Shark Encounters

A shark encounter is the one thing that many seaside visitors fear over all else. In reality, while divers and even the occasional swimmer do encounter sharks, an attack is generally rare. If, however, you are particularly concerned about a shark encounter, there are a few ways to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Protecting Yourself from a Shark Encounter

Just as a city dweller must develop street smarts, if you frequent the ocean, you should have some ingrained shark smarts. The most obvious rule is to stay out of the water if there have been shark sightings. There is a widespread belief that if there are dolphins present in the water, sharks will not be close by. This is not necessarily the case, however, and since sharks and dolphins often feed on similar types of food, if you see a school of dolphins there can easily be sharks close at hand.

Certain items of jewelry or clothing should also be avoided when swimming in the ocean. Most metals reflect sunlight in the water and can resemble fish scales to a nearby shark so it may be a good idea to leave necklaces, rings and bracelets on the sand or at home. Additionally, sharks are particularly sensitive to color contrast, so use caution when donning a fuchsia bathing suit. Finally, while night swimming may be an enjoyable activity, sharks are particularly active during these times and have the underwater advantage.

To be frank, the chances of being attacked by a shark are about as high as being struck by lightening; however, just because the risk is small does not mean that you should stand under a lone tree in an open field during a thunderstorm. Knowing what to look out for and what to avoid can keep you safe when swimming in the ocean. Simply exercise caution and you can reduce your risk of encountering a shark.