying attention to sea sponges. Sponges– although these multicellular creatures are primitive, some species, such as Redbeards and Fire Sponges, can cause allergic reactions in humans in the form of a rash. Providing assistance is the same as for a coral burn.
9. Starfish, colorful and so harmless, always attract the interest of divers. Among these species, only one species, “Crown of Thorns” (Acanthaster planci), can actually harm humans. The color scheme of these not small creatures (their length is from 25 to 35 cm, although there are particularly large specimens with a diameter of up to 50 cm) can be very different from gray-blue to brown, from bright orange to poisonous yellow color. Typically, the “Crown of Thorns” has 12–19 rays, and with age their number can increase to 23. The entire body of the star is covered with long poisonous needles up to 3 cm long. The injection can be quite painful and may cause swelling, rash, nausea and bleeding. The first thing to do is to immerse the limb in hot water and apply a bandage to prevent further spread of the poison, then see a doctor.
8 Sea urchins. They look like prickly balls that pierce any neoprene. If you come across a sea urchin, you will experience burning pain, shortness of breath and rapid heartbeat at the injection site. First aid, as with an injection starfish: remove the needles, disinfect, keep in hot water and apply a tourniquet, go to the doctor.
7. Clearfin Lionfish belongs to the scorpionfish family (Scorpaenidae) - a majestic and leisurely fish. There are many species of this family, and you can often find fish underwater - the zebra (Common Lionfish) and the Russells Lionfish. These are night hunters who hunt down small fish like a pack of wolves. And they love to swim on the edge of light and shadow. Their bodies are painted with bright stripes, and their luxurious fins hide sharp, poisonous spines. The injections of these insidious creatures cause severe pain, up to anaphylactic shock. A person may experience cramps and rapid heartbeat, nausea, vomiting, numbness, dizziness, diarrhea, and excessive sweating. Some experts claim that lionfish venom is not inferior to cobra venom, although not a single death has occurred in official medicine from this creature was not recorded! In any case, it is better to stay away from all representatives of the scorpion family and carefully watch your step.
6. Sea snakes- the name alone is already chilling, and although the venom of sea reptiles is 10 times stronger than its land relative - the cobra, it acts on the human body very slowly. Do not think that sea snakes rush at people at the first opportunity. In fact, they rarely attack them and in most cases they try to swim away from annoying divers. However, if you like to dive in dense underwater thickets, then you may simply not notice the snake there. Only a few hours after the bite may muscle spasms and drooping of the eyelids begin. Apply a tourniquet above the bite site and consult a doctor as soon as possible.
5. Gray reef shark(and you thought we forgot about it?) is the most common type of reef shark in the Red Sea. Usually the gray reef shark lives at depths of up to 270-280 meters. She loves clean water with a strong current. Often lives on the leeward side of the reef. The gray reef shark has an average size of 1.5 to 2.5 meters. The gray reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) is a curious creature, but unless provoked, it is unlikely to attack. It is easy to anger a shark during the mating season, when it may consider you a competitor. Sharks also do not like camera flashes. The shark expresses its aggression quite clearly; it arches its back, raises its muzzle and lowers its pectoral fins. In this case, you should not hesitate; it is better to leave its territory without fuss, swimming away facing the shark. If it continues to swim towards you, try to dodge to the side when approaching. And although a person is quite a big prey for her, she can cause serious wounds.
You need to provide first aid to the victim slowly, clean the wound, but be careful, the person may experience a painful shock and your actions will cause an even stronger reaction from the victim. The wound may bleed heavily, so it is necessary to stop the bleeding before a doctor appears. To do this, you must use the direct pressure method. A pressure bandage or tourniquet is best. An equally effective method will be if you simply wrap the limbs in a circular tug. Of course, in an emergency you may not have a tourniquet at hand, but this is exactly what happens in 99% of cases; you can use any available material. This could be a rubber tube, scarf, belt, rope, etc.
After you have tried to stop the bleeding, the wound must be treated. This should be a solution of iodine, potassium permanganate, alcohol, vodka, cologne. If you have a cotton swab or gauze, wet them with one of the solutions and treat the edges of the wound from the outside.
There is no need to pour anything into the wound itself. This will not only increase the already severe pain, but will also damage the tissue, slowing down the healing process. If you were wounded in the stomach, you cannot eat or drink anything. After treatment, a bandage is applied to the abdomen.
4. Moray eels- belong to the eel-shaped ray-finned fish and are always shrouded in secrets and legends. Either the creepy appearance of moray eels or their secrecy prompts our creative consciousness to attach all sorts of evil labels to them. In fact, moray eels are shy and hide in the crevices of reefs. The Red Sea is home to quite a few species of moray eels, for example: Giant moray, Yellowheaded morey, Yellowmouth morey, Undulate morey, Dragon morey, Zebra moray (Zebra morey), White-eyed morey, Peppered morey, Honeycomb morey, Yellow-edged morey, etc. Unfortunately, recently cases have become more frequent when To attract clients, local diving clubs offer divers to hand-feed moray eels. For everyone who values their hands, remember that moray eels see poorly, but they sense meat perfectly and they don’t care whether it’s a piece of food or a diver’s fingers. A hundred people will feed her and everything will be fine, but 101 will pay for everyone. This is not a pet. Moray eels are smart predators and if something gets into their mouth, they practically do not unclench their jaws, digging into their prey with a bulldog grip. If they help you get rid of her grip, urgently disinfect the wound and go to the doctor to treat the wound and head.
We've reached the top three. Let's find out more about them!
3. Stingrays belong to the class of chordates - Elasmobranchii - Cartilaginous fish.
Electric rays (Torpediniformes) range in size from small – 12-15 cm long, to large – up to 2 m long and weighing up to 100 kg. Unlike other rays, electric rays are often brightly colored. On the sides of the head there are paired electrical organs formed by modified muscle tissue. Animal electricity is condensed in the electrical organs. The discharge is carried out arbitrarily under the influence of brain impulses. A single discharge lasts 0.003-0.05 s, but usually the stingray produces a series of 20-30 discharges in quick succession. The discharge voltage can reach from 60 to 300 volts with a current of up to 5 amperes. Such a shake causes paralytic shock, severe pain, swelling, and muscle cramps. Impact victim electric stingray it is necessary to pull it out of the water, put it in the shade and create peace for it. Another representative of this species that is dangerous to humans is the stingray (Dasyatidae) which has a wide disc, a powerful tail at the base and a thinning tail at the end. In the middle part of the tail, these creatures have dagger-shaped spines that can grow up to 37 cm long. The tail strike is similar to the attack of a scorpion - the tail bends forward and the stingray delivers a powerful blow with a whip-like movement. The poison, penetrating the wound, causes sharp pain, a drop in blood pressure, tachycardia, vomiting, and paralysis. A thorn that gets into the wound should only be removed surgically, because often it breaks off in the wound and can cause a secondary fungal, bacterial or mixed infection. After the injection, the wound must be cleaned, disinfected, the damaged part of the body should be kept in very hot water (at least 50 C), and then a pressure bandage should be applied and urgently consult a doctor.
2. Cones. Cone clams, the shells from which we listen to the sound of the sea and enjoy memories of vacation, may not be so safe. Nautical gastropod hides in its beautiful mother-of-pearl shell and, in case of danger, releases its spine forward, located at the edge of the shell. Their habitat is quite large, including the western part of the Indo-Pacific region, which includes the Red Sea. All cones are predators and feed on snails, sea worms and even fish. These latter ones are the most dangerous for people. Despite poor vision, the cone has very developed olfactory organs. Burying itself in the sand, it waits for the victim, sensing the approach of prey, and plunges its proboscis into it, in which there are many small teeth - harpoons. Instantly injects toxic poison and paralyzes its victim. Cones have a special poison that includes 50 different types of toxins and has no antidote. The most dangerous of them is the Geographical cone (Conus geographus), which is nocturnal. According to statistics, out of 10 bites, three are fatal. The bite causes severe, increasing pain, convulsions, excessive salivation, difficulty swallowing, frustration gastrointestinal tract, difficulty speaking. The victim must be urgently hospitalized, and before that, examine the wound, remove the remains of the thorn, treat with alcohol and immobilize the affected part of the body, apply a pressure bandage.
1. The leader of our TOP 10 “The most dangerous inhabitants of the Red Sea”, is…
Stonefish or wartfish(Red Sea Walkman - “Red Sea Pedestrian”) - master of camouflage. Buried in the sand, it can lie motionless on the bottom for hours. It blends in so well with its environment that it is almost impossible to notice it, and it is this camouflage that makes it the winner of our rating “The most dangerous inhabitants of the Red Sea.” Its back can be deadly to humans , because it has a number of spines that release poison. The pain from the injection is so severe that the person wants to cut off his wounded limbs. If the poison enters the vessel, then without rendering medical care, death occurs within 2-3 hours. The main symptoms are pain, shock and death of the limbs, depending on the depth of penetration. Injured people may still feel unpleasant symptoms. By the way, the English name for wart is “pedestrian”. When she gets tired of lying on the bottom, she uses the rays of her pectoral fins to “walk” along the seabed and often leaves noticeable grooves in the sand behind her. When injecting any representatives of scorpionfish, the wound must be washed, disinfected, to neutralize the poison, hold the damaged part of the body in very hot water for half an hour and apply a pressure bandage. After first aid, consult a doctor immediately.
He who is forewarned is forearmed! Your safety is in your hands:
1. Wear special shoes. Neoprene slippers have affordable price, but they can give you nothing more - the safety of your feet. But even wearing them, you shouldn’t walk in shallow water on the outside of the reef. Some needles sea creatures very long and can accidentally touch an unprotected part of the body.
2. Do not splash around in puddles during low tide; some types of fish, such as stingrays, can bury themselves in wet sand and wait for the tide.
3. Divers are prohibited from swimming alone, but some daredevils still break the rules. While diving, do not feed the fish or attract their attention with fresh blood. If you cut yourself somewhere or have wounds that may bleed, it is better not to take risks and not swim in the water. If the fish behaves aggressively in the event of an attack, hit it on the head or snout - these are the most vulnerabilities, feeling resistance, she can swim away herself.
4. Removing any needle spikes from wounds must be done very carefully so that they do not break or crumble further. Take a soft rag or some kind of napkin and carefully remove the foreign object. Even if you were not able to remove everything, limestone needles or thorns dissolve in our body over time and come out of it without consequences. The main thing in such cases is to thoroughly disinfect the wound so that infection does not begin.
5. It would be nice to be able to do artificial respiration and know the basics of first aid for bites, cuts, etc.
6. Be sure to take a first aid kit with you, which should contain ointments such as tetracycline, erythromycin, as well as iodine and brilliant green. In Arab countries, the names of medications are written in Arabic and it is not a fact that they speak English in the pharmacy.
7. Those who like to swim with a mask and snorkel should not swim into unfamiliar areas; it is better to wear short swimming trunks and a special thin neoprene T-shirt (1 - 1.5 mm will be enough) to protect against sun rays and accidental contacts with poisonous inhabitants Red Sea, choose reefs for swimming so that the depth is at least 2 meters, do not feed, do not pet the fish, do not kiss the fish for selfies, do not break, do not unscrew, do not even touch the corals and if anything happens to you unexpected troubles, stay calm and seek help.
Undersea world red sea beautiful and everything in nature is harmonious. Man discovers the water element to contemplate, enjoy and explore the unknown. Don't kiss moray eels or feed sharks - they're not pets. We are just guests in this world, and we will be polite and reasonable, and then we will not be afraid of any poisonous creatures. Even dives to everyone.
Andrey OSTROVSKY [candidate of biological sciences]
We want to tell you about the sharks of the Red Sea - one of the most visited seas in the world by divers. What sharks are found here, and how dangerous and numerous are they? Are there any known cases of shark attacks on swimmers in the Red Sea? How should you behave when meeting a shark? What is the fate of sharks in the Red Sea? Our goal is to provide divers with information to help them see sharks and, if necessary, respond appropriately to their appearance. And the main thing is to reconsider your attitude towards them.
A lot has been written about sharks. It doesn’t take a sage to understand that the reason for such interest in them is that the word “shark” has become synonymous with the word “danger.” We have always been afraid of sharks, and after the release of the movie "Jaws" this fear turned into real paranoia. American psychiatrists even registered a certain “shark” syndrome. It turns out that even now many Americans are afraid of sharks even when they enter the pool!
But once you start diving, you quickly realize that our fears are greatly exaggerated. Sharks turn out to be much less aggressive than expected, and overnight they become objects of underwater observation. Seeing a shark underwater is a dream for many. The main thing here is not to go to the other extreme, starting to treat the meeting with a shark too frivolously. True, the likelihood of meeting with the “brilliant barbarian of the seas,” as Captain Cousteau called them, is rapidly decreasing these days:
So, what kind of sharks live in the Red Sea? Naturally, it is impossible to tell everything about everyone in a short article, so the review offered to the reader is devoted only to the largest and most frequently encountered species (there are up to 30 of them in total). By the way, for some species of sharks there are no generally accepted names in the Russian language, so it was necessary to select suitable equivalents.
COASTAL SHARKS
They constantly live in shallow water - on reefs, in lagoons of reef islands, bays, at places where large rivers flow into the ocean; if they migrate, it is from reef to reef; with such movements they can sometimes sink to great depths.
Let's start with blacktip reef shark(Carcharhinus melanopterus, blackfin/ blacktip reef shark), - not to be confused with the blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus, blacktip shark). She prefers shallow water, especially coral reefs, and is not afraid to enter reef platforms where the water is literally knee-deep. At the same time, this species was also recorded at a depth of 75 m. The shark has a torpedo-shaped, streamlined body and a head with a relatively short, rounded snout. The back and sides are light brown, bluish-gray or yellowish-gray (the first dorsal fin is lighter in color), the belly is white, the ends of the fins - the first dorsal, the lower blade of the tail and, sometimes, the pectoral fins - are distinctly black (hence the name). Constantly on the move, does not know how to lie on the bottom. It is especially active at night, although it also hunts during the day, patrolling the reefs around the periphery or combing coral lagoons. The blacktip reef shark rarely exceeds 1.5-1.8 m in length and weighs 45 kg, so it is not considered dangerous. However, cases of them grabbing swimmers by the fins and knees have been recorded all over the world. They stay within the same water area for a long time and often show curiosity towards divers invading its boundaries. At the same time, they are cautious and timid. Interestingly, with the opening of the Suez Canal, blacktip reef sharks entered and adapted well to the Mediterranean Sea, where they are now found even off Malta.
U whitetip reef shark(Triaenodon obesus, whitetip reef shark), unlike the blacktip shark, the tip of the first dorsal fin and the upper caudal blade are white. The head is flattened, with a very characteristic wide, blunt and short (“square”) snout, and an elongated oval shape of the eyes, unusual for other sharks. The curved back corners of the mouth and noticeably protruding brow ridges give her muzzle an ever-disgusting expression. The body is elongated or, as they say, slender, dark gray or brownish above, light below. The whitetip reef shark prefers shallow depths, but has also been recorded at depths of 330 m. During the day, it often rests, lying on the bottom or hiding in the crevices of reef walls, being most active at night. Having discovered prey, it often drives it into a crevice and then squeezes into it itself. A slender, easily bending body, a short blunt snout and brow ridges that protect the eyes allow it to successfully hunt even in such close quarters. The whitetip reef shark reaches over 2 m in length and weighs over 20 kg, but is considered harmless. However, in the presence of a wounded fish (for example, during spearfishing), it easily becomes agitated and can bite the diver. There have also been cases where whitetip reef sharks have bitten overly annoying swimmers.
Gray reef shark(Carcharhinus amblyrhychos, gray reef shark) reaches 2.6 m in length and weighs 33.7 kg. The snout is long, wide and rounded, the eyes are large. The coloration ranges from dark gray to bronze-gray, the outer edge of the caudal fin with a distinct black border. This is why the gray reef shark is often confused with the blacktip reef shark, which is easily distinguished by the black tip of the first dorsal fin. The gray reef shark is most often found patrolling the outer edges of reefs, but can descend to 280 m or even a kilometer depth. More active at night. During the daytime, they stay alone or in groups near reef dumps or in small schools (near the flat bottom). Like the whitetip reef shark, it can rest for a long time during the day, lying on the bottom. "Caught" in cannibalism. It has a reputation as one of the most curious and aggressive sharks, often swimming towards divers. The gray reef bites swimmers, as a rule, only when they begin to “molest” it. Only 7 unprovoked attacks were recorded, and none were fatal. An irritated or aggressive shark (by the way, like many other species) demonstrates a “threat pose”: a hunched back, an upturned snout with an open mouth, and downward pectoral fins. The shark becomes “nervous”, begins to swim in zigzags, and if the impolite diver does not lag behind, inflicts several serious bites and quickly disappears. By the way, when gathering in small schools, gray reef sharks are not distracted by swimmers. Apparently there are more important things to do. The diet of all three reef shark species mentioned above consists of small reef fish, squid, octopus and some crustaceans (for example, medium-sized crabs and lobsters).
The so-called “swarthy” also feeds on them. nurse shark(Nebrius ferrugineus, tawny nurse shark). It is noticeably different in appearance from most sharks, although in the dark it is sometimes confused with a tiger. It has a disproportionately large, wide head with a blunt, square snout and very small eyes, large fins and a very long tail with a barely defined lower blade. By the way, four are called nurse sharks different types sharks In addition to the “swarthy” nanny, there are also the “common” (Ginglymostoma cirratum), gray (Odontaspis taurus, also known as sand tiger) and “small-toothed sand tiger” (Odontaspis ferox, Herbsts nurse shark), which are not found in the Red Sea. All nurse sharks feed on octopuses, crustaceans and small fish. The first two species do not grab their prey, but suck it in, sharply expanding oral cavity and throat. The powerful “smack” heard at the same time, similar to the smack of a nanny cradling a baby, according to one version, became the reason for the curious name of these sharks. The tawny shark (literally translated from English as tanned skin color) is dark gray or dark sandy in color and can reach more than 3 m in length. Usually there are specimens that do not exceed 1.75-2.0 m in length. A shark of this size weighs about 50 kg. It is active almost exclusively at night, but during the day it hides in small grottoes and under the canopies of coral walls, where it rests, lying on the bottom. It does not like to rise into the water column. She is very peaceful, but becomes aggressive if treated persistently and disrespectfully.
Against, Tiger shark(Galeocerdo cuvieri, tiger shark), reaching a length of 5.5-6.0 m with a weight of 900 kg (usually 3.2-4.2 m and 385-635 kg), is on the list of the most dangerous marine inhabitants. A large, powerful mouth and wide teeth with saw-like edges allow it to cope with any available prey. Tiger sharks feed mainly on fish and other sharks, and from a certain age they begin to grab seabirds sitting on the water, tear turtles and dolphins. They have a reputation for being lovers of garbage and carrion. And once a hand grenade was found in the belly of a tiger shark. The head is large, with large eyes and a very blunt snout. The powerful body merges into a long, narrow tail. The back and sides are bluish-green to black. The belly is yellowish-white. The characteristic dark spots and transverse stripes from which the shark gets its name are especially noticeable in young individuals, becoming less visible in adults. Curious, aggressive and fearless - their size allows them. At least several dozen unprovoked attacks by tiger sharks on swimmers have been recorded, and fatal outcomes are not uncommon: according to this indicator, the tiger shark is second only to the great white and bull sharks. Luckily for you and me, they like it muddy waters(they like, for example, places where rivers flow into the ocean, bays with large coastal runoff). In addition, during the daytime, tiger sharks prefer to stay at great depths (recorded to depths of 350 m), going out into shallow water, including reefs, mainly at night. Subject to seasonal migrations. In summer they go into the waters temperate zone, and return to the tropics in winter. When migrating, they can swim far into the open ocean.
zebra shark(Stegostoma fasciatum, zebra shark), like the tiger shark, cannot be confused with any other, even with a very strong desire. It has a short, wide head with small eyes, a cylindrical body with hard longitudinal ridges on the back and sides, closely set dorsal fins and a tail almost equal in length to the rest of the body. Adults are gray-yellow or gray-brown with numerous dark spots. In young animals, on the contrary, yellow-white spots and stripes are scattered over a black or dark brown background. This is why the zebra shark is sometimes called a variegated shark. Hence another, widespread, but incorrect name for the zebra shark - “leopard” shark. However, the true leopard shark (Triakis semifasciata, leopard shark) is not found in the Red Sea. "Zebra" can reach a length of 3.6 m (usually 2.5-3.0 m). The two-meter shark weighs 32 kg. Inactive during the daytime. Repeatedly noted lying on the bottom, “anchored” with its pectoral fins in the sand and opening its mouth towards the underwater flow (this apparently makes breathing easier). The diet is similar to that of nurse sharks: mollusks, crustaceans, small fish. It poses no danger to swimmers, and, due to its appearance and coloring, is a favorite subject for underwater photography.
"Scalloped" hammerhead sharks(Sphyrna lewini, scalloped hammerhead shark) is also among the “favorites” of professional underwater photographers. Especially when they gather in flocks. True, they do this, as a rule, at decent depths (50 m or more), and getting to them is not easy. Hammerhead sharks gather in schools near the tops of seamounts, displaying complex group behavior. In general, this shark is very mobile, and migration is an essential element of its life, like that of the tiger shark. They can approach the surf and be found in the open ocean, sometimes dropping to 275 m. The flat head presumably acts as an additional rudder, providing lightning-fast turns, and is involved in the operation of the shark’s sensory apparatus: eyes and nostrils located on the edges of the lateral lobes of the head , perhaps, provide greater coverage of the study space. One of her favorite objects of hunting is stingrays: one such “hammer” had 96 (!) in its jaws. tail spines these stingrays. The body is gray-brown with a white belly. They can reach 4.2 m in length (usually 3.5 m) and weigh 160 kg. The mouth is small, so this species of hammerhead shark is not considered dangerous to humans. However, it is better not to provoke him: can you imagine the strength a 3.5-meter fish has?
"Silver"(literally "silver-tip") shark (Carcharhinus albimarginatus, silvertip shark) is found both in coastal waters, including on reefs, and in the open ocean, for example, on banks and shallows. It can descend to depths of 800 m. It reaches 3 m in length (on average, 2.0-2.5 m) with a weight of 162.2 kg. The body is gray or gray-brown, the belly is light. The tips of all fins are white. It feeds on fish, cephalopods and juveniles of other sharks, and there have been cases when, being on the edge of a hunting group of sharks of another species, the “silver” shark wedged itself into this school to grab prey. Considered potentially dangerous: one unprovoked attack on a swimmer has been reported. Although it prefers to keep a distance from swimmers and divers, it is easily excited and becomes aggressive, especially at the sight of a wounded fish. The silvertip shark can be confused with the gray and whitetip reef sharks, but the graytip has black tips on its pectoral fins, while the whitetip does not have white spots on them.
Blacktip shark(Carcharhinus limbatus, blacktip shark) - not to be confused with the blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus, blackfin/blacktip reef shark) - like the “silver”, it is found both in coastal areas and in the open ocean. Along the coasts it often appears where rivers flow into the ocean and in large estuaries overgrown with mangroves, but does not enter fresh water. In the ocean it loves reef dumps, however, as a rule, it does not go deeper than 30 m. The body is dark gray or blue to dark brown, with a distinct white stripe on the side and a white belly. The snout is moderately pointed. All fins, with the exception of the anal and upper tail blades, have black tips. The maximum length is 2.5 m (according to some sources, 2.75 m with a weight of 123 kg), however, as a rule, 1.5-meter specimens are found. Their weight is about 18 kg. 28 unprovoked attacks on humans have been recorded, however, given the size of the blacktip shark, none of them resulted in any serious damage. For some reason known to them, they like to scare surfers.
U sand shark(Carcharhinus plumbeus, sandbar shark) body is gray-brown or bronze. The belly is white. Head with a moderately long, rounded snout. The fins are uniformly colored, sometimes with slightly darker (but not black!) ends. Maximum length 2.5 m with a weight of 117.9 kg. Sand sharks sometimes live in groups consisting of individuals of the same size. It prefers coastal areas, bays, bays, estuaries, but is sometimes found in the open sea, going down to a depth of 1800 m. In shallow water, despite the name, it avoids the sandy bottom, reefs and surf zone. It also does not like to get close to the surface. It feeds on fish, stingrays, small sharks, cephalopods, and shrimp. Like any large predator, it requires respect.
PELAGIC SHARKS
Pelagic sharks prefer the open sea, but often approach reefs, especially near islands, in places where the reef walls drop steeply into the depths. They enter deep-water bays and straits. It should be taken into account that the juveniles of some species of pelagic sharks stay in shallow waters to reduce the risk of being eaten by their older relatives in the open ocean.
Oceanic longfin or longtip shark(Carcharhinus longimanus, oceanic whitetip shark) is easily distinguished by its disproportionately long pectoral fins and white spot on the rounded tip of the first dorsal fin. The tips of the pectoral fins and tail blades may also be white. The body is gray-bronze or brown, the belly is light. Reaches 3.5-4.0 m in length with a maximum weight of 167.4 kg. It feeds mainly on fish and squid; when it matures, it attacks large tuna, turtles, and grabs seabirds that have landed on the water. Does not disdain carrion, for example, dead dolphins, and slops poured overboard. Solitary, they hunt day and night, slowly cruising the ocean. Noticing the approach of sharks of other species during feeding, they become aggressive and try to drive away the uninvited strangers. When hunting, they develop considerable speed, easily falling into a state of “food madness.” This is one of the most dangerous sharks, which has repeatedly attacked divers, including in the Red Sea. Frequent stories about safe diving with this predator are combined with information about unprovoked attacks on divers, surfers and ordinary swimmers. Unfortunately, one of distinctive features behavior of the longtip shark, its unpredictability. Once close to divers, they do not show any signs of fear. On the contrary, they stubbornly circle, sometimes making attempts to get closer. Most of the victims of plane crashes and shipwrecks in the open ocean are the responsibility of the long-tipped shark.
Unlike the long-winged silky shark(Carcharhinus falciformis, silky shark) is a fast, active swimmer. Adults prefer the open ocean, while juveniles stay closer to the shore. Found at depths from 18 to 4000 m. Young silky sharks are often found together with schools of tuna. They can live in small groups consisting of individuals of the same size. The body is dark gray with a bronze tint along the back, the belly is white. The pectoral fins are long and narrow. All fins, except the first dorsal, are noticeably sloping back, with dark tips. The maximum length is 3.3-3.5 m (usually 2.5 m) with a weight, sometimes up to 346 kg. It feeds on fish and squid, and to a lesser extent crustaceans. Due to its size it is considered potentially dangerous. She is credited with several unprovoked attacks on people.
Shortfin mako shark(Isurus oxyrhinchus, shortfin mako) - solitary hunter. Mako sharks are deservedly called the “cheetahs of the ocean.” These are the fastest of all sharks, managing to catch up with swordfish. By the way, such hunting is not safe: there is a known case of a mako being caught with a piece of a swordfish’s sword piercing its eye. They practically do not approach the shore and prefer cool, deep waters to warm surface ones. The mako's body has ideal hydrodynamic properties. The head is conical, with a rounded pointed snout and large round black eyes. The color is metallic blue, the belly is white. They reach a length of 3.2-3.8 m with a maximum weight of 570 kg.
Despite its impressive size, it prefers to hunt fish and squid, while turtles and marine mammals are rarely included in its menu. However, due to its size, speed and aggressiveness, it is considered one of the most dangerous to humans. Several fatal attacks by shortfin mako sharks on swimmers have been recorded. It has been noted that before an attack they can form figure eights, approaching you with their mouth wide open.
Great hammerhead shark(Sphyrna mokarran, great hammerhead shark) - among the largest marine predators. They reach a length of 6.1 m and weigh 450 kg (on average, about 4 m and 230 kg). Powerful body dark brown, light gray or olive in color. The belly is light. They spend most of their lives in the open sea, actively migrating and moving to cooler waters in the summer. They can descend to depths of up to 300 m. However, they regularly appear in shallow waters, including reefs and coral lagoons. They feed on fish, including their own young, but their favorite prey, like other hammerhead sharks, is stingrays. Over two dozen attacks by hammerhead sharks on humans have been recorded, two of which resulted in the death of swimmers. No one knows which species or species were responsible for this, but giant hammerhead shark must be treated with extreme caution.
Whale shark(Rhincodon typus, whale shark) is the largest fish of our time, and one of the largest ever to appear in the oceans of our planet. Adult specimens reach a length of 14-15, and according to some sources - 18 m, and a weight of 15 tons or more. In large individuals, the mouth, for example, reaches a width of 1.4 m. Its opening is located at the anterior end of a wide, flattened head bearing very small eyes. Dark skin has numerous light yellow spots and stripes. There are three longitudinal hard ridges on each side of the shark’s back. These phlegms feed on plankton and are therefore absolutely harmless. With their mouths open wide, they cruise beneath the surface, passing up to 6,000 liters of water per hour through their gill-sieves.
Sometimes they stand vertically with their heads down, sucking water with their mouths in this position. Small crustaceans, small fish and medium-sized squids are the prey whale sharks. They often do not pay the slightest attention to swimmers, however, out of curiosity, they can swim closer. Therefore, you need to carefully monitor the shark’s turns and movements of its mighty tail. The entire life of whale sharks is spent in migrations. They enter the Red Sea regularly, but are not encountered very often. As a rule, people approach reefs only during coral spawning.
White shark(Carcharodon carcharias, great white shark) in the Red Sea, supposedly someone once saw it somewhere. In other words, there is no reliable data. Potentially, she can enter there through Suez Canal from Mediterranean Sea and from Indian Ocean. However, white sharks clearly prefer temperate waters to warm tropical waters, so divers should not worry too much about this. At the same time, one of the attacks described below in the Red Sea is very similar in “handwriting” to the attack of a great white.
WHO, WHERE, WHEN
Sharks in the Red Sea can be found anywhere. Once in Na'ama Bay, divers saw silky sharks: under the pier. Nowadays, luck is important, since sharks, unfortunately, are becoming less and less every year. Below are the places where the likelihood of encountering sharks is compared to Other dive sites are quite large.One of the most popular shark spots is the reefs of the Ras Mohamed National Marine Park. It is noted that blacktip reef sharks (which often come close to the shore and sometimes even enter the Mangrove Channel), whitetip and gray reef sharks, as well as giant and scalloped hammerhead sharks, nurse sharks, zebra sharks, tiger sharks, silver sharks, whale sharks, and tiptoe sharks. One note is appropriate here: you should not take for granted any information that appears on the Internet regarding encounters with different sharks in those or other dive sites of the Red Sea.
Reef sharks are not uncommon in Marsa Alam, 240 km south of Hurghada, and around Sharm El-Sheikh, for example in Shark Bay. They are also found on Careless Reef. Serious sharks can be encountered around Safaga, including Panorama Reef, as well as in the Marsa Bereika area, for example, in the towns of Ras Atar and The Alternatives.
Naturally, it is easier to see a shark when it is looking for prey. Sharks in coastal waters are more active at night.
They rely less on vision, whereas in the life of oceanic species vision is one of the important sources of information, and most hunt during the day. At the same time, there are species, for example, the tiger shark, for which the time of day does not matter.
And one more note - the number of sharks in Red Sea dive sites is inversely proportional to the number of fishermen, swimmers and divers. How more people, the fewer sharks. If you are unlucky, then even in the most “fishy” places you may not find a single shark. In Sudan, they say, not a single dive can be done without them.
STATISTICS
Around the world, between 30 and 100 shark attacks on humans are recorded annually, of which between 5 and 15 are fatal. By the way, for the most part, it is not divers who suffer, but swimmers and surfers, since they do not always know what is happening under water, and they, as a rule, do not have a partner.
The three most “dangerous” areas are Australia, South Africa and the islands of the tropical Pacific. Over the past hundred years, only three shark attacks on humans have been recorded off the coast of Egypt. On July 23, 1996, at about 6 p.m., a shark attacked a swimmer in the Marsa Bereika area, north of the Ras Mohamed reefs. The dive boat stopped a kilometer from the shore so that swimmers could watch a pod of dolphins moving north. The owner of the boat invited divers to dive with dolphins. Everything was against it: evening, open sea and dolphins. One way or another, he himself, as well as a couple of Britons, jumped overboard.
By this time, the dolphins had already moved away, but the sharks arrived unnoticed. Underwater, the swimmers missed each other, and one of them, Martin Richardson, was almost immediately attacked. Before he surfaced, the shark inflicted several deep bites on him. Reacting to what happened, the dolphins returned! They surrounded the wounded diver, keeping the sharks away from him. The Englishman had to be urgently sent to a military hospital, where he was operated on. Deep bites to the back, shoulder and chest, a broken rib and a punctured lung are the results of the attack, which is attributed to a whitetip shark.
On August 14, 1997, a shark attacked a small fishing boat 150 m from the shore near Safaga. The boat capsized and both fishermen, Ayman Abul Hassan and Naga Attala El-Sayed, were stranded in the water. The first died from shark bites, the second barely survived. An attack on a boat, even a small one, is usually considered to be the work of a white shark:
And just recently, on February 14, 2004, a shark attacked an Egyptian who was swimming in set number 1. The victim himself got ashore, but later died in the hospital from shock caused by loss of blood. It happened in Coral Bay, near Sharm El-Sheikh. It is unknown which shark species is responsible for this attack.
Three more incidents in the Red Sea were recorded off the coast of Eilat (Israel). In the 70s, a shark attacked a German tourist, in the 80s - a British tourist and an Israeli military diver. According to rumors, everyone survived. This is all.
SHARK BEHAVIOR AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DIVERS
Like any other predator, a shark spends most of its life searching for food. There are territorial species that constantly patrol their area, while others are “free hunters.” Moving in the water column, the shark perceives a huge number of different signals, allowing it to accurately determine the place where the prey is located. The vibrations in the water created by the swimmer attract sharks either because they are unusual or because they resemble the sounds made by a wounded animal. Sharks can be guided by the smell of blood if a diver scratches his leg on coral or carelessly carries a kukan with a stabbed fish. Thus, as a rule, a person provokes a shark by his own behavior. Keep in mind that any shark whose size is comparable to its size is potentially dangerous to humans. Even a phlegmatic nanny can be “angry” and thus provoked into attack. In the Bahamas and Florida, there have been several cases of completely harmless “ordinary” nurse sharks lunging at divers who tried to ride on their backs or unceremoniously pulled their tails. Due to the peculiar structure of the oral apparatus, these sharks cannot bite off anything. However, their mouth works like a powerful suction cup, from which the scuba diver is not able to free himself. It's easier to kill a shark than to get rid of it! Naturally, she doesn’t want to float up, and the air in the cylinders is also not endless.
In general, thrill-seekers got it in full.
The behavior of sharks is often (but not always) unpredictable. Sometimes they show no interest in swimmers for a long time, only to suddenly rush at one of them at some point. In some cases, this is one bite, after which the predator disappears, in others, the shark is in the mood for a hearty lunch. Sometimes it's shallow water, sometimes it's open ocean. In short, caution doesn't hurt in any case.
There are three types of shark attacks. The first and least dangerous is “snatch and run away.” Presumably, all attacks of this type are carried out by mistake. The shark, reacting to the splash or sparkle of the bracelet, bites the swimmer or surfer (usually on the leg), after which, realizing the mistake, it disappears. The hit-and-bite attack is more serious. The shark demonstrates itself for a long time, circles, appears and disappears, after which, having made a decision, it attacks. The swimmer, as a rule, does not see the shark at the time of the attack. Many of those attacked subsequently described that first there was a powerful blow with the snout from behind or from below, before the shark used its teeth. This strike is a kind of reconnaissance, and in some cases, having crashed into metal cylinders, the shark turned away. However, such attacks often result in significant damage and sometimes, unfortunately, death. The worst option is a sneak attack. In this case, the shark, firmly deciding that it is prey, appears in front of the swimmer out of nowhere and inflicts many bites in a short time. Maddened by blood, she returns again and again, leaving extremely little chance of salvation:
The usual advice advice given to swimmers, surfers and divers to reduce the risk of a shark attack is as follows: try to make less noise, splashing for sharks is a hint that there is something to profit from here. On the other hand, if you are swimming with other people, the larger the group, the lower the risk of being attacked. the main problem, in time to see the shark. Therefore, diving alone is highly undesirable. Try to keep your back to the reef wall. Be careful in places where there is a sharp change in depth, and also pay attention to the unusual behavior of fish around you. Be careful when surfacing: shark attacks most often occur at this moment. Swimming with seals and sea lions or in their rookery areas is strongly discouraged. An important point is that many large oceanic sharks often accompany schools of dolphins. The dolphins found fish, and the shark will most likely get some. An old or sick dolphin dying (or a young one breaking away from the pod) is also not bad. In other words, diving with dolphins, as mentioned earlier, may also be unsafe. Do not use bright or shiny objects(watches, jewelry, etc.) that may arouse the curiosity of sharks. Don't feed the fish underwater: for the sharks, attracted by the bustle of the fish, you will be the biggest and slowest fish. And, of course, do not carry around a kukan with shot prey and, especially, do not attach it to your belt. Whenever possible, pass the fish to the boat and be prepared to throw the catch if an interested one appears on the scene. large shark. There is an opinion that in this case she views the underwater hunter not as a victim, but as a potential rival, who, having bitten, can be driven away. A shark baton in your hand is a good helper if you feel like a certain shark has become too annoying. A slight blow to the head usually cools her curiosity.
Well, what should you do, they ask me, if you are in the water and there is a large shark nearby, whose behavior leaves no doubt about its intentions? Answer: The best thing to do at this point is to get into the boat as soon as possible.
Well, what if the boat is far away, does the reader not calm down? Here are some tips that may be helpful: if the shark approaches a critical distance. Remember that the most important condition for behavior underwater is confidence in your actions. Like many other predators, sharks are sensitive to panic. They always choose the “easier” prey, and when they feel rebuffed, they usually leave. When a shark is nearby, there is no point in running away from it. It is no less pointless to wait limply for her to bite you. Face the shark and hit it in the snout or eye (even with your fist) as hard as you can. In several cases, scuba divers took off their fins and tried to put them in the shark's mouth, proving that they were inedible. It helped.
Here is an example of carelessness and at the same time how to behave in such a situation. In 1963, off the coast of Australia, Rodney Fox was attacked by a white shark while participating in a spearfishing competition. The shark grabbed him by the side, just below his left shoulder. Rodney tried to poke the harpoon into her eye, but instead his hand landed in her mouth. As a result, the meat from the diver's forearm was instantly removed to the bone. The shark moved away, but returned and tried to attack him again. The swimmer contrived to grab her snout so that she could not bite him again. Weak from loss of blood and gasping for breath, Rodney began to float to the surface. But the shark is back again!
This time she grabbed the fish cukan attached to Fox's belt and dragged it into the depths. Luckily for him, the line was soon cut shark teeth, and Rodney, surfacing, was able to get into the boat waiting on the surface. It took 462 stitches and several hours of emergency surgery to put him back together and save his life.
EXTERMINATION
Sharks are dying! Or rather, people eat them. Including in the Red Sea. There are reports from almost all dive sites of a sharp decrease in the number of shark sightings.
Why?! Yes, because sharks have fins. And the famous shark soup is made from the fins, the price for a plate of which can reach up to $150. On the contrary, shark meat contains urea and is unsuitable for food without special processing. In order not to mess with it, the fins of still living sharks are often cut off. After this, they are simply thrown overboard, where they die long and painfully. About 100 million sharks are caught on our planet every year, mostly for their fins. 95% of their imports come from countries South-East Asia. Already, about 350 species of sharks are threatened with extinction. In Egypt, shark fishing is prohibited everywhere. But this does not stop local fishermen.
Three species of sharks have already been nearly wiped out, including one species of nurse shark, the so-called sand tiger, and one species of blacktip shark. And it’s quite possible that in just 10 years, the rules of conduct when meeting sharks on the pages of DiveTek magazine will look like a medieval superstition: Something like a guide to fighting vampires.
Enough has already been written about sharks. It doesn't take much knowledge to realize that the reason for this interest is that the word "shark" has long been synonymous with the word "danger." American psychiatrists have even registered a certain “shark” syndrome.
So, what shark species can be seen in Red Sea? This short article will not talk about all of them, but only about the largest and most frequently encountered species.
Sharks often live on reefs, in bays, and at places where large rivers flow into the ocean.
It's worth starting with the reef blacktip shark. These prefer coral reefs, and they are not afraid to go onto reef platforms, where the water is actually knee-deep. At the same time, this species was also spotted at a depth of 75 meters. The shark has a streamlined, torpedo-shaped body, and the head has a rounded, relatively short snout. The sides and back of these sharks are bluish-gray, light brown or yellowish-gray.
These sharks do not know how to lie on the bottom; they are constantly moving. The biologically active hours of the blacktip reef shark are observed at night, it is not considered dangerous, since its length is from 150 to 180 cm and its weight is 45 kg. But they often grab swimmers by the knees and fins.
Reef whitetip shark, in contrast to that described above, the tip of the first fin on the back, as well as the upper blade of the tail, is white. The head has a very characteristic blunt, wide and short snout, also unusual for other sharks oval shape eye. The body is elongated, brownish or dark gray above, and light below. Shallow depths are preferred for this shark. During the day, the whitetip reef shark often rests, hiding in reef crevices or lying on the bottom, and is most active at night. It is considered harmless, but there have been cases where a shark surrounded by wounded fish (for example, during spearfishing) was easily excited and bit the diver.
Another shark that lives among the reefs is gray reef shark. It can reach a length of 260 cm, and its weight can be 33 kg. The snout is wide, long and round, large eyes. The color ranges from bronze-gray to dark gray, with the outer edge of the fin on the tail having a distinct black border. For this reason, it is often confused with the blacktip reef shark. During the daytime, these sharks stay in groups or alone near reef dumps. This shark is known for its curiosity and aggressiveness, but it only bites swimmers when they pester it.
Zebra shark cannot be confused with any other even if there is a great desire. It has a wide, short head with small eyes, a cylinder-shaped body with longitudinal hard ridges on the sides and back, dorsal fins that are set close together, and a tail, the length of which is almost the same as the rest of the body. This shark is also called motley. This shark can reach a length of about 360 cm. It poses no danger to swimmers and, due to its coloring and appearance, is a favorite subject for underwater photography.
"Scalloped" hammerhead sharks They are also one of the “favorites” of professional photographers working underwater. Especially at a time when sharks gather in schools. The flat head of this shark is believed to serve as an additional rudder, and also takes part in the operation of the sensory apparatus of this inhabitant depths of the sea. These sharks hunt. The body of such sharks is gray-brown in color with a white belly. They can reach a length of about 420 cm and weigh 160 kg. This shark's mouth is small, so it does not pose a danger to humans.
The silver shark can always be found close to the coast, where it swims from the open ocean.
For example, on shallows and banks.
It grows up to 3 meters in length, and its weight reaches 160 kg. The body is gray-brown or gray, and the belly is light. Eats juveniles of other sharks, fish, cephalopods. It prefers to keep its distance from divers and swimmers, but can become easily agitated and become aggressive when it sees injured fish.
A 53-year-old German man was attacked by a shark off Egypt's Red Sea coast last weekend, in a fatal incident where the man lost most of his leg.
The attack took place on the beaches of Marsa Alam, which nestle along the southern Red Sea in Egypt. The identity of the victim has not yet been established, although the German Embassy noted that they are aware of tragic death and plan to get the body. Details of the incident are sparse, but an Egyptian security official said the shark bit off one of the man's legs just below the knee, causing rampant blood loss. Officials who spoke to ABC News about the details of the Saturday, March 21 shark attack agreed to do so only on condition of anonymity.
Egypt is considered one of the world's best diving destinations, and shark attacks are hardly new in the region. A previous series of attacks in Sharm el-Sheikh fueled local conspiracy theories that sharks were trained and released by Israel to kill people swimming. Egyptian "Cairo Scene" notes that if further attacks occur this summer, similar theories could arise again, although the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant will now be blamed for the possible shark attacks, given global events.
Video. Shark attack in Egypt
“The truth is that shark attacks are naturally inevitable tragic events, often explained by the simple saying: he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
In 2010, another German tourist was killed, and a 70-year-old woman was killed by a shark while snorkeling. Four other people were seriously injured, The Inquisitr previously reported, and the unprecedented attack involved five sharks that were sighted once that week. Those attacks were blamed on oceanic Mako sharks And whitetip gray shark and various explanations have been proposed for the aggressive behavior of sharks. Lack of food, rising average water temperatures and divers feeding sharks were thought to have played a role in the attacks.
It was also considered that ships carrying livestock from Australia and New Zealand could dispose of dead animals by throwing them overboard - an action that could attract sharks closer to shore. Last year in the same region in the stomach tiger shark the remains of a sheep were found, it would seem that this confirms the voiced theory.
Following a wave of shark attacks in 2010, Egyptian authorities were forced to close a stretch of beach along the Red Sea for a week.
Video. About the shark attack in the Red Sea in 2010
