Shark safety is on everyone’s minds. And, since shark encounters are on the rise, we think it’s important to educate ocean users on what to do in case of a shark sighting to ensure calmer heads can prevail.
The good news is, that while shark encounters are on the rise, shark attacks globally remain extremely low.
Sharks rule the oceans and certainly have the upper hand. If they wanted to eat us, the oceans would be a very dangerous place.
Would you get out of a safari jeep in the Serengeti next to the lions? Not a chance. But every day, in places around the world, people and sharks peacefully coexist – without the threat of shark attacks. The vast majority of the 500+ species of sharks are not dangerous to human beings –most often, all sharks – including bulls, tigers, and whites – typically go out of their way to avoid us – and often display fear towards humans.
As there are more shark sightings and shark encounters, shark safety education is critical, and a huge part of what Shark Angels does. Sharks need our help – as their numbers continue to decline, so becoming shark smart – and learning to share the same waters with them – is critical.
While most divers are very familiar with shark encounters – many other water users – particularly those at the surface are not. If you are a diver, Shark Angels also has a program dedicated to diving safely with sharks.
Why Are Shark Encounters On The Rise?
Does that mean there are more sharks?
While an easy assumption is that there are more sharks in the ocean and more shark attacks if there are more shark encounters – particularly inshore, that isn’t necessarily true. Instead, more shark sightings are also due to:
- More water users: more people are in the ocean – and are reporting their encounters thanks to social media. Let’s be honest – no one goes anywhere without a phone, and shark sightings make for lots of likes.
- The rising ocean temperatures have triggered a mass migration of marine life. Many species including sharks are moving more towards the poles and into new habitats and places they’ve not been seen before.
- The change in ocean currents and ecosystems has shifted prey distribution – as has overfishing – with sharks venturing closer to shore in search of new food sources.
- Marine mammal populations are rebounding – thanks to protection, so places like Cape Cod, are attracting more sharks inshore.
- Better reporting: as technology advances – including shark tags, drones and monitoring
This does not mean more shark attacks. Rather, there is more technology to ensure shark safety as well.
What If A Shark Approaches While Surfing?
Shark safety and shark sightings are thoughts on many surfers’ minds. Depending on where you surf, a shark has likely encountered you – whether you’ve seen it!
If you do see a shark, first and foremost, stay calm! Your chances of injury are extremely low. In terms of relative risks, in California (the U. S. state with the second highest incidence of shark attacks in the country), there is only one shark attack for every one million surfing days, according to the Surfrider Foundation.
Stay on your board and avoid sudden movements. Paddle slowly away from the shark – while always facing the shark as much as possible. Don’t take your eyes off the shark.
There’s no need to provoke the shark if it is not showing aggression. There’s safety in numbers so if there are others nearby, paddle towards them.
Get out of the water calmly and as quickly as possible. Paddle towards the beach keeping an eye on the shark, warning others that you just saw a shark. If there is a lifeguard on duty, inform them as well of the shark sighting.
What If A Shark Approaches While Swimming?
If you have a shark sighting while swimming, first keep in mind of the over 500 species of sharks, only a few pose even a small threat to humans. Do your best to keep calm and keep your distance. Remember, sharks truly aren’t hunting swimmers. Most incidents are a result of curiosity or mistaken identities
Second, remember most sharks are more afraid of us than we are of them. Sharks are not out to get us.
If a shark encounters you nearby in the water, stay calm. Don’t start flailing about, screaming, or attempting to threaten a shark by hitting it.
Watch the shark’s behavior closely. Is it swimming by? Is it exhibiting curiosity towards you? Is it hunting fish? A good shark safety rule of thumb is to get out of the water – even if you don’t feel the least bit threatened.
Maintain eye contact – and make sure the shark sees you. They are opportunistic predators – and often won’t take a chance.
Swim or move slowly and with your eyes on the shark until you are out of the water – especially if the shark has shown interest in you. Don’t trigger their prey behavior. You wouldn’t run from a lion or a bear, right? If you can join other swimmers in the water, that’s ideal. If there is a lifeguard on duty, inform them of the shark sighting as well. More tips are located here.
What Are The Signs A Shark Is Nearby?
First, and foremost, if you are in salt water – then there is the possibility you can have a shark encounter. But that doesn’t mean a shark attack. There was a viral video a few years ago that showed the easy way to figure out if there was a shark in the water. Put a spoon in the water, taste it, and if it is salty, then there’s a chance!
All joking aside, the ocean is their home, and we are merely visitors. But that doesn’t mean if you dip a toe in the ocean, you’ll suffer a shark bite! Contrary to popular belief, sharks tend to go to great lengths to avoid people.
Some tell-tale signs sharks are nearby include:
- Fish action. They may be jumping out of the water in schools or swimming erratically. This typically means there is a predator nearby (not necessarily a shark.)
- Ripples or murky patches in the water. Of course – there’s always a tell-tale dorsal or caudal fin if the shark is close enough to the surface.
- Seabirds circling and diving; really, any large amount of surface activity (boiling fish, large pelagic action, etc.)
Information on shark sightings is widely available and often real-time. Google the place you are headed to swim – and set alerts. Check Twitter. Check with local lifeguards and marine conservation groups. Talk to water users like fishermen and surfers. Download shark sighting apps from OCEARCH and Atlantic White Shark Conservancy which are great ways to improve your shark safety. But don’t get caught up in fear. A shark encounter is just that.
Why not join our Monthly Chomp mailing list to get even more educated on sharks?
Where Do You Hit A Shark If Attacked?
There is a common thought you should punch a shark upon a shark encounter. We believe that this should be avoided as much as possible. If this is your only option, and the shark is attacking, then punching a shark would mean aiming for its eyes or gills – its weak spots. However, it is a dangerous option if you miss and hit them in a different spot as you can also trigger bite behavior since under that snout you are trying to punch is a mouth full of teeth.
We now know there are far less aggressive ways to divert an interested shark. Sharks are ambush predators. For instance, if you are watching it the whole time, its behavior changes completely. They much prefer the sneak shark attack.
The situation is also very determinant in terms of when to aggressively fight a shark. For instance, if you are a spear fisherman with fish, the shark may seem to be interested in you – but rather – is likely interested in your fish. Giving them your fish is a far better option than engaging in conflict. If you are on the surface as a surfer or swimmer, punching a shark should be a last option when a shark is displaying aggression – which as mentioned is usually extremely rare.
How To Avoid A Shark Attack
The shark safety tips involve not putting yourself in a situation that could lead to shark encounter. The best way to avoid a shark attack is to not put yourself in a situation that could lead to a mistake. A few tips to avoid shark sightings include:
- Avoid river mouths and murky, dirty water as a place to swim. Also avoid the ocean after big storms when it is full of runoff and other less desirable waste.
- Avoid areas where people are actively fishing or spearfishing.
- Stay out of the water if there are large shoals of fish at the surface or a lot of marine activity.
- Avoid dusk and dawn when there is reduced visibility.
- Check-in with lifeguards and swim at a guarded beach.
- Listen to your instincts. If you are truly concerned with a nagging feeling, then skip it and head to the pool.
Sharks represent some of our deepest and darkest fears – which involve a lack of control in a foreign environment we aren’t suited to. And we’ve been programmed for years to fear them. Of course, we love our monsters. And sharks represent the ultimate monster – lurking in the deep, in a place that is foreign and already scary to us – water.
So naturally, most people freak out when they have a shark sighting or encounter a shark – especially when in those same waters. Those of us who know sharks freak out too – but for a different reason.
Safe Shark Encounters
There is nothing more amazing or humbling than an up-close shark encounter with one of the greatest predators on our earth and it turns everyone into a shark advocate. But, please do it responsibly – and with people who know what they are doing.
Here’s a chance to have a magical and life-changing encounter with a creature we’ve been taught to fear.
So why not hug your monster? We encourage everyone to get in the water and meet a shark with Shark Angels.
Get To Know Sharks – Shark Facts
Want to become more educated on sharks, take some of these shark quizzes to test your Shark IQ.
Written by Julie Andersen, Founder Shark Angels