WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (AP) -- An Austrian tourist died Monday after being bitten by a shark while diving near the Bahamas in waters that had been baited with bloody fish parts to attract the predators.

Markus Groh, 49, a Vienna lawyer and diving enthusiast, was on a commercial dive trip Sunday when he was bitten about 50 miles off the coast of Fort Lauderdale, said Karlick Arthur, Austrian counsel general in Miami, Florida.

Groh was in the open water without a cage or similar protection.

The crew aboard the Shear Water, of Riviera Beach-based Scuba Adventures, immediately called the U.S. Coast Guard, which received a mayday from the vessel, said Petty Officer 3rd Class Nick Ameen.

Groh was airlifted to a hospital, where he died. Groh was bitten on the leg, Ameen said, but he could not be more specific about the extent of his injuries.

It was unclear what type of shark was involved in the attack. The shark got away before anyone could identify the species.

The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner's Office declined to comment, citing an ongoing investigation by the Miami-Dade Police Department. A telephone message left for police was not immediately returned.

A woman who answered the telephone at Scuba Adventures on Monday said the company had no comment.

The company's Web site says it offers the opportunity to get "face to face" with sharks. The site explains that its hammerhead and tiger shark expeditions in the Bahamas are "unique shark trips ... run exclusively for shark enthusiasts and photographers."

To ensure "the best results we will be 'chumming' the water with fish and fish parts," the Web site explains. "Consequently, there will be food in the water at the same time as the divers. Please be aware that these are not 'cage' dives, they are open water experiences."

Website : http://edition.cnn.com/2008/US/02/26/shark.bite.ap/index.html

Submitted on 02/26/2008

Submitted by: Alastair
Reference: CNN Website 26 Feb 2008

Copyright © 2008 DarwinAwards.com

James said:
Maybe Toss: No Self-Selection
If there were a company which specialized in hosting the "open water experience" one might get jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge, I imagine they might get a few takers. They might even post a warning to the effect that the "leap is 135+ feet and the water can be cold", but that would not deter everybody. Some clients, I imagine, might survive the fall, impact, and the frigid, treacherous waters of the East River, but some might not. In the end, the company clearly posted their modus operandi on their website, and obviously this doesn't happen to everyone who goes on such a dive. In the end, at least SOME of the blame falls on the company itself for enabling those who, for whatever reason, crave a close encounter with sharks. My fellow mods may beg to differ, however...! Thanks, Alastair!

Chip said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
I have to say that this seems to be an organization dedicated to self-selection. Whether it be an organization for self-selection or a volunteer effort, the result is the same. It is interesting that just about anything can be turned into a profession. Thanks for the story, Alastair.

Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
I'm no shark expert but I seem to recall that hammerheads, one of the species of sharks that this diving outfit advertises about, are known to be rather tempermental. Purposely attracting sharks is one thing, but diving with them without the protection of a shark cage or a shark suit is just asking for trouble. Thanks, Alastair.