Hydrosphere is a marine educational organization founded by former Cousteau Society diver and documentary film producer Yehuda Goldman. Hydrosphere was created to provide an open opportunity for anyone (especially non-divers) to join unique educational research expeditions and share in the journey to adventure and the wonder of exploration.
EXPEDITION HEADQUARTERS
HYDROSPHERE
860 Via De La Paz, Suite D3
Pacific Palisades, Calif. 90272
Phone: 310-230-3334
Fax: 310-230-3336
HYDROSPHERE (UTAH)
PO. Box 3944
Park City, Utah 84060
Phone: 801-649-3303
Fax: 801-485-2702
EXPEDITIONS
Open to adults and children ages 8 and up. Scuba certification not required.
NIGHT-TIME/DAY-TIME SHARK EXPEDITION
SEA LION OBSERVATION
CATALINA ISLAND SNORKELING ADVENTURE
FAMILY OCEAN SCIENCE NIGHT
SHARK STATISTICS
ANNUAL GLOBAL FIGURES
Average number of shark attacks 50-75
Average number of deaths from attacks 5-10
Odds of being killed by a bee sting 1:5,500,00
Odds of being killed in bike accident 1:88,000
Odds of being killed by age of 35 from smoking 1:600
Odds of being attacked by a shark 1:100,000,000
Odds of being killed by a shark 1:300,000,000
FIGURES FOR UNITED STATES
Average number of shark attacks 10-15
Average number of deaths from attacks 1-2
Number of people struck by lightning 360
Number of people killed by lightning 60
Number of people killed by gunshots per day 52
Number of deaths in 1994 by
Motor Vehicles 48,700
Forms of cancer 42,161
Falls 11,300
Pneumonia 6,149
Ingestion 3,200
Poison by gas 1,000
Tuberculosis 150
Appendicitis 43
SPECIFIC SHARKS
GREAT WHITE
The great white is the largest of the predatory sharks, capable of eating seals whole. The great white inspires fear, growing to over 20 feet and weighing more than 2.4 tons. Attacks on people are rare and usually occurs when a shark mistakes a person for its usual prey, the seal. The great white became famous in the "Jaws" movies. Despite its fame, little is known about this awe-inspiring predator.
A great white's coloring makes it difficult to see in the water, so it is able to sneak up on it's victims. When seen from below, a shark's white undersides blend in with a bright sky's reflection at the water's surface.
HAMMERHEAD
Hammerheads are, by far, the distinguishable member of the shark species. Most hammerheads live in warm temperate and tropical coastal waters. There are nine species of hammerheads, including the bonnetheads and wingheads. The scalloped hammerhead is the most common of the species.
Hammerheads generally travel in schools. The reasons for this behavior is unclear. These large predators have few enemies, so it's not likely that they school for protection. The females compete with each other to stay in the center of the schools. This gives them a better chance to be courted by males.
WHALE
Whale sharks are the largest fish in the world, reaching at least 40 ft long and weighing 13 tons. These animals are harmless and will allow divers to hitch rides by hanging on to their fins. The gentle giant cruises at about 2 mph. They live in tropical and subtropical waters. Because they feed near the surface, where there is a large supply of food, they occasionally run into ships.
MEGAMOUTH
One of the world's most extraordinary animals, the megamouth, was discovered about 20 years ago. The megamouth is more than 16 feet long and weighs almost 1,500 pounds. Since 1976 five more megamouths have been found, including one that was captured off the California coast in 1990. The megamouth's grin extends almost 3 feet. The shark lures krill (shrimplike creatures) into it's huge mouth with luminous organs around it's lips.
NUMBERS ON SHARKS
Estimates on the number of species range from 350 to 370. Of these, about 30 are considered dangerous to humans. Of this subset, only three species have been implicated most often in attacks on humans: the great white, tiger and bull sharks. Sharks are found throughout the seas of oceans, and in some bodies of freshwater. They have eaten almost anything from a man in a suit of armor to 24 bottles of French water. Throughout civilizations, legends and documented reports of shark attacks have propagated the fear people have of this creature.
ORIGIN OF THE WORD SHARK
The exact origin of the word, shark, is unclear. It may have derived from many sources. Before 1570, it was known as tiburon, a Spanish name. After hostilities between Spain and England, tiburon was replaced with the German word, schurke, which means villain. Over time, schurke evolved into shark. In the classical Greek selachos means shark.
