# Would you swim with sharks? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 17, 2009, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-swim-with-sharks/510481 "2009-09-17T19:14:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2009, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-swim-with-sharks/510481/41 "2009-09-20T16:57:44Z")
> [@PapSett](#): > > No one has bothered to try and answer my question- why are the openings so large in a shark cage? All the videos I watched, the openings were WAY bigger than I would be comfortable with. In one, it allowed a 15 foot shark to get in. > > So, I ask, why not make the openings smaller? I’m curious about this, too. I don’t know the answer either, though, but I’d like to know. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2009, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-swim-with-sharks/510481/42 "2009-09-20T17:00:30Z")
> [@PapSett](#): > > No one has bothered to try and answer my question- why are the openings so large in a shark cage? All the videos I watched, the openings were WAY bigger than I would be comfortable with. In one, it allowed a 15 foot shark to get in. > > So, I ask, why not make the openings smaller? I think it’s so the divers can swim in and out of them. Some of them don’t have open tops. I remember seeing on the Discovery Channel many many years ago-- late '80s, probably-- a program about cage diving that said the cage is more like a psychological barrier for the shark. A great white who got the notion could shred it pretty much effortlessly. I’m guessing a cage secure enough to really keep the sharks out would be too heavy, too expensive, or too hard to make float. ---
**Author:** ![anu-la1979](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@anu-la1979](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anu-la1979)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2009, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-swim-with-sharks/510481/43 "2009-09-20T17:07:52Z")
I did in Belize at Shark Ray Alley. But they were the wussy nurse sharks as noted. Also stingrays. The first thing they tell you about the stingrays is “don’t grab their tails” and where/how to pet them. So what does my ex do as soon as he hits the water? Grabs a stingray by the tail. :rolleyes: Here are some [bad pictures](http://www.flickr.com/photos/monkeymc/sets/72157612678574323/) ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2009, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-swim-with-sharks/510481/44 "2009-09-20T17:10:14Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > I think it’s so the divers can swim in and out of them. Some of them don’t have open tops. I remember seeing on the Discovery Channel many many years ago-- late '80s, probably-- a program about cage diving that said the cage is more like a psychological barrier for the shark. A great white who got the notion could shred it pretty much effortlessly. I’m guessing a cage secure enough to really keep the sharks out would be too heavy, too expensive, or too hard to make float. A psychological barrier for the shark. Yeah, I’m not getting in any PSYCHOLOGICAL BARRIER. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2009, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-swim-with-sharks/510481/45 "2009-09-20T17:13:00Z")
My protection system against sharks consists entirely of attempting to dredge up their mommy issues. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2009, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-swim-with-sharks/510481/46 "2009-09-20T17:24:13Z")
> [@PapSett](#): > > No one has bothered to try and answer my question- why are the openings so large in a shark cage? All the videos I watched, the openings were WAY bigger than I would be comfortable with. In one, it allowed a 15 foot shark to get in. > > So, I ask, why not make the openings smaller? The same reason that bungee jump cords should be as long as possible, without being long enough to actually let you slam into the ground. Usually. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2009, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-swim-with-sharks/510481/47 "2009-09-20T18:03:10Z")
I’ve been swimming in water that (it turned out) had a 5 m Great White cruising about 30-40 m away from where I was. Didn’t worry me when I heard about it afterwards. I’ve also been snorkelling with other sorts of sharks. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-swim-with-sharks/510481/48 "2009-09-21T16:23:47Z")
> [@PapSett](#): > > No one has bothered to try and answer my question- why are the openings so large in a shark cage? All the videos I watched, the openings were WAY bigger than I would be comfortable with. In one, it allowed a 15 foot shark to get in. > > So, I ask, why not make the openings smaller? The openings are large so you can stick your arm and video camera out of the cage. Video from inside the cage showing the bars isn’t nearly as exciting as video where the bars aren’t visible. Sometimes you’ll also see cages with a door, so you can hang out the opening and film, then close the door if the sharks get too close. And yes, a large shark, with enough time, could tear apart most of the cages out there. They work because it’s a barrier that the sharks have no experience/instincts for. There’s nothing to tell them “If I chew through this nasty tasting, teeth breaking metal that’s totally messing with my electric field detecting senses, I can get to those odd smelling, bubble producing monsters inside and see if they taste good.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-swim-with-sharks/510481.md?page=2)