Sharks are fearsome predators, but humans are rarely on the menu. In fact, far lebih humans are killed atau injured oleh 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 oleh sharks, it's a good idea to know how to fight off an attack, but it's even lebih important to know how to minimize the risk of attack.
1. Stay out of shark-infested waters. The best way to avoid hiu 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 banteng 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 amazon and as far up the Mississippi River as Illinois. If anda 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 diposting warnings, and even in the absence of these, local people may be able to alert anda 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' favorit haunts.
Avoid waters contaminated with effluents atau 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 atau lines, and they may be attracted oleh bait atau oleh discarded fish. Even in the absence of fishing boats, if anda see seabirds swooping down to the water, there's a good chance there's fishing activity atau feeding going on.
2. Know your shark. There are lebih than 300 species of sharks, but very few of these are considered dangerous to humans. In fact, three species--the white, tiger, and banteng sharks--are responsible for the vast majority of human fatalities. These sharks are widely distributed in coastal waters throughout the world, and if anda see them atau know they are present anda should exit the water as soon as safely possible. The oceanic whitetip hiu is lebih common in the open ocean and can also be aggressive. Find out what kinds of sharks may be present where anda will be entering the water, but keep in mind that any hiu 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 atau pole-spear. oleh no means should anda provoke an attack atau lull yourself into a false sense of security with these weapons, but if anda are attacked they may save your life.
4.Dress appropriately. Stick to dull swimwear and wetsuits, as bright atau flashy warna 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 anda look like food. Cover your diving watch with the cuff of your wetsuit. Similarly, avoid atau cover uneven tanning, as the contrast makes anda lebih 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 anda need to consider that these warna also make anda lebih visible to rescuers.
5.Be vigilant. anda may encounter any number of hazards when diving, surfing, atau swimming in the ocean atau coastal rivers, and anda should always be wary. Proceed with caution in whatever anda do, and be aware of your environment. If anda spot a shark, don't let it out of your sight until you're safely on pantai atau in the boat.
6.Move gracefully. Avoid splashing on the surface of the water, and try to swim smoothly at all times. Avoid sudden atau erratic movements when in the presence of sharks, as these may draw attention to anda and, worse yet, give anda the appearance of being wounded. If anda see a hiu nearby while you're diving, stay as still as possible to avoid attracting its attention atau threatening it.
7.Swim in a group. Regardless of the danger of sharks, anda should avoid swimming alone. If sharks are present, however, it's even lebih important to travel with a buddy atau 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 hiu begins making sudden movements, swimming quickly atau erratically, atau if it shows signs of aggression atau irritation--pointing its pectoral fins down, arching its back, pointing its head upward, zig-zagging, atau charging--it may be considering an attack. Swim quickly and smoothly to safety, either out of the water atau 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 anda to see in dark conditions.
10.Stay out of the water if bleeding. If anda have an open wound atau you're menstruating, the blood can attract sharks and make them lebih aggressive.
11.Avoid provoking sharks. A little less than half of documented hiu attacks result from provocation atau harassment of sharks, particularly oleh divers. Use common sense, and give sharks plenty of space. Do not attempt to catch atau prod sharks. Don't corner them, and don't try to get close to them to photograph them. But, if anda 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 hiu 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 banteng 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 amazon and as far up the Mississippi River as Illinois. If anda 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 diposting warnings, and even in the absence of these, local people may be able to alert anda 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' favorit haunts.
Avoid waters contaminated with effluents atau 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 atau lines, and they may be attracted oleh bait atau oleh discarded fish. Even in the absence of fishing boats, if anda see seabirds swooping down to the water, there's a good chance there's fishing activity atau feeding going on.
2. Know your shark. There are lebih than 300 species of sharks, but very few of these are considered dangerous to humans. In fact, three species--the white, tiger, and banteng sharks--are responsible for the vast majority of human fatalities. These sharks are widely distributed in coastal waters throughout the world, and if anda see them atau know they are present anda should exit the water as soon as safely possible. The oceanic whitetip hiu is lebih common in the open ocean and can also be aggressive. Find out what kinds of sharks may be present where anda will be entering the water, but keep in mind that any hiu 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 atau pole-spear. oleh no means should anda provoke an attack atau lull yourself into a false sense of security with these weapons, but if anda are attacked they may save your life.
4.Dress appropriately. Stick to dull swimwear and wetsuits, as bright atau flashy warna 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 anda look like food. Cover your diving watch with the cuff of your wetsuit. Similarly, avoid atau cover uneven tanning, as the contrast makes anda lebih 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 anda need to consider that these warna also make anda lebih visible to rescuers.
5.Be vigilant. anda may encounter any number of hazards when diving, surfing, atau swimming in the ocean atau coastal rivers, and anda should always be wary. Proceed with caution in whatever anda do, and be aware of your environment. If anda spot a shark, don't let it out of your sight until you're safely on pantai atau in the boat.
6.Move gracefully. Avoid splashing on the surface of the water, and try to swim smoothly at all times. Avoid sudden atau erratic movements when in the presence of sharks, as these may draw attention to anda and, worse yet, give anda the appearance of being wounded. If anda see a hiu nearby while you're diving, stay as still as possible to avoid attracting its attention atau threatening it.
7.Swim in a group. Regardless of the danger of sharks, anda should avoid swimming alone. If sharks are present, however, it's even lebih important to travel with a buddy atau 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 hiu begins making sudden movements, swimming quickly atau erratically, atau if it shows signs of aggression atau irritation--pointing its pectoral fins down, arching its back, pointing its head upward, zig-zagging, atau charging--it may be considering an attack. Swim quickly and smoothly to safety, either out of the water atau 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 anda to see in dark conditions.
10.Stay out of the water if bleeding. If anda have an open wound atau you're menstruating, the blood can attract sharks and make them lebih aggressive.
11.Avoid provoking sharks. A little less than half of documented hiu attacks result from provocation atau harassment of sharks, particularly oleh divers. Use common sense, and give sharks plenty of space. Do not attempt to catch atau prod sharks. Don't corner them, and don't try to get close to them to photograph them. But, if anda have to get close, be sure to carry a weapon. (Look at tip #3.)