How To Avoid Sharks and Barracudas

1. Avoid going into water that is known to be shark-infested, particularly at dusk and early evening. If a sign indicates that the water contains hazardous sharks, stay out. Do not swim with animals such as horses and dogs in shark-infested water.

2. When swimming or diving, go in groups. Sharks tend to attack people when they are alone. Always be on the lookout for sharks and barracudas.

3. Don't swim in turbid water (water that's muddy or hard to see in), deep channels, drop-offs (areas that suddenly get deep), or near sanitation waste outlets. These are areas where larger sharks often go.

4. If you get cut while in the water, wrap your cut if possible, and leave the water right away.

5. Fish blood is more attractive to sharks than anything else. Therefore when fishing, remove captured fish from the water as soon as possible. Don't tether captured fish in areas near where people are swimming or diving.

6. Do not wear shiny gear or jewelry that may look like a fishing lure.

7. Don't assume because porpoises or sea lions are in the water that there are no sharks nearby. Whenever schools of fish behave strangely, be on the lookout for sharks.

8. Do NOT tease or corner a shark or try to photograph one at close range. Leave shark feeding to experts.

9. If you see a shark in shallow water, leave the water with slow, purposeful movements, facing the shark if possible. Try not to panic. If you are diving in deep water and a shark comes near, stay underwater. Do not try to come to the surface quickly. Do not splash water into the shark's face or make any movements that might resemble a struggling fish. If possible, move close to a wall or coral head.

10. If a shark gets too close, the best way to make it go away is with a blunt (not sharp or pointed) hit to the snout, eyes or gills. If possible, do not use your bare hand.Sometimes pointing a stream of air bubbles from a scuba regulator into a shark's face is enough to make a shark leave. Although spears, knives and darts can kill small sharks, the danger in using these is that you may only injure the shark and start a feeding frenzy among a number of animals.

CONTENTS