Carsten:

When you say shark infested creek at the Tamarind are you kidding or serious? I used to see many young children running on the beach across the creek from the Tamarind (near where there is usually a boat moored) and then jumping in the water and swimming. Did you really see sharks there?

The thing I did enjoy on the Tamarind Dhow cruise was watching the young fellow shinny up to the top of the mast and seemingly touch the underside of the Nyali Bridge when we went under it. He was as agile as a monkey.

Two things come together in this specific place. Unlike usual along the coast there is no reef there because it is a creek. This allows bigger sharks that don't cross the reef, as it is too shallow for them, to come in. The other thing is, that because of the rubbish dump and port there is a lot of `food´floating around in the water there. Hence they come in every now and so often to have a look around.

Yet, as you correctly noticed, plenty of children from old town take a dip in the sea just below Fort Jesus. It is more or less the only spot on the Mombasa island where you can swim, so for many kids it´s either that or not at all.

But humans don´t fit into the feeding pattern of sharks. What you normally hear on shark attacks are mainly surfers that are sitting on their boards paddling out to catch the next wave. Sharks, who see this only from below, mistake them for seals which are one of their favourite meals.

Both entrances to the Creek are infested with sharks. The main reason is because the fishermen who come in early morning with their boats throw the fish they will not sell over board (fish caught in the nets which are non profitable like turtles and others) and this naturally attracts sharks.

I have been in 2 situations where the 1st time I was out fishing on a small 3 meters open boat with a little outboard engine and we had a tiger shark next to us - about the same size and another time I was out Diving at the entrance - English Point which is slightly north of the Tamarin at the entrance of the Creek - opposite Mombasa Hospital and we were at around 30 meters when we could not surface as there was a tiger shark swimming around our boat. I think I was diving with Dale - Grants brother.

Yes, the odd attack does occur as I remember when Martin and Conway (Angus's father - may Angus rest in peace) got attacked by sharks in the creek. Martin lost the bottom of his leg and Conway got bitten in his thigh.

However sharks do not usually attack for nothing; the sharks that do attack because they are curious and will nibble are Tigers, Mako, White and the famous Zambesi (I think also known as Silk sharks or Bull shark) amongst one or 2 others.
General reef sharks do not do anything at all.

When you guys go snorkeling or diving, do you have a spear with you just in case?

No, normally there is no reason to take a spear with you. Anyhow you are very unlikely to meet any open sea sharks like Mako, White etc. which could be dangerous. The ones you are likely to meet are peaceful and usually sleeping. Reef Sharks are night active and too small to be dangerous for humans.

Absolutely not and you will never be able to use a spear gun against those wonderful fish.
Spear guns are used for spear fishing and then usually only small fish are speared between 2 to 8 kilos.

If diving with a spear gun - should not be done at all - actually never!

The common reef sharks are White Tips mainly found in the caost in Kenya and even if they are active during the day and can get up to a good meter and a half, I have never heard of these types of sharks being harmful. I am no shark expert but I think this is the case.

Maybe next time I am in Mombasa with Carsten we can do an experiment and put some meat on Carsten back with lots of blood and send Carsten diving for a couple of hours over the reef and see what happens........ ahahahaha Parakalo!!