Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Avoiding Hazardous Swimming Areas
• Method 2 of 3: Swimming Safely
• Method 3 of 3: Protection when a shark is detected
• Tips

Did you know that sharks are still not well understood. They are efficient predators that have remained unchanged for hundreds of millions of years. Despite the bad reputation of sharks, these fish kill only a few people a year - according to statistics, any person is more likely to die from lightning or simply drown. However, you can reduce the chances of a shark attack if you are careful and follow the advice in this article.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Avoiding Hazardous Swimming Areas

1. 1 Pay attention to any warning notices on the beach. This is the best way to avoid shark attacks. Read beach announcements and listen to what lifeguards and beach keepers have to say. If it is forbidden to swim, surf, kayak, etc., do not do it. Rules are there to keep you safe.
   • Sometimes the rules prohibit entering the water altogether. If you find yourself in such a situation, do not get angry, do not get upset, and do not violate this prohibition. Remember that these rules are designed to keep you alive.
2. 2 Do not swim at dawn, dusk and night. Sharks prefer to hunt at this particular time of day, so they become more active and aggressive. In general, do not go into the water when sharks are hunting, as they are hungry and actively looking for food.
   • At night, the visibility becomes almost zero, so you will not be able to recognize an approaching shark. But sharks with their more developed senses are perfectly oriented in the dark.
3. 3 Do not swim in muddy waters. It limits your visibility in a manner similar to dark hours of the day, so there is an increased risk that you will simply not notice the shark. Remember that the shark has senses that help it navigate the water perfectly and find prey even in zero visibility conditions. Since people cannot see anything through muddy water, you will not notice a shark, which can lead to tragic consequences. Therefore, try to swim in clear water to be able to see the approaching predator.
4. 4 Stay away from areas where sharks hunt. They hunt where food is abundant. Areas of commercial fishing are considered especially dangerous, as fishermen use pieces of fish as bait that attract sharks. In most cases, look for flocks of diving seabirds - this is an indicator that there is food in the area.
   • Also, avoid places where food waste or other debris gets into the water (for example, near sewers directly into the sea). This will save you not only from diseases, but also from the attack of sharks, as they like to swim in such places in search of food.
   • If you are fishing, do not throw dead fish or pieces of fish into the water. This is a great bait for sharks, as they can sense grams of blood at a distance of several kilometers.
5. 5 Do not sail far from the shore. Sharks are fairly large fish that do not swim in shallow waters and only pose a threat in deep waters off the coast. Swim in the coastal strip to reduce the risk of shark attacks. Even if in this case you encounter a shark, you will have a better chance of getting ashore quickly.
   • Avoid deep places between sandbanks, as sharks can live there.
   • Chances are, you won't be able to stay in the waterfront if you're surfing or kayaking. In this case, take the other precautions described in this article.

Method 2 of 3: Swimming Safely

1. 1 Never swim alone. Sharks tend to attack single targets rather than group targets. Although sharks rarely attack humans, swimming in a group will further increase your chances of survival. When swimming, do not stray far from other people.
   • Compliance with this rule will not only save you from shark attacks, but also save your life. No matter how great a swimmer you are, there are times when you can drown (for example, if you fall into a whirlpool). Swimming in a group of people will help you avoid this kind of trouble (if you have no one to swim with, ask someone on the shore to watch you when you are in the water).
2. 2 Try not to look like your regular shark prey. Sharks do not hunt humans - their prey is fish and marine mammals. But in some cases, sharks mistake people for their usual prey, such as fish, seals or sea lions. You can avoid this by adhering to the following rules:
   • Certain colors are believed to attract sharks. For example, bright colors attract tropical sharks. Among them, the yellow color stands out (some divers call it "yum-yum yellow"). To prevent shark attacks, it is recommended to wear swimwear in dark colors that do not strongly contrast with the underwater world.
   • Remove shiny objects before entering the water. This refers to jewelry, watches, chains, equipment and the like, that is, everything that glows, glitters or reflects light. It is believed that such objects attract sharks because they closely resemble the shiny scales of a fish.
   • Avoid surfboards whenever possible, as their shape resembles a large fish or cat.
3. 3 Do not allow body fluids to enter the water. Sharks have such a keen sense of smell (although not as keen as shown in the movies) that they can sense a small fraction of certain chemicals in an Olympic pool. Therefore, do not go into the water if you assume that somehow your bodily fluids can get into it.
   • Do not go into the water if you have a bleeding wound on your body. It is also not recommended for women who have periods.
   • When in water, do not urinate, defecate, or vomit. Do not go into the water at all if something like this may happen to you (for example, when you are sick).
4. 4 Don't splash in the water. When hunting, the shark looks for weak or injured prey that is easier to catch. A person splashing in the water looks like a wounded animal, so avoid this behavior, especially in deep waters. If you are underwater, do not make sudden and impulsive movements (even for the sake of a joke), because such actions are typical for a wounded creature.

Method 3 of 3: Protection when a shark is detected

1. 1 Take it easy. Remember that a shark rarely attacks people, so if you see a shark, this does not mean that it will definitely attack you. It is possible that you have met a shark that is hunting another living creature or just swimming by. When you see a shark, do not panic - remember that sudden movements and bursts will attract the shark's attention, as this behavior is typical for a wounded animal.
   • Calm down and focus on your goal of getting out of the water quickly and quietly.Suppress the natural urge to swim away from the shark as quickly as possible (do this only if the shark is behaving aggressively).
   • If you are fishing in a small boat and see a shark, forget about fishing and swim to the shore.
   • If you are diving at great depths, a quick ascent to the surface can be dangerous - do so only if absolutely necessary. Just get rid of any bait (if any) and swim in a perpendicular direction from the shark. Having swum a sufficient distance from the predator, rise to the surface of the water at your usual pace.
2. 2 Signs of aggressive shark behavior. When swimming towards the shore, try not to lose sight of the shark (if possible). Pay attention to the behavior of the shark - an aggressive shark does not behave at all like a calm shark. If you notice any of the signs below, swim to shore as quickly as possible, or prepare to defend yourself. Signs of a shark's readiness to attack:
   • Fast and sharp turns.
   • Flexion or arching of the trunk.
   • Swimming in a circle (especially if the radius of the circle decreases).
   • The pursuit.
   • Lowering of the dorsal fin.
   • Abdominal rubbing against the seabed.
   • Other sudden or strange movements.
3. 3 If you think an attack is inevitable, prepare to defend yourself. Sharks rarely attack people, but if this happened to you, then it is better not to let the shark catch you by surprise. If the signs of aggression described above are on your face, keep your eyes on the shark and try not to make sudden movements. If you have an item you can defend with, pick it up. If you can, lean your back against a reef, wall, or other object to limit the shark's angles of attack. Most importantly, be prepared to fight back the predator.
   • If you are around other people, it is important to warn them. So you will not only inform them of the impending danger, but also help yourself. There were cases when sharks attacked rescuers who helped people avoid shark attacks. It is believed that the unexpected appearance of a second person can scare the shark and put it to flight.
4. 4 If a shark attacked you, fight! If you don’t do anything, it will not do you any good. But if you fight a shark, it will prefer to find less powerful prey. Remember that for the most part, shark victims are not very resistant, so if it encounters prey that will hit it, it simply retreats.
   • Try punching something (or just a fist) in the eyes or gills of the shark. These are the most vulnerable parts of a predator's body. Hit and scratch them until the shark swims away.
   • Contrary to popular myth, the nose is not as vulnerable as the eyes and gills. Moreover, the nose is located closest to the mouth - you hardly want your hand to get into it!
   • If you are diving, use whatever items are available to stab the shark, such as a knife or a spare cylinder.
   • Don't stop fighting the shark. Your goal is to convince the predator that such prey will cause more problems than benefits. If you give up, you will make it easier for the shark.
5. 5 Get out of the water and assess your condition. Stay out of the water, even if you think the shark hasn't done any damage to you. The adrenaline rush will reduce the pain, so in the first moments after the attack, it will be difficult for you to judge your condition. Get out of the water to not only protect yourself from the shark, but also to think about further actions.
   • See a doctor immediately, even if you think your injuries are not serious. It is very important to follow this advice if a shark attacked you under water - at depths blood clotting much worse, and you could lose a lot of blood.
   • If you have no damage, do not go into the water even after the shark swims away. The only reason you can get back into the water is to protect other people (as mentioned above, the shark does not attack group targets).
6. 6 Never harass or chase sharks. Any persecuted living thing will eventually defend itself. Sharks are no exception, but in the case of their self-defense, the consequences for humans will be much more serious (do not forget that this fish is the most dangerous predator). When you see a shark, get out of the water and leave it alone. Never provoke a shark, even if you think you are safe, for example, in a boat - remember that there is always the possibility of an accident.

Tips

• Don't let the rumors fool you. The chances of a shark biting or killing you are extremely low. If you follow the advice outlined here, that chance will almost disappear. The methods in this article are applicable to all shark species. Remember: in order to survive a shark attack, it is best not to get into such a situation at all. Do not provoke a shark to impress your girlfriend or friends (if you think fighting a shark might impress your girlfriend, then you have a different kind of problem).
• Don't throw dead fish or fish chunks into the water - feed them to the seagulls.
• Choose swimwear in dark colors. Don't wear white suits!