Swim At Your Own Risk: February 2006

Tuesday, February 28, 2006

That's A Whole Lotta Calamari


One of the biggest giant squids ever found is now on display at London's Natural History Museum. The 28 ft monstor was caught off the coast of the Falkland Islands last April. They've nicknamed him Archie, after its Latin name Architeuthis dux, but they may have to change that 'cuz they just discovered the he is actually a she.

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You Go Granny!


An Australian grandmother was honored with a bravery award on Monday for wrestling a giant salt-water crocodile as it dragged her friend from a tent. When she saw her friend in the jaws of a 13 ft crocodile, the granny did what any granny would do... she jumped on its back and wrestled it!

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If It's Wet, They'll Eat It


A 15-year-old girl was was wading in 1 to 3 feet of water in waters off Maui on Monday when a shark bit her, leaving a 15" gash in her leg! Yes, 1 to 3 feet of water! Man, they can get you anywhere! A few days earlier, a man's shark-eaten torso was found in the same area.

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Monday, February 27, 2006

Giant Squid Sends Swimmers Screaming!


An eight year old girl was swimming in the Chinquihue beach when she began screaming for help. When several people went to her rescue they discovered a giant squid in the waist deep water! Apparently, they “stoned” it to death and pulled it to the beach. That's so old world.

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Um . . . The Croc Ate It


That was a man's excuse for losing his wedding ring last week. Unfortunatley, his arm was still attached to it! He had gone swimming in a dam in South Africa when he felt a croc grab him and pull him under. He somehow managed to break free but what he didn't realize was that part of his left arm was still with the croc! I wonder if his wife bought it...

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Sunday, February 26, 2006

UPDATE: Doctor Says Diver May Have Been Dead Already


According to preliminary autopsy results released yesterday, the diver who's shark-bitten body was discovered yesterday may have died before the shark bit him. Apparently, he was diving in a place known as "Five Graves." A forensic pathologist was unable to conclude that the shark bites were the cause of death. They're saying he may have suffered a shallow water blackout (a sudden loss of consciousness caused by oxygen starvation as a diver ascends to the surface.) I smell a coverup!

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Fish Food . . .

Happy Bubble Ring Kisses!


A Beluga whale at an aquarium in Japan has been wowing spectators with her new trick... blowing bubbles! The whale, named Allya, has been charming the crowds by aiming the bubbles at spectators as they peer in through the glass wall of her aquarium. Locals even believe that those who are the target of Allya's "happy bubble ring kisses" will have happiness bestowed upon them.

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Saturday, February 25, 2006

Shark-Eaten Remains Found In Hawaii


The shark-eaten remains of a man's body was found Friday morning in the waters off Maui. His wife had reported him missing on Thursday evening after he never returned from a solo diving trip. After an all-night search failed to turn up any sign of the guy, a kayaker stumbled upon a human torso floating in the ocean. Gross.

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Squid Vicious!


There are so many giant squid hanging around off the Sonoma Coast people are being warned not to go swimming out there. The squid are more than 7 feet long and will attack anything that moves! And they don't just squeeze you. They have two wicked, hook-laden tentacles which they grab you with, pull you toward their razor-sharp beaks and tear you apart!

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Friday, February 24, 2006

Damien's Wrath


Damien Hirst opened his first show in Mexico City yesterday. Here he is standing next to his piece titled "The Wrath Of God." I like this guy!

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Do The Dew


Diet Mountain Dew's new commercial airing this weekend features a guy grabbing onto a shark's dorsal fin and enjoying the ride... "All the Dew with none of the calories."

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Victim Of The Day

Thursday, February 23, 2006

Don't Just Stand There . . . Let's Get To It . . . Rogue.


Rogue, which hits theatres Dec 2006, centers on a cynical U.S. travel writer (Michael Vartan) who goes on a river cruise captained by a tough Australian woman (Radha Mitchell) and finds himself among a group of people stranded on an island where they are stalked by a giant crocodile. What more could you ask for?

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70% Shark Free?


A new study states that 70 percent of the world's oceans are shark-free. But this doesn't really make me feel better because the report also says that sharks don't live below 3000 meters. They mostly hang out where we do...

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Is That A Squid In Your Pants Or Are You Just Happy To See Me?


A man was arrested at a Bridgeport grocery store Monday afternoon after he tried to steal eight boxes of calamari by stuffing them down his pants!

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Wednesday, February 22, 2006

The Jellyfish Bike


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Fish Food . . .

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

That's A Funny Looking Hat!


Equipped with computerized tags stuck to their heads, elephant seals are being used to collect data from the ocean. I wonder if the other seals make fun of them.

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Who's Your Daddy?


A Costa Rican man who found a 16 ft crocodile with a bullet in its head, took it home, named it Poncho and nursed it back to health. Now people pay to watch them play together! The man wants to put together a show so they can share their friendship with the world. I hope this doesn't happen...

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Monday, February 20, 2006

Who Doesn't Need A Shark Balloon Hat?

Sunday, February 19, 2006

Move Over, Spielberg

Did You Know . . .


As if they didn't have enough teeth... A shark's skin is actually covered in thousands of tiny teeth called denticles. Apparently, it makes good sandpaper.

Saturday, February 18, 2006

He Is So Fired!


During last week's feeding frenzy along the Australian coast, a lifeguard at one beach decided to let people keep swimming! So while packs of hungry sharks were cruising around he just kept the beach open... saying to a fellow lifeguard "don't worry, they will only take little bites."

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Hey, Gimme Me The Remote


Get it for $100 at Hammacher Schlemmer.

Thanks Brian!

Friday, February 17, 2006

Victim Of The Day


An oldie but a goodie... the Rodney Fox incident.

Honey, Let's Go To The Mall


Talk about one-stop shopping... Siam Ocean World, an aquarium located underneath a Thailand shopping center, is now offering a "Dive with the Sharks" attraction! For around $150, you're guaranteed to encounter more than 20 sharks during the dive! Hmmm... I'll think I'll just buy some shoes.

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Thursday, February 16, 2006

Fish Food . . .

Skin Is In


Fish skin, that is. A shoe boutique in Malaysia is introducing a new line of shoes, bags, wallets and key chains made of fish skin!

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Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Shell Shock


A gigantic decomposing Alligator Snapping Turtle was found along the banks of a Southwest Miami-Dade canal. The turtle was so big, it was first reported to be a bear!

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Whale Is Back On The Menu!


Whale meat is back on the menu in a growing number of Japanese elementary and junior high schools. Apparently, Japan's inventory of whale meat has doubled in the past decade. And if it's good enough for the kids, it's good enough for the dogs...

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Tuesday, February 14, 2006

My Bloody Valentine

And The Winner Is . . .


According to a new study, Florida is actually the most likely place to get bitten by a shark! Australia is second on the list.

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Monday, February 13, 2006

Man, That's Shallow . . .


A teenager was bitten by a shark yesterday in less than a foot of water! The wound required 11 stitches.

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Sunday, February 12, 2006

R. I. P. Peter Benchley


Peter Benchley, author of Jaws, died Saturday night at his home in Princeton, N.J.

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Robin Was Always Saving Batman, Wasn't He?


Watch it here!

Thanks Brian!

So Many Sharks, So Little Time . . .


... to get out of the water! Several Australian beaches were closed for a second day in a row after 100's of hammerhead, nurse and whaler sharks went into a feeding frenzy right near the shore.

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Saturday, February 11, 2006

Finally! A Safe Place To Swim!



Say Hello To Minazo!


Minazo, the giant Southern Elephant Seal! See more pics here!

Friday, February 10, 2006

Lionfish Attacks Owner!


While doing his weekly tank cleaning, a man was attacked by his pet lionfish! Apparently, Lily, the lionfish, went nuts and jabbed him six times with her poisonous spines. Luckily, the owner was able to call his girlfriend before going into convulsions and seizures. She then called 911... it took eight paramedics to restrain him! The guy survived but Lily is now for sale.

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Tyra Banks Is Scared Of Dolphins


Click here, then click on Tuesday's episode.

thanks Dlisted!

Victim Of The Day



Thanks Ziggy!

Thursday, February 09, 2006

UPDATE: That Double-Mouthed Fish Was Really Just Beat Up


So it turns out that double-mouthed trout caught back in December was not a genetic freak but just a fish with a serious mouth injury that didn't heal up too nice...

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Fish Food . . .

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

Did We Used To Look Like This?


A new study suggests that the same genes that give sharks their sixth sense and allows them to detect electrical signals are also responsible for the development of head and facial features in humans. Apparently, we were sea creatures that could sense electricity before we evolved into humans and moved to dry land. It does kinda look like a face, huh?

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Killer Graphics


Thanks Aron!

Happy Birthday Bethany!


Bethany Hamilton turns 16 today.

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

Would You Pay Money To Do This?


The world’s first and only (hmmmm, wonder why...) Croc Cage Diving Experience is about to be offered at the Cango Wildlife Ranch in South Africa. Something tells me somebody's gonna get hurt.

Fish Food . . .

Saddam Shark


The mayor of Middlekerke, Belgium has banned a work of art, afraid that it will put off tourists and offend Muslims. The piece, called Saddam Hussein Shark, shows a handcuffed Hussein suspended in liquid (a la Damien Hirst) wearing only his underpants.

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Monday, February 06, 2006

Bring It


When a man was attacked by a crocodile while trying to cross the Mubvinzi River on Monday, a human chain of villagers came to his rescue and pulled him from its grip in a game of tug-of-war that left him with a broken leg and chest and stomach injuries. Hey, at least he lived. Crocs are the most dangerous animal to man in Zimbabwe. Last year they dragged away and ate 13 people, including children!

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