How to Avoid a Shark Attack
There’s a joke about how to tell if there’s a shark in the water: you walk up to the water, stick your finger in it, and then taste the water from your finger. If it’s salty, there’s a shark in it.
The ocean is rich in sea life, sharks included. The fact is that as humans, we are not the apex predator of the seas - far from it, really. We are far out of our element when it comes to the wildness of the sea and yet we seem to crave it and maybe that’s why you’re headed for Hawaii, like so many others.
Galeophobia, or the fear of sharks, isn’t a totally irrational idea and there are a lot of Hollywood films out there to hype up the terror factor. But the reality is that you’re more likely to die from accidental poisoning, a rogue champagne cork, a ladder accident or collapsing sand hole than a shark attack. In 1996, toilets injured 43,000 Americans a year - comparatively, sharks injured just 13 people in the red, white and blue. Worldwide, there were only 52 shark attacks in 2020 and 73 in 2021. The odds of being bitten by a shark are one out of almost 4 million.
So the reality is that being a shark snack is more a wrestle of the mind than it is a likely scenario and yet for many, it’s a critically influential factor in enjoying ocean activities. What you’re really looking for is peace of mind so we’ve got a few tips for you:
Use the Buddy System
Most lethal shark attacks occur because there was no one available to offer assistance. Sharks will tend to be more curious of lone bodies rather than larger groups, so swimming, surfing and snorkeling in groups is always a better choice, not just to avoid an unpleasant shark encounter, but because your risks of drowning or being pulled out by a riptide are statistically more likely and accountability is important to ocean safety and rescue.
Know the Details
If there is a known shark in the immediate water, don’t enter the water - you can know these details by checking for signs along the shoreline. Shark attacks also tend to increase in low-visibility, murky water as it becomes harder for them to identify the difference between prey and foreign objects. Recent rain runoff or river outlets may be circumstances to avoid, as well.
Stay Calm
If you do identify a shark in the water, you might feel anything but “chill,” but it’s important to remain calm as agitating the water with erratic behavior may actually cause more excitement for the shark. Slowly work your way back towards shore while doing your best to stay aware of the position of the shark. Although it may seem completely contradictory to what your instincts might tell you in the moment, dropping below the surface of the water to face the shark, create eye contact and even move towards it are recommended strategies to avoiding an attack.
Use Shark Repellant
Yes, that’s a thing. Shark deterrent wearables, such as Sharkbanz, uses powerful magnetic technology to disrupt the electromagnetic field of a shark. It doesn’t harm them in anyway, but it’s proven to be highly effective. Wearables such as these can not only practically keep away unwanted visitors in the water, but offer a peace of mind for those moments that the Jaws theme song flashes through your mind on an open water swim or snorkel tour.
The Oahu Pentathlon is proud to be supported by Sharkbanz and we’ve got good news for you, too! You can get a 15% discount on the most highly rated shark repellant wearables available using the code OAHUPEN22 at www.sharkbanz.com
