Shark cage
noun - A shark cage is a strongly built rectangular deterrent, supported by pontoons that is towed by an escort boat to serve as an open water swimmer's protection against sharks and other apex predators in the ocean during a marathon swim or channel swim. It can also be used by marine biologists, cameramen, and others who enter waters where there may be threats of shark sightings, shark encounters, or shark attacks. The cage can also have mesh around it in order to protect from jellyfish, poisonous fish or other marine life or flotsam or jetsam, or simply to increase the speed of the swimmer.
A shark proof cage is an extremely strong metal cage used by SCUBA divers and marathon swimmers to safely either (a) observe, examine or film dangerous types of sharks up close such as the Great White Shark or bull shark, or (b) swim across open bodies of water where sharks are known to exist. Shark cages are built to withstand being rammed by large, powerful sharks.
Regulations
Open water swims performed with the aid of shark cages are not recognized by some governing bodies and the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame because the swimmer tends to swim much faster within a shark cage compared to the same swimmer swimming without a shark cage.
Usage
The swimmer was tossed about in the ocean by the turbulence caused by the shark cage.'
Patented Shark Cage
On 4 September 1979, US patent number 4166462 was issued for a self-propelled shark proof cage. The cage was designed to allow abalone divers to collect abalone without becoming vulnerable to attacks by sharks. With the propulsion system, the abalone divers would exert themselves less and therefore be able to collect their prey for longer periods of time. The patent abstract details a self-propelled cage with at least one access opening and a propeller mounting frame that carries both an air motor and a propeller. Buoyant objects are attached to the frame so that the cage may be made approximately the same density as saltwater.
The Great Duel
Kevin Murphy and Des Renford race in Sydney Harbour in shark cages in 1977 in the first race of The Great Duel.
External links
- Increased Shark Encounters, Shark Attacks During Moonless Night Sky Channel Crossings
- Susanne Guesdon, a Treasure from Tasmania
- 1875 To The Present, How Has The Sport Evolved?
- The Most Unique Equipment In Open Water Swimming
- Alone Amid The Risks Of The Open Water
- Mel Cunningham Talks About Her Long Career On WOWSA Live
- David O'Brien Talks About Keep Turning Over On WOWSA Live
- Ersin Aydin Passes Away, Swam For The Fatherland
- Swimming In Sharky Waters
- David Smith Talking Purity Of Purpose On WOWSA Live
- Swimming Safely With The Thoughts Of Sharks
- Shark Caged In The Ocean
- Swim, Speak And Greet Chloe McCardel
- Chloe McCardel, The Calm Before The Calm
- Susie Maroney Criticized For Cuba-Florida Crossing
- The Cuba Swim, Traditional Marathon Swimming It Is Not
- Open Water Swimming
- Swimming with Hammerhead Sharks
- What're The Odds Of Ned Denison: One In Several Hundreds
- Magnetic Island to Townsville Open Water Swim
- Magnetic Island Continues Sans Shark Cages
- First Caged, Then Set Free
- Mohammad Kobadi To Swim Across The Persian Gulf
- Mohammad Kobadi On The Persian Gulf
- Crossing Three Continents - Connecting Asia, Europe, Africa
- World Open Water Swimming Association
- Open Water Swimming In The Philippines
- Darren To Be Great, Turner Recalls His Career
- First Caged, Then Set Free To Magnetic Island
- Swimming For More Than 24 Hours
- Hugh Tucker Honored By The Hall Of Fame
- Australian completes record Mexico-Cuba swim
- Ravaging And Rescuing The Gulf Of Mexico
