Protecting Yourself from Sharks in the Water

What would you say your worst nightmare is? For many people, it starts off something like this... You are swimming in the ocean and enjoying yourself when all of the sudden, you see a large dorsal fin rise above the water and start heading straight for you. You start to panic, because you don't know how to fend of an attacking shark. If only somebody had taught you beforehand, then you might not be so defenseless and vulnerable. Every year, dozens of people get attacked by sharks near beaches and even in freshwater (if you are dealing with bull sharks, which can survive in freshwater). Although the chances of you ever getting attacked by a shark is slim, there are still steps you can take to protect yourself.

The best way to protect yourself from a shark attack is not to get into one at all. One thing that attracts sharks is when you expose your bodily fluids in the water. It does not even have to be a large amount. A shark's sense of smell is so keen, it can detect a single drop of blood from over a mile away. Bleeding in the water is a surefire way to attract sharks. If you step on a sharp shell and cut your foot, or if you scrape your arm on a rock, it is absolutely essential that get out of the water immediately. Never urinate in the water, either. Sharks are attracted to the smell of human urine in the water. I think it goes without saying that you should never ejaculate in the water, either. So midnight swims with a hot girl you picked up on the beach are a no-no. Sharks are active at night anyway.

I would like to add a small interjection here. It is a tip about swimming in the ocean. See, sharks like to dine on seals and sea lions. When a person paddles out into the water on a surfboard, they look an awful lot like a seal from below. Always be extra careful on surfboards and always make sure that you have a friend with you when you go surfing, preferably one watching from the shore.

If you have the misfortune of encountering a shark in the water, then you are going to have to defend yourself. Sharks have weak spots that can be used to your advantage. One man was in the jaws of a great white shark. He punched the shark in the eye as hard as he could and this caused it to let go. But the major area that you can use to fend off a shark is the snout or nose. Sharks have incredibly sensitive noses and nerves in their snout. If you hit a shark on the snout or stick your fingers up it's nose, you will cause the shark a great deal of discomfort. Let it be noted that it may not even be necessary to hit the shark on the snout. Some people have reported that even touching the shark's snout lightly can have the same effect as hitting it.

There are other preventative measures you can take to protect yourself from sharks. Wearing light colors is a bad idea. Sharks are more likely to attack lighter colors because fish usually have lighter colors. Also, if you find yourself overboard in shark territory, do not panic. If you splash or move around a lot, you'll cause a lot of vibrations in the water. These vibrations may remind the shark of an injured fish, which will attract them. Lastly, just try not to attract the shark's attention at all. Sharks will bite things just to learn what they the same way we would pick something interesting up. These techniques are not foolproof, but they are all that science can think about. Stay safe in the ocean, or use an indoor pool. Your choice.

The only sources used were my prior teachings of years past.