It is incredibly unlikely that you would ever be injured by a shark. Shark attacks are very, very rare and in the vast majority of incidents, when people come into contact with sharks, the person walks away completely unharmed. That being said, sharks are wild animals and therefore, can pose a threat if you happen upon them unexpectedly. Whatsmore sharks can be very large and some species could be dangerous if they were encountered in the wild. So, if you do come across a shark whilst you are out in the ocean (lucky you, in my opinion!), what should you do? Is this really dangerous? And how is it best to handle it, so that you and the shark can both swim away from the situation unscathed?
Be Cool & Stay Still
The first thing it is most important to remember if you ever bump into a shark out in the ocean, whether you are swimming, SCUBA diving or kayaking - Don't panic! The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy was right on that one! Sharks are very inquisitive creatures and in all likelihood they have approached you because they are curious. This does not mean they have any intention of attacking or eating you. Remain calm, so that you can think clearly and react appropriately.
Don't Act Like Prey
Sharks often approach animals that are moving in the water, to investigate whether they might be suitable prey. They can hear the water moving from a long way away and thanks to their "lateral line" systems, they can also detect movement and water displacement (to learn more, see Sixth SenseI. Therefore, going hand-in-hand with the advice to remain calm, is that you should also remember to be as still and quiet as you can if you encounter a shark. Obviously this doesn't mean you should cease sculling completely and sink through the water! Just try not to splash or thrash, as these types of movements can startle the shark or make you sound like a prey animal - like an injured fish or a struggling seal (Ritter, 2006).
Get Vertical
As you would with any wild animal, it's important to ensure you do not accidentally get mistaken for the shark's prey. You would be foolish to stand in long grass wearing a zebra costume in the savannah, for instance, and the same applies in the ocean. You should use your body language to make yourself look as little like prey as possible. This is especially important in poor visibility, when sharks won't be able to see you clearly (Ritter, 2006).
A lot of prey animals hold a horizontal position in the water: seals, turtle, fish, all effectively lie down in or on the water. So, in order not to look like prey, you should position your body vertically in the water - fins down, head up (Ritter, 2006).
Remember that old saying 'it's more scared of you that you are of it'? This completely applies if you ever encounter a wild shark. Taking a vertical stance in the water also makes you look bigger and more threatening, so should mean the shark keeps its distance (Ritter, 2006).
Face It
Prey animals do not make eye contact with their predators - they turn tail and run (or swim!) away and sharks certainly know when they are being watched. So if you stand your ground and make direct eye contact with a shark, you send the signal that you are unafraid and (not only are you not prey) you are the dominant animal. A shark is unlikely to approach a potential threat and you can ensure you know exactly where they are at all times, so they can't catch you out (Ritter, 2006).
The same advice also holds when a shark is "circling". Many people mistakenly believe that circling is a threatening behaviour and means a shark is about to attack. This is simply incorrect. In fact, sharks only circle when they are reluctant to approach something! Sharks are "negatively buoyant", so they will actually sink if they do not maintain their forwards momentum, and some species also need to keep moving forwards to be able to breathe (to learn more, check out Myth Busted: Sharks DO NOT Have to Keep Swimming to Breathe). So sharks cannot simply hang in the water whilst they inspect something interesting. Instead, they continue moving forwards without getting any closer; circling around it, whilst they use their array of senses to check it out. For your safety, turn towards a circling shark, so you can keep an eye on them and maintain eye contact (Ritter, 2006).
Create a Dialogue
Just like you do, sharks are continuously using their array of senses to assess their environment. When they encounter another shark (known as a "conspecific") or a different species (a "heterospecific"), they also analyse their behaviour and send signals out to communicate with them. Just like your dog wagging its tail. This means that, you can learn to read these cues if you know what to look for... You can learn to speak 'shark' (Martin, 2007).
For example, you can easily spot when a shark holds its jaws open to say 'you are making me anxious'. Many species will also dip their "pectoral fins" down as a way to communicate that they feel threatened. So if you ever see a shark "gaping" or holding their fins down lower than their normal horizontal position, it is telling you to 'back off!' (Ritter, 2006; Martin, 2007).
Some reef sharks including, silvertips (Carcharhinus albimarginatus), grey reef sharks (C. amblyrhynchos) and Galapagos sharks (C. galapagensis) use an unmistakable threat display that includes both these behaviours, but also "hunching", where the shark will scrunch its spine up at a very unnatural angle and swim erratically (Ritter, 2006; Martin, 2007).
If you ever spot any of these signals, very slowly increase your distance by backing up whilst continuing to face the shark. This will reduce it's stress level by sending a signal back to the shark that you are not a threat (Ritter, 2006; Martin, 2007).
Push Back
Human beings are not desirable prey for any shark species and no sharks regularly incorporate us into their diet (for more info, see Myth Busted: Sharks DO NOT See Humans as Prey), so in the vast majority of cases, a curious shark will leave after they have had a good look at you (Ritter, 2006).
On the (VERY!) rare occasion that a shark chooses to approach you instead, it is still possible to ward them off by thrusting water in their direction. Use your hand to scoop and push water at the shark, aiming at the face and gills, to startle it away (Ritter, 2006).
Only as a very last resort it is recommended to touch the shark. You should never touch any wild animals! And you should only make contact if you feel your safety is threatened. If a shark is jostling you or charges, maintain your vertical stance, face it head on and - moving slowly and calmly - deflect the shark by putting your fin in its face. As a last resort, alternatively you can place your hand on its nose. Just ensure you keep your fingers together! This will allow you to push the shark away and the contact will often startle the shark so much that it will make a hasty get away (Ritter, 2006).
Revel in It!
For most normal people, it is incredibly unlikely you will ever be in a position to need any of this knowledge, but if you are ever in a situation where you come face-to-face with a shark, you should consider it a great honour! You are very lucky to be able to have had such an amazing experience. So, when you have gathered yourself and applied all these important safety procedures, remember to enjoy the moment. You have interacted with an animal most people will never even get to see in the flesh! Bucket list ✔
References
Martin RA (2007). A review of shark agonistic displays: comparison of display features and implications for shark–human interactions. Marine and Freshwater Behaviour and Physiology, 40. Access online.
Ritter E (2006). Understanding Sharks: The Fascinating Behavior of a Threatened Hunter. Krieger Publishing Company.
By Sophie A Maycock for SharkSpeak
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