Slowly back away Try not to thrash and splash around as you gradually swim backwards toward shore. “You must try and keep the animal in sight and very slowly and gently try and swim backwards and get into shallow water. Again, you've got to be careful – large sharks can attack in very shallow depths.”
There's more research going into this field and all of these tools are sure to continue to evolve. If you see a shark near you, just get out of the water. Give them their space and come back and surf later.
It has traditionally been believed that sharks are repelled by the smell of a dead shark; however, modern research has had mixed results. The Pardachirus marmoratus fish (finless sole, Red Sea Moses sole) repels sharks through its secretions.
For those who still fear going in the water, Bangley suggests looking out for the following: Keeping an eye on birds/fish: If you see birds diving or fish jumping, that could be a indicator that a larger predator, perhaps a shark, could be attempting to prey upon a school of fish.
It is plausible that many surfers are high on sensation-seeking, which may help explain why they perceive the risk of sharks to be low. Post-rationalisation, or choice-support bias, is the tendency for people to ascribe positive attributes to a decision they have made, essentially to justify the decision.
PUSH: Is it necessary to have a more forceful response, it is OK to push a shark as long as one does not hit the animal. Pushing is always recommended should a shark approach in a frontal manner.
Their ability to sense these movements may lead people to believe that they can sense fear but ultimately the movements help them locate their prey while they're hunting. Sharks can sense the earth's geomagnetic field, but they can't sense fear.
Repress the urge to scream. Screaming will not deter the shark much and may provoke it further.
Sharks are often viewed as one of the ocean's top apex predators, but despite this rather prestigious classification, there's one marine animal that most sharks prefer to avoid crossing paths with entirely: the bottlenose dolphin.
Avoid swimming in areas known for sharks feeding such as rookeries and seal pupping grounds, Stay out of the water at dawn, dusk, and night, when some species of sharks may move inshore to feed on fish. Sharks are well equipped to locate prey even when visibility is poor.
Sharks and dolphins are two of the most formidable creatures in the ocean, but while sharks are often seen as fearsome predators, they are known to be intimidated by dolphins.
Sharks have been known to attack humans when they are confused or curious. If a shark sees a human splashing in the water, it may try to investigate, leading to an accidental attack. Still, sharks have more to fear from humans than we do of them.
The vast majority of sharks are harmless too. Only four out of the 400 different types of sharks have a reputation for unprovoked attacks on humans (great whites, tiger sharks, bull sharks and oceanic whitetips). The media portray sharks as mindless killers, but that's simply not the case.
The most common surf fear is that of wave height. Many fear riding big waves for three commonly cited reasons: the wipeout from the top of a giant wall of water, the chance of hitting a reef or a rocky bottom and drowning, or the loss of breath.
Compared to the frequency of other kinds of injuries and animal bites, Kayleigh Grant, founder of Kaimana Ocean Safari in Hawaii, told CBS News that people "really shouldn't be scared of sharks." A commonly cited 1979 study found 892 human bites reported in New York City in 1977 – 63 times more than worldwide shark ...
Not really. It's also a common belief that if there are dolphins in the area, sharks are unlikely to be nearby. This is dependent on the environment and species of shark or dolphin. Sharks and dolphins share the same food source, so they're likely to be in the same area at the same time in hopes of catching a meal.
Sharks typically attempt to circle behind you to take a bite, so they will feel less comfortable if you keep an eye on them. Keep calm and slowly back away. If none of the above options are viable, you should fight back and focus your attacks on the shark's eyes and gills because of the areas' sensitivity.
Experts feel this attack may be because the shark mistakes a human for its normal prey. In a "bump-and-bite" attack, the shark bumps the victim prior to returning for further bites. In a "sneak attack," the shark bites without warning, and then follows up with further attacks.
In the majority of recorded attacks, the shark bites the victim, hangs on for a few seconds (possibly dragging the victim through the water or under the surface), and then lets go. It is very rare for a shark to make repeated attacks and actually feed on a human victim.
Fighting the Shark
Usually, a hard blow to the shark's gills, eyes or snout (end of its nose) will cause it to retreat. These are really the only vulnerable areas on a shark. If you have a spear gun or pole, use it! A sharp object is a good way to inflict enough pain to scare away the shark.
The teen, Maggie Drozdowski, shared her story of survival in hopes no one else goes through it. Drozdowski, a trained dancer turned surfer, is in good spirits and walking on crutches Monday after a shark bit her foot so hard she required several stitches.