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62 years old woman swims from Havana to Key West, without a shark cage

7 points| spottiness | 14 years ago |cnn.com | reply

4 comments

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[+] timjahn|14 years ago|reply
I feel the "without a shark cage" claim is a bit misleading. While she won't physically have a 100% protective shark cage around her, she has a crew of experienced professionals protecting her the entire trip, whose sole purpose is to ensure she doesn't have any encounters with sharks.

Isn't that basically a "shark cage"?

[+] pavel_lishin|14 years ago|reply
She had more than just people, she had an electronic repeller, too.

> Six ocean kayakers will switch off paddling kayaks mere inches from Nyad's side throughout the journey, towing underneath them electronic Shark Shields that emit a harmless but annoying electrical impulse that repels most species of sharks. Shark safety officers trained to distract any creatures that may get curious will take turns in the water surrounding her.

This is like saying, "I'm going camping in Mosquito Swamp, without the benefit of a tent!" and then climbing into a sleeping bag, and zipping it shut.

[+] da5e|14 years ago|reply
As I understand it a physical shark cage makes a swim quite a bit easier by blocking resistance in the water. So this is a lot harder.
[+] spottiness|14 years ago|reply
I agree with you. There's also the electronic Shark Shields that repels most species of sharks...