I've alway been curious.....can you go scuba diving while you have your period? Will it attract sharks?
2006-10-25 15:57:01 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Swimming & Diving
Well, when you are in the water, I know that menstruation slows down and even stops. I myself do not dive when I have my period, not for the reason you just stated, but because my problem is the occasional discomfort from cramps. I don't like to take medications when I go scuba diving so if the cramps are very bad, I just skip the activity altogether.
One thing you should also be aware of is that you might be prone to dehydration when you are menstruating so make sure you drink plenty of fluids if you do decide to dive.
There is an interesting article at Women in Scuba about women's issue in diving. The article was done by Jacalyn Robert of Texas Tech University; Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation.
"There is no evidence of increased shark interest in a menstruating female. The hemolytic blood associated with menses may instead act as a shark deterrent (Edmonds, et al., 1992, p. 65)."
And then there's this from a study by Richard Martin:
"It has been demonstrated that sharks are uninterested in menstrual fluids. This is not, as some dive physicians suggest, because the amount of fluid is small and discharged over a number of days. Sharks have an highly developed ability to detect chemicals dissolved in water, down to an infinitestimal 10 trillionth of a mole per litre of seawater for certain amino acids. If even the tiniest quantity of mensus is released into the water during an hour's dive, the incredible acuity of the shark olfactory system may welll be able to detect it. While certain types of blood are well-known to be hightly attractive to sharks, menstrual 'blood' is a complex fluid that is chemically very different from systemic blood. Menstrual fluid does include 'old' (hemolysed) blood, but it has been shown experimentally that sharks are simply not interested in it."
2006-10-26 11:39:31 · answer #1 · answered by TY 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It depends where you are diving. In the Carribean, I wouldn't worry about it. Now if you were diving in shark infested waters like Rhode Island, South Australia, Costa Rica, North Carolina or Pacific North... you would at least wear a dry suit. There are sharks all over, but there are less large man-eater sharks in warm water, where majority of recreational divers dive.
Recent research has also shown, sharks are attracted to fish blood more than human blood.
2006-10-28 06:26:46 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Your period won't flow and you should use a tampon. Sharks do sense one drop of blood but if you're wearing a wet suit, you'll be fine, i mean usaully when you dive sharks are NOT interested in the first place.
2014-07-10 17:04:49 · answer #3 · answered by Jackie 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The simple answer is no as the amount of blood reaching the water through whatever layers are between you and the water will effectively stop it. It is especially "no" if you are wearing a dry suit or the sharks in question are whale sharks or basking sharks
2016-03-19 00:07:36 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
a shark senses one drop of blood in a million gallons of water, but i wouldnt really worry about it, there are many other things that attract sharks, the chances of you getting attacked by a shark even when you have a sliced arm and 10 gold rings on, is slim. another interesting fact: soda machines falling on people causes more deaths than shark attacks each year.
2006-10-25 16:32:31 · answer #5 · answered by Sean 2 · 5⤊ 1⤋
If I was diving in shark infested waters, I wouldn't want my diving companion to be menstruating.
I see Jaws licking his lips.
When will LUNCH be served?
2006-10-25 16:05:48 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
now that is a good question...best thing to do is ask your local dive shop...ive dove with a good many female divers and for some reason, they all came back alive...smiles...but for the most part i take youre not a diver...if youre not sure, dont take the chance...again check with your local dive shop...good luck
2006-10-26 00:43:29 · answer #7 · answered by russ_vl 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They tell you NOT to swim with dolphins when you have your period....maybe theres something to that.
2006-10-25 16:04:43 · answer #8 · answered by welch1198 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't want to be the one to test that theory out.
2006-10-25 16:04:29 · answer #9 · answered by Alessa 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I love math. You forgot one variable, Tampon.
scuba diving + period + tampon = - shark bait
2006-10-25 15:59:05 · answer #10 · answered by powhound 7 · 0⤊ 5⤋