Whether youre sightseeing in a boat, deep sea fishing, or even scuba-diving there are always risks. Storms can arise suddenly when youre out to sea or the boat youre in can suddenly be damaged. No one wants to think about being stranded out to sea, but should that ever happen to you, there are things you can do to help better your odds against shark attacks.
Although some sharks are considered man eaters, and others arent, any breed of sharks can - and will attack - if the circumstances are right. The size of the shark has no bearing on whether or not a shark will attack you. If hes hungry enough, has mistaken you for food, or is just an aggressive feeder, you could be in serious danger.
Sharks are generally large and few people would be able to fend one off successfully if the shark decided you were his next meal. There are a few things you can do, though, to increase the odds that any nearby shark will ignore you. Float. Splashing the water with hands and feet will only attract sharks. Quick, noisy movements resemble movements of large fish, thereby attracting nearby sharks. Float as much as possible, but if you have to swim, do so with long strokes. Dont dog paddle; that causes commotion that can attract sharks. If there are others with you get in a huddle. Position your backs to one another so that you are facing outward. The huddle will not only provide warmth and keep you all together it will also leave you in a position where you can look out for approaching sharks. Should one approach use a hard object, like a stick or a knife, to poke him hard on the snout, in the gills or the eyes. If you have no weapon kick him with your foot as hard as possible. Aim for snout, gills and eyes. Should one member of the group vomit its imperative to swim away from it or push it away. Urinate when you need to but paddle away after passing solid waste. If you can, gather the solid waste and throw it as far as possible. If needed, paddle even further away from the waste. Remain as calm and quiet as possible. Sharks can sense fear and can hear even the tiniest noises from miles away. Avoid yelling, crying, and even talking as much as possible. The quieter you are the less likely your chances of calling attention to yourself or your group. If a shark is approaching you alone do not turn and swim away from it. Face towards the shark but swim off to one side, using long, regular strokes. Dont panic and swim frantically - that will interest the shark even more. Swimming away from the shark, with your back towards him, makes him think you are prey trying to escape. If you are just playing in the sea, or walking in the waves, avoid doing so at nighttime, dusk or dawn. These are the most active times for many sharks. Remove any reflective jewelry before entering the water. Shiny objects can resemble fish scales to sharks. Most sharks dont have acute vision. Most people know that its a huge taboo to go in the water if bleeding. Even the tiniest razor nick can attract a hungry shark. The smallest drop of blood can be detected by most any shark. Also, many people think if there are porpoises nearby that there arent any sharks. Not true. Porpoises and sharks often have the same taste in foods. Sharks can attack a person in shallow water or deep, at night or during the day, whether theyre known as man eaters or not. Take caution any time you enter the ocean and follow a few simple tips to protect yourself. Its not guaranteed that a shark still wont attack you but your odds are better if you follow a few simple rules.
No comments:
Post a Comment