STAYING SHARK FREE WHILE IN WATER

Shark attacks are a fact of life. They are incredibly rare, but they do happen. For this reason, it is foolhardy to ignore them as a danger. Shark attacks usually happen when we as humans do something that goes against shark safety rules. There are exceptions, to be sure, but we can certainly mitigate the factors that cause shark attacks. When we go body surfing, it is certainly a time that we should consider shark safety. Here are some keys to shark safety when we go body surfing in the great outdoors:


One of the most important factors of shark safety when body surfing is simply being in the water at safe times. Sharks are predators, and they are most active at night and during the early morning hours. Dusk, dawn, and the dead of night are the most dangerous times to try to body surf. Stay out of the water during these hunting times, and you are mitigating your chances of shark attack considerably.

Another important shark safety consideration is what you see around you. Obviously, if you see a shark in the water, you should get out. That said, there are other signs that could mean shark activity in the water when body surfing. First of all, you should not swim in areas where active or past fishing activity is going on. Sharks will go where the food is, and fishermen are notorious for leaving behind bait and the like. Also, fish that are caught with hooks bleed. Blood draws sharks. Finally, if you see schools of fish jumping in the water, there is a good chance that sharks are in the area. Sharks chase these food sources.

Sharks are notorious to be attracted to shiny or bright things. Like most fish, these shiny objects are similar to the scales of a fish that is swimming in the water. For this reason you should leave jewelry behind when you go body surfing. Likewise, you should also avoid brightly colored swimsuits and the neon colored bodysuits. Dark colors are ideal when body surfing.

A shark can detect even the most minute drop of blood in the water at extreme distances. Blood draws sharks in like nothing else. If you have any cuts, are on your period, or are otherwise bleeding in any way, you should avoid body surfing.

Another truth of the ocean is that sharks go where the food is. Unfortunately, that is right around the drop off shelf of the ocean. That point where many body surfers like to catch the best waves is also where many species of fish hang out looking for food. Of course, this includes the shark. Consider swimming and body surfing on the clearest water days. Swimming in brackish or unclear water is a serious shark problem, because you have no chance of spotting them before they attack.