If you’ve read our post on Sharks  you’ll likely still have mixed feelings about these marine predators, though hopefully, think of them slightly more fondly and less fearfully than before. If you plan to swim in the ocean this summer keep the below information from Scott Curatolo-Wagemann, a shark-bite survivor, in mind.

Scott was incredibly lucky, as he didn’t lose any limbs, but today, many years after the bite occurred, he still carries the scar and memory of the incident with him. Does he bear any anger towards sharks? Read on to find out.

1. How long have you been interested in sharks, and what gave you your love of the ocean?

I grew up on an island, Long Island, and while it sounds clichéd, I think I have salt water in my blood. For a brief time I lived about 3 hours from a coast and it drove me nuts. I am from what I call the “Jaws” generation. The book came out in 1974, the blockbuster movie in 1975. I didn’t see the movie until 1981, when I was 10 years old and it frightened me. But as I got older, I started to really get into the movie and when I was 16, I decided that I wanted to be a marine biologist, mostly because of the movie. I wanted to work with sharks like the character of Matt Hooper.

When I went to college, ironically near the setting for the novel, I found that most males my age had the same experience – a fear that turned into curiosity – and that they too were going to school to study marine biology because of “Jaws”. While I had an interest in sharks in my younger years, it really strengthened and intensified in me after my “experience”.

2. How old were you when the shark attack happened?

The incident (I rarely use the word attack) happened during my last semester of undergraduate college, in April of 1994. I was part of a special program where we could spend time on a 125 foot schooner sailboat, learning how to sail and take hands-on classes while living on the ship.

We were at the island of Rum Cay in the Bahamas chain, looking at mangrove swamp ecology when I was bit by a one-meter lemon shark while in less than waist deep water. I couldn’t say for sure at the time, as to the exact size or species. It all happened so fast, and I only caught a quick glimpse of it as it closed in on me. I later determined that it was probably a juvenile lemon shark based on the size of it (one-meter), and the fact that it occurred in a salt-water fed lake that was known to be a lemon shark breeding area. At the time it happened, I had just turned 23.

3. Did you find a distinctive shift in your mindset (like from anger and fear to compassion) towards the shark that bit you?

I never had any anger toward the shark, or any shark. No two shark attacks are identical, but I believe my circumstances equipped me with more resources than maybe the average person. I happen to be a shark attack survivor, who is essentially “in the know”. By that I mean that in the back of my mind, I know that there is much we don’t know about the waters around us, and we are essentially in the sharks’ backyard when we enter the water.

This goes for almost anything water related as well. I think I worry more about a rip current or water quality and my health than I worry about the presence of sharks. So I’ve always maintained the belief that I was bitten by a juvenile lemon shark that I probably unknowingly cornered, so it lashed out – much like a cornered dog would. It also happened to me when I was young, like I said, I had just turned 23. I feel at the time when I was healing, I was in the mindset that I was young and healthy and I wouldn’t let something like that get in my way. The bite severed the muscles and tendons that control my ankle movements, so I had to develop a different way to walk.

Again, because I was young, I just adapted. As far as compassion goes, before the bite happened, I remember my father had sent me an article he had found in the New York Times in 1990, that was one of the first articles I had read, that started to look at sharks in a new light; proving that perhaps there was some need for conservation. So for the majority of my life I’ve seen the shark more as the victim.

4. What advice would you give to those who swim in known shark-infested waters?

I would never really advocate anyone swim in an area that might be listed as “shark infested”. True, SCUBA divers and researchers may revel at the opportunity. I think what you are asking here is general precautions, when you are bathing recreationally in an area that may contain sharks. In general when you go swimming, never go alone and try to stay out of the water between the dusk and dawn hours.

5. Is there anything you admire about sharks?

I love the fact that these fish have been around for millions of years and that there is so much diversity among the species. Some species are egg bearers, while some give birth to live young. Some can tolerate fresh water, some can tolerate cold climates. I also find a calm beauty to just watching them swim – their size and grace while navigating the waters is mesmerizing at times.

6. Have people treated you differently since the attack / how do people react when you tell them how your injury happened?

I think there was some initial shock with my family and friends. This happened in an age before the instant communication we have today, and it happened away from my family. There was some initial concern, just after it happened, as to what the extent of my injuries would be. After they were revealed, it was said that I wouldn’t be able to walk normally again without the use of a special brace that was custom fit for my leg. Some worried that this could send me into a depression. I took this in my stride, as I was still fortunate to be in one piece and could function with the brace. But little by little I changed my walk to develop to the point where I could function without the brace.

I still wear it when I play any sort of sport that requires frequent changes in direction, or starting and stopping. I have no problems telling people my story, but I don’t always tell people right away. Some people are a little hesitant to ask me questions, as they may think they are stirring up bad memories. But strange as it may seem, I have never wished my shark incident away. It has actually led to many things that changed my life, and I truly believe that I would not have gotten together with my wonderful wife or had my 2 wonderful sons if I hadn’t been bitten.

Who knows what I would have ended up as or with, had it not happened, but as I am pretty happy with my life today. I actually can’t see how any other life I may have had, would have resulted in this much overall happiness.  I think because all turned out well, what could have been a somber event in my life, is instead turned on its head. In fact, I frequently get gifts related to sharks.

7. What is your current occupation, and do you still enjoy swimming?

I currently work in the marine field – I’ve been working at the same non-profit organization for the last 14 years. I mainly deal with water quality and storm water issues. Occasionally I have done some shark conservation advocacy as well as started a shark related podcast. I was never a good swimmer to begin with, but yes, I still enjoy going to the beach, and feel at home in the water. To be honest though, there are times when my imagination gets the better of me, especially when swimming alone (remember my rule from above!) and I will move closer to shore and other people if I start drifting away from a crowd.

You can read more about Scott on the Shark Attack Survivors website which provides further insight, education, and also lists several methods of prevention of shark attacks (that don’t include staying out the water).

Be safe this summer when out swimming, and feel free to share any shark-related tales in the comments below.

Main image credited to usfwshq (Flickr)