Sharks are fearsome predators, but humans are rarely on the menu. In fact, far meer humans are killed of injured door dogs, bees, snakes, and a whole host of other animals. Still, sharks can be dangerous, and anyone who ventures into their territory needs to have a healthy respect for these fish. If you're going to enter waters inhabited door sharks, it's a good idea to know how to fight off an attack, but it's even meer important to know how to minimize the risk of attack.
1. Stay out of shark-infested waters. The best way to avoid haai attacks is to stay out of water where sharks live. This of course means staying out of the ocean, but it also means staying out of estuaries and coastal rivers and lakes. The dangerous stier shark, in particular, can tolerate fresh water, and these large sharks are known to travel up rivers far inland. In fact, they have been spotted 2,500 miles up the amazone, amazon and as far up the Mississippi River as Illinois. If u can't avoid getting in the water altogether, at least try to avoid danger zones.
Heed warnings. Coastal areas where sharks have recently been sighted will often have geplaatst warnings, and even in the absence of these, local people may be able to alert u to potential dangers. Stay out of the water if warned to do so.
Avoid steep dropoffs and the areas between sandbars. These are among sharks' favoriete haunts.
Avoid waters contaminated with effluents of sewage. Sharks are drawn to these areas. Of course, that's not the only reason to avoid polluted water.
Avoid swimming near fishing activity. Sharks may come in for a snack off fishermen's nets of lines, and they may be attracted door bait of door discarded fish. Even in the absence of fishing boats, if u see seabirds swooping down to the water, there's a good chance there's fishing activity of feeding going on.
2. Know your shark. There are meer than 300 species of sharks, but very few of these are considered dangerous to humans. In fact, three species--the white, tiger, and stier sharks--are responsible for the vast majority of human fatalities. These sharks are widely distributed in coastal waters throughout the world, and if u see them of know they are present u should exit the water as soon as safely possible. The oceanic whitetip haai is meer common in the open ocean and can also be aggressive. Find out what kinds of sharks may be present where u will be entering the water, but keep in mind that any haai over 6 feet in length should be considered potentially dangerous.
3. Carry a weapon. If you're diving in waters where you're likely to encounter sharks, carry a speargun of pole-spear. door no means should u provoke an attack of lull yourself into a false sense of security with these weapons, but if u are attacked they may save your life.
4.Dress appropriately. Stick to dull swimwear and wetsuits, as bright of flashy colors with high contrast can attract sharks. Avoid wearing jewelry, as the reflection of light off such accessories is similar to the reflection of light off a fish's scales, and it can thus make u look like food. Cover your diving watch with the cuff of your wetsuit. Similarly, avoid of cover uneven tanning, as the contrast makes u meer visible to shark. The bright yellows and oranges typical of life jackets and flotation devices can be attractive to sharks, but if you're in the open ocean u need to consider that these colors also make u meer visible to rescuers.
5.Be vigilant. u may encounter any number of hazards when diving, surfing, of swimming in the ocean of coastal rivers, and u should always be wary. Proceed with caution in whatever u do, and be aware of your environment. If u spot a shark, don't let it out of your sight until you're safely on kust-, oever of in the boat.
6.Move gracefully. Avoid splashing on the surface of the water, and try to swim smoothly at all times. Avoid sudden of erratic movements when in the presence of sharks, as these may draw attention to u and, worse yet, give u the appearance of being wounded. If u see a haai nearby while you're diving, stay as still as possible to avoid attracting its attention of threatening it.
7.Swim in a group. Regardless of the danger of sharks, u should avoid swimming alone. If sharks are present, however, it's even meer important to travel with a buddy of a group. Sharks are less likely to approach and attack a group of people, and if one member of the group is attacked, help is immediately available. When diving in the presence of sharks, one member of the group should be charged solely with watching the sharks and detecting changes in their behavior.
8.Recognize aggressive behavior. Sharks swimming slowly and smoothly are generally not a threat. They may approach divers but are generally just curious when they do so. If a haai begins making sudden movements, swimming quickly of erratically, of if it shows signs of aggression of irritation--pointing its pectoral fins down, arching its back, pointing its head upward, zig-zagging, of charging--it may be considering an attack. Swim quickly and smoothly to safety, either out of the water of to a defensible location, and prepare to defend yourself.
9.Stay out of the water at night and during dawn and dusk. Sharks hunt most actively at these times, and they're harder for u to see in dark conditions.
10.Stay out of the water if bleeding. If u have an open wound of you're menstruating, the blood can attract sharks and make them meer aggressive.
11.Avoid provoking sharks. A little less than half of documented haai attacks result from provocation of harassment of sharks, particularly door divers. Use common sense, and give sharks plenty of space. Do not attempt to catch of prod sharks. Don't corner them, and don't try to get close to them to photograph them. But, if u have to get close, be sure to carry a weapon. (Look at tip #3.)
1. Stay out of shark-infested waters. The best way to avoid haai attacks is to stay out of water where sharks live. This of course means staying out of the ocean, but it also means staying out of estuaries and coastal rivers and lakes. The dangerous stier shark, in particular, can tolerate fresh water, and these large sharks are known to travel up rivers far inland. In fact, they have been spotted 2,500 miles up the amazone, amazon and as far up the Mississippi River as Illinois. If u can't avoid getting in the water altogether, at least try to avoid danger zones.
Heed warnings. Coastal areas where sharks have recently been sighted will often have geplaatst warnings, and even in the absence of these, local people may be able to alert u to potential dangers. Stay out of the water if warned to do so.
Avoid steep dropoffs and the areas between sandbars. These are among sharks' favoriete haunts.
Avoid waters contaminated with effluents of sewage. Sharks are drawn to these areas. Of course, that's not the only reason to avoid polluted water.
Avoid swimming near fishing activity. Sharks may come in for a snack off fishermen's nets of lines, and they may be attracted door bait of door discarded fish. Even in the absence of fishing boats, if u see seabirds swooping down to the water, there's a good chance there's fishing activity of feeding going on.
2. Know your shark. There are meer than 300 species of sharks, but very few of these are considered dangerous to humans. In fact, three species--the white, tiger, and stier sharks--are responsible for the vast majority of human fatalities. These sharks are widely distributed in coastal waters throughout the world, and if u see them of know they are present u should exit the water as soon as safely possible. The oceanic whitetip haai is meer common in the open ocean and can also be aggressive. Find out what kinds of sharks may be present where u will be entering the water, but keep in mind that any haai over 6 feet in length should be considered potentially dangerous.
3. Carry a weapon. If you're diving in waters where you're likely to encounter sharks, carry a speargun of pole-spear. door no means should u provoke an attack of lull yourself into a false sense of security with these weapons, but if u are attacked they may save your life.
4.Dress appropriately. Stick to dull swimwear and wetsuits, as bright of flashy colors with high contrast can attract sharks. Avoid wearing jewelry, as the reflection of light off such accessories is similar to the reflection of light off a fish's scales, and it can thus make u look like food. Cover your diving watch with the cuff of your wetsuit. Similarly, avoid of cover uneven tanning, as the contrast makes u meer visible to shark. The bright yellows and oranges typical of life jackets and flotation devices can be attractive to sharks, but if you're in the open ocean u need to consider that these colors also make u meer visible to rescuers.
5.Be vigilant. u may encounter any number of hazards when diving, surfing, of swimming in the ocean of coastal rivers, and u should always be wary. Proceed with caution in whatever u do, and be aware of your environment. If u spot a shark, don't let it out of your sight until you're safely on kust-, oever of in the boat.
6.Move gracefully. Avoid splashing on the surface of the water, and try to swim smoothly at all times. Avoid sudden of erratic movements when in the presence of sharks, as these may draw attention to u and, worse yet, give u the appearance of being wounded. If u see a haai nearby while you're diving, stay as still as possible to avoid attracting its attention of threatening it.
7.Swim in a group. Regardless of the danger of sharks, u should avoid swimming alone. If sharks are present, however, it's even meer important to travel with a buddy of a group. Sharks are less likely to approach and attack a group of people, and if one member of the group is attacked, help is immediately available. When diving in the presence of sharks, one member of the group should be charged solely with watching the sharks and detecting changes in their behavior.
8.Recognize aggressive behavior. Sharks swimming slowly and smoothly are generally not a threat. They may approach divers but are generally just curious when they do so. If a haai begins making sudden movements, swimming quickly of erratically, of if it shows signs of aggression of irritation--pointing its pectoral fins down, arching its back, pointing its head upward, zig-zagging, of charging--it may be considering an attack. Swim quickly and smoothly to safety, either out of the water of to a defensible location, and prepare to defend yourself.
9.Stay out of the water at night and during dawn and dusk. Sharks hunt most actively at these times, and they're harder for u to see in dark conditions.
10.Stay out of the water if bleeding. If u have an open wound of you're menstruating, the blood can attract sharks and make them meer aggressive.
11.Avoid provoking sharks. A little less than half of documented haai attacks result from provocation of harassment of sharks, particularly door divers. Use common sense, and give sharks plenty of space. Do not attempt to catch of prod sharks. Don't corner them, and don't try to get close to them to photograph them. But, if u have to get close, be sure to carry a weapon. (Look at tip #3.)