10 Tips for Avoiding Shark Attack While Swimming

1. Watch the clock: Sharks feed most often at twilight and at night. Avoid swimming in the ocean during those times.


2. Avoid bleeding in water: Yes, it's true, blood draws sharks. If you have a fresh cut that's bleeding, or if you've accidentally cut yourself on corral or something else in the water, you need to stay on the beach. Also, menstruating woman should avoid swimming.


3. Animal signs: Other sea creatures know when sharks are approaching. If you see a school of fish jumping into the air, that means you need to head to the beach because those fish are trying to avoid a shark. Other animals to watch are sea turtles and seals because they will try to flee an area when they know a shark is coming for lunch.


4. Don't wear bright colors: Sharks can't see real well, so anything bright will catch their attention, especially shiny objects. So don't wear jewelry in the water. And try to avoid wearing bright colors like yellow and orange.


5. Keep your eyes open: If you see a dorsal fin out in the water, you obviously shouldn't go swimming. Also pay attention to any beach signs posted that warn of sharks. Heed those warnings.


6. Don't swim alone: Swim with at least one person, but it's even better if you're swimming with a large group of people. Because sharks can't see very well, they are less likely to attack a group of swimmers because it may appear to be one large creature to the shark. Also, much like lions, sharks have a tendency to go after any creature that has strayed from the pack because it looks like easy pickings.


7. Scuba diving: Avoid diving near any seals. That wet suit makes you look like a seal, and possibly so do your swimming motions.


8. Remain calm: This is obviously easier said than done, but if you should spot a shark near you in the water, try to stay calm. Panic will attract the shark, especially sharp movements of kicking and swinging of the arms.


9. Listen: Keep your ears open. If you hear someone yell "shark," try not to panic and head to the shore.


10. Avoid murky water: If the water where you plan to swim looks muddy or cloudy, don't go swimming there. Remember sharks can't see real well, so in murky water they're more likely to bite into anything they sense.

Related link: 10 Bear Safety Tips

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The Worlds most Dangerous Shark Species

Many people have an irrational fear of sharks, and tend to associate them immediately with being man eaters and generally dangerous marine animals to be around. In actual fact however, there are only a few of the hundreds of known species of shark that are thought to represent a significant risk to humans in the water with them. Most species tend to be too small or too passive to be much of a threat to people, however there are a few species that are known to be killers that should best be avoided.

The great white shark is often thought of as the most dangerous shark in the world, although this is largely due to it being the largest and having captured the imagination of the media. In reality although of course the great white is dangerous, it isn't the biggest killer in the ocean, and there are only a handful of fatal attacks recorded each year. Many of the attacks that the great white commits are largely due to the fact that they mistake surfboards in the water as some kind of prey species in distress. This is also thought to be the reason that there are many more attacks on surfers than any other group of people who might be in the water.

The tiger shark, so named because of the colorful stripes it has on either flank, are known as the dustbins of the sea. They will eat anything else in the water with them including turtles, crabs, sea birds and many other species. This being the case they will often also attack and eat humans who stray too near them, although for the most part they tend to inhabit waters too deep for many people to be swimming in them. They have been known to attack people who have fallen overboard or been shipwrecked however, and are probably responsible for many unknown deaths in these cases.

Oceanic whitetip sharks are also known to have attacked and killed people in the past, although are the least of the sharks considered to be dangerous. The main reason that they are less dangerous is that they tend to be found out to sea, which means that their contact with humans tends to be rather infrequent. They will tend to exhibit aggressive behaviors prior to attacking, and are often more curious of humans in the water than anything else.

Bull sharks are probably responsible for more attacks on humans than any other kind of shark, largely due to their ability to live in freshwater as well as salt. They also tend to stay fairly close to the shore, and are known to be very aggressive towards most other large species in the water around them. It is thought that in many poorer areas of the world, where entering a river is a necessity, that perhaps hundreds of bull shark deaths occur every year, although most aren't reported to the authorities.

Hammerhead sharks are also known to be potentially dangerous to humans, although in fact there are only three of the nine subspecies that poses a significant risk. The hammerhead will usually only attack if it is feeling threatened by the presence of human in the water with it, rather than attacking in order to feed. Some types of hammerheads also gather in large groups, sometimes up to 500 members strong, which are obviously dangerous to be in the water with.

An important thing to remember is that although a shark may look intimidating, it is probably thinking the same thing about you. Even large sharks tend to eat prey much smaller than themselves, and so even if the shark is large, you are likely to be to big for it to consider to be prey, more often sharks might nip at you if they think that you are another predator invading their territory.

Although there are only a few shark species considered to be dangerous, there are many more that could potentially still be a hazard in the wrong circumstances. Any large shark, however placid it might be can still give a nasty bite if aggravated for some reason. Because of this whatever kind of shark you might be in the water with, it is important to be aware and vigilant in case its behavior turns aggressive.

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How to Protect Yourself Against a Shark Attack

There are around 100 shark attacks recorded around the world each year. It might surprise you to learn the U.S.A. ranks first in the number of shark attacks occuring each year with the number one state for attacks being Florida.

Why does the U.S. have such a high incidence of shark attacks? The experts believe this is because of the great degree of recreational activity that occurs on America's beaches. If you're planning a beach trip to potentially
shark infested waters, I'd like to give you some hints on how to avoid being a shark attack victim.

First it should be remembered that sharks can be unpredictable creatures, but they aren't prone to attacking people under normal conditions. That should cause you to breathe a big sign of relief! Plus, a human attack usually occurs when the shark mistakenly confuses a human for a large fish or seal and attacks them for food.

Just to be safe, here are those tips to avoid being a shark attack victim:

1. Stay out of the water after the sun goes down or early in the morning to avoid encountering a shark hunting for food.

2. Avoid sandbars or channels as this is where sharks may hang out.

3. Avoid dense, murky waters where you can't see what's swimming around you.

4. If you've been fishing, don't carry dead fish into the water.You don't want to whet the shark's appetite, do you?

5. Don't go into the water alone.

6. Avoid deep waters, especially sandbars where there are steep drop offs in depth.

What if you're in the water and you happen to see a shark?

1. Don't make any violent splashy movements as this may cause the shark to mistake you for a seal. Remain calm.

2. Your primary objective is to get out of the water. If you're close to shore, swim smoothly and slowly back to shore with a minimal of splashing and water movement. If a boat is nearby, signal for a boat and wait calmly with your eye on the shark for the boat to approach and rescue you.

3. If you're with another person, move closer to them so the shark will perceive you as a larger target. The shark may get intimidated and move away from you.

What if you're attacked by a shark?

1. This is the time to show the shark you're a force to be reckoned with. You should aggressively hit the shark, preferably in the face and eyes which may cause him to retreat.

2. If people are nearby, shout and raise your arm in an attempt to get help.

3. If you have pole or other object nearby you can use as a weapon, beat the shark with all your force with the object.


4. Try to remain vertical as much as possible as this makes it more difficult for the shark to bite.

5. Get out of the water as soon as possible after the shark is subdued or moves away. Always swim in a smooth, controlled manner.

6. Get medical help immediately.

Now that you know how to avoid being a shark attack victim and how to handle an attack should it occur, you'll be prepared to handle a shark related emergency should it arise.

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Defending Yourself from a Shark Attack

Shark attacks are one of the most terrifying experiences that someone can have, and the idea of them keeps many people from swimming in the sea. In reality, shark attacks tend to be very rare, and even fewer of these are fatal, although knowing what to do if you are attacked can make a big difference to your survival chances.

There are actually only a few species of shark that would be considered large enough to view humans as prey. Even seemingly large sharks tend to feed on smaller species, and usually eating a defenseless fish is a lot easier than trying to subdue a struggling human. Panicking if you see a large shark in the water with you is the last thing that you should do, as this may make the shark think that you are in distress, or are injured, making you an easier target.

Most sharks tend to rely on the fact that most of their prey doesn't see them coming, and they try to inflict a single fatal bite before swimming away and waiting for their prey to bleed to death. If you can see the shark approaching to attack you, then trying to avoid the worst of their bite is a good way to deter than and to prevent more serious injury. However most of the time this can tend to be difficult to do, meaning more violent tactics are needed.

When a shark bites you, the two main vulnerable areas that will be closest to you are its eyes and gills. Sharks like all marine species become distressed if their gills are injured or obstructed, and so if you can rip or cut their gills they will often retreat. Also if you can poke them in the eyes, perhaps hard enough to cause permanent damage to them, then they will often similarly give up on eating you.

If you are snorkeling or diving and an inquisitive shark is getting too close for comfort, then punching it on the nose firmly is said to send them away. This shows them that you are a potentially hostile species, that can defend itself, and that you are ready to attack if it gets too close. Many of these encounters don't tend to lead to an actual attack, although a shark may nip at any exposed shiny items in the water, and will also target exposed fingers.

Many shark attacks around coastal areas come in the form of surfers who are attacked while on their boards, the reason being that sharks often mistake surf boards for large fish species. To an observer under the water a board may appear to be a tuna, dolphin or even seal moving through the waves, and as a result many sharks attack. If a shark has attacked your surf board then leaving the board and getting to shore as quickly as you can is paramount.

Often if a shark bites a board it will realize that it is not a prey item, and will tend to leave the area shortly after. However if you happen to fall into the water when your board is bitten then a shark may well take a second bite out of you. Fortunately most of these attacks aren't fatal, although there are several surfers who are seriously injured each year. Because of the nature of these attack, there is usually very little time to think about fighting back before the attack its over.

Often the best advice for defending against shark attacks is simply to back away out of the area that the shark is in. Many times shark attacks are simply an overly inquisitive shark that might be trying to hunt smaller fish when it nips at you. Many people tend to take these nips as a sign of attack, although in reality the shark is often warning you to leave. Most of the time if you leave promptly the shark will desist its attack, and will leave you alone.

One tactic employed by certain species of sea turtles is that they will intentionally lead a shark into shallow water so that it cannot move quickly or maneuver. The turtles then descend on the shark, and all attack it with their sharp beaks, which are capable of inflicting a serious bite and can cut through bone. Although you might not have an army of turtles at your beck and call, swimming into shallower waters is always a good idea if a shark tries to attack you. If you can get into water only a few feet deep, then most sizeable sharks will either back away, or will ground themselves and be unable to swim away.

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