Great White Shark Attacks: Tips and Information

It is that time of the year when people begin making plans for trips to the beach. While the beach can make for a great vacation, it can also be dangerous. Great white sharks have attacked many people in the United States. The Pacific Ocean is known for being a haven of great white sharks, and the predators can injure and kill human beings in a very quick manner. While only a few of the many people who head to the beaches get attacked by great white sharks, travelers still need to caution themselves about the threat of a shark attack.

California has been the scene of some well publicized shark attacks. In 2002, Lee Fontan was the unfortunate victim of a great white shark attack. He was lucky to have lived through the trauma that the shark inflicted upon him. Fontan was surfing when a great white shark snatched him off of his board. Fontan was seen fighting off the attack of the great white by punching it as hard as he could. Amazingly, Fontan survived the attack, although he was left with serious injuries. Had Fontan not fought the shark, chances are that he would not have made it.

In August of 2007, California found itself once again in news media for a great white shark attack. Todd Endris, also a surfer, was attacked while out riding the waves. Endris' skin was literally ripped off of his back and his bone was exposed on his leg. There was debate over whether or not he would survive in spite of his injuries. Had the attack not stopped when it did, it surely would have been fatal. Dolphins circled Endris, which gave him a chance to get back on his surfboard and get to shore. Without the help of the dolphins, the great white shark probably would have consumed Endris. Still, he suffered greatly from the attack.

The east coast got a surprise when, in 2005, a great white shark bit a surfer in New Jersey. Even though New Jersey is not known for shark attacks, there are a lot of great white sharks in the area. They are said to come to the New Jersey shore to give birth. For whatever reason, they are not known to attack in the area. Still, on that fateful day in 2005, a young surfer was bit and had to receive over fifty stitches in his leg for his injury. The shark that attacked the surfer was only a baby, which was very lucky for the victim. If a baby great white shark can inflict an injury damaging enough to require fifty stitches, imagine what an adult shark can do.

Those are just a few examples of the shark attacks that have occurred in the United States. It is important to know that you can lessen your chances of getting attacked by a great white shark by following a few rules when out in the water. First, you need to understand the predator. If you do not want to get eaten by a shark, do not allow yourself to intrude on his dinner plans. Do not swim in places where the shark's prey lives. That is a common sense way to avoid being a snack on the way to the main course. Understand your surroundings. If a great white shark's prey is in your line of vision, chances are you need to find a different area for surfing and swimming. In keeping with that line of thinking, do not carry fish with you while swimming. If you are fishing, remember that fish are shark bait. Do not keep the fish on you, or you will be putting yourself at further risk. Do not stand in the water with a bucket of fish for bait. That is just asking for trouble.

Remember that just because you cannot see the shark does not necessarily mean that the shark cannot see you. If you are in water with low visibility, you are putting yourself in danger. Great white sharks sneak up on their victims. Do not put yourself in a situation where that would be easy for them.

It is also important to understand the behavior of the great white shark in regards to its feeding schedule. Knowing when a great white shark is prone to look for food is important for swimmer safety. Early morning, early evening, and nighttime are all times when great white sharks are known to hunt for food. Keep yourself safe by staying out of the water at those times. There is no sense in tempting fate.

Sometimes, even if the safety measures are taken, a swimmer or surfer will come across a shark. Even though that can be a terrifying moment, it is not necessarily a death sentence. Certain rules should be followed in order to get out of the situation safely. If a swimmer or surfer comes upon a shark, the first thought should be to get back to shore as calmly as possible. Getting hysterical will only hurt the situation. Stay calm and maintain eye contact with the shark. If the shark still attacks, it is then time to fight back. Great white sharks are not used to fighting for their food. Punch, kick, and slap the great white shark with all of the force you have.

Human beings are not exactly on the food chain for sharks. In reality, humans only become the food of sharks when they put themselves in situations that cause them to turn into prey. By realizing that and by understanding what to do if attacked, fatalities and injuries can go down and the waters can be a safer place to surf and swim.

Thom Patterson, "Shark Attacks Man off of Florida Coast," cnn.com

Mike Celizic, "Dolphins Save Surfer from Becoming Shark's Bait," msnbc.com

Associated Press, "Experts: Surfer Bitten by Great White in N.J.," foxnews.com

National Parks Conservation Association