Shark Attack Fear?

[Dispatch]

How much concern do you have just before entering the water each time you surf, on the possibility of a shark attack?

[surf doc]

It's never stopped me from going in. I try to rationalize the risk by going through a list of things that are more likely to kill or maim me: crossing the street, driving to the beach, taking a header on a wave... you get the idea. But that doesn't mean I don't respect the possibility, I just realize that my happiness is dependent on surfing and it's a calculated risk.

[Dispatch]

But is there anything... anything at all that can be done to reduce the possibility of an attack as a surfboarder? Is there such a thing as shark attack proofing in surfing?

[surf doc]

Not that I'm aware of. I have heard that most victims are body surfers and shortboarders, so perhaps surfing a larger board like a longboard might deter an attack. Also, avoid surfing in areas where there are large amounts of fish and marine mammals that then attract sharks such as river outlets (although these are often the best surf spots so good luck with that). I've also heard sharks feed during sunrise and sunset, so you could try avoid being in the water during these times (but again, best times to surf so go figure). If all else fails, plant yourself in the middle of a crowd and you've dramatically decreased your chances of being the one to get the bite.

But like I said before, sharks are far from your biggest safety concern when surfing. It's like being afraid of a plane crash, terrifying for obvious reasons but not much you can do about it in the unlikely event that it happens.

[Dispatch]

Not that I'm aware of. I have heard that most victims are body surfers and shortboarders, so perhaps surfing a larger board like a longboard might deter an attack. Also, avoid surfing in areas where there are large amounts of fish and marine mammals that then attract sharks such as river outlets (although these are often the best surf spots so good luck with that). I've also heard sharks feed during sunrise and sunset, so you could try avoid being in the water during these times (but again, best times to surf so go figure). If all else fails, plant yourself in the middle of a crowd and you've dramatically decreased your chances of being the one to get the bite.

But like I said before, sharks are far from your biggest safety concern when surfing. It's like being afraid of a plane crash, terrifying for obvious reasons but not much you can do about it in the unlikely event that it happens.

I live north of the imfamous "Shark Attack Capital Of the World", New Smyrna Beach, Florida 32168.

I was wondering about bright colors or white for a board or wetsuit as far as an attraction factor.
As far as crowds go well......

[drowningbitbybit]

Just think about the number of shark attacks vs the number of drownings per year...

A few sensible precautions is all that is required...
- Avoid surfing at dawn/dusk in shark prone areas.
- Don't surf near feeding grounds such as river mouths.
- Avoid surfing in murky water.

There's lots of theories as to why sharks attack humans but it's generally thought that they're giving you a bite to see what you are, or they've mistaken you for something tasty - so make sure you look like a human and that the sharks can see you

[billie_morini]

Dispatch,
I live and surf in Santa Barbara. I never think about shark attack here, even though there are some really great videos in the last 2 years of great whites in our area. I used to live and surf in California's Red Triangle. I didn't think much about sharks there except once in awhile when I was the only guy out in Dillon Beach's black water. Never thought about it when surfing in Santa Cruz. Only thought about it once in awhile at Bolinas because guys reported seeing sharks there. Still, didn't worry. Once in awhile I get to surf at FL's Coco Beach. The water cleared once because a local saw a shark in the channel running parallel to the shore. My German buddy from Hannover and I kept surfing. Later, the same local told us we were nuts. We just didn't see it that way.
billie

[billie_morini]

@ drowning,
you wrote, "Avoid surfing at dawn/dusk in shark prone areas."
Maybe it's something you know about Oz. One of my 2 surfing sensi, this one based in Santa Cruz and life long surfer in CA and HI, told me there is no additional shark activity at sundown. I'd asked him because I wanted to surf past sundown. My sensi told me to surf on because there was no more shark activitiy than during the day.
billie

[drowningbitbybit]

Hey Billie,

From what I've read (only mainstream press stuff - I'm not claiming to be an expert) there is no more shark activity at dawn/dusk, but there is a greater likelihood of them taking a bite out of a human (either to see what it is, or by mistake) due to the reduced visibility. It would be hard to tell - there are so few attacks on humans - but it certainly seems that the majority of attacks on surfers in Oz in recent years have happened in low light.



...but yeah, I surf til its dark

[travelzomg]

dont wear board shorts that have nature-resembling colours and schemes...

heard of a guy, that wore some greenish-brown-camo-thingy-boardshorts.. he was attacked by a shark, fortunately suffered only some flesh wounds... the life guard getting him out told him, that his boardshorts resemble tortoises-colours and thats most prolly the main reason he was attacked..

[jaffa1949]

It has been suggested that urinating in your boardshorts wetsuit or whatever will stimulate a great white to attack as the ampula of Lorenzini can detect like about 1in 1,000,000 parts of blood or urine in the water, one way they detect seals.
It has also been found that 100% of all shark attack victims have urinated. Before, after or during but I suggest the latter.

Seriously there are many things that can harm you in the surf, you have to be extremely unlucky to be bitten, you are more likely to be killed by a bee sting or an car crash on the way to or from the surf.
Safety first when you hear the Jaws theme get out of the water.
Here is a picture I took at my local break, no surfers were harmed!

[Rickyroughneck]

It has been suggested that urinating in your boardshorts wetsuit or whatever will stimulate a great white to attack as the ampula of Lorenzini can detect like about 1in 1,000,000 parts of blood or urine in the water, one way they detect seals.
It has also been found that 100% of all shark attack victims have urinated. Before, after or during but I suggest the latter.

Seriously there are many things that can harm you in the surf, you have to be extremely unlucky to be bitten, you are more likely to be killed by a bee sting or an car crash on the way to or from the surf.
Safety first when you hear the Jaws theme get out of the water.
Here is a picture I took at my local break, no surfers were harmed!

F>FIN.jpg

Very interesting, I love that photo!

One thing, the sharks sense of "smell" is extremely sensitive, but if there are others in the line-up the the chances are that someone has urinated. I doubt that the shark would distinguish between individuals since the surfers are moving around, and can be quite close together. The shark also selects its victim and attacks by swimming upwards from 100+ feet underwater, I doubt individual urination would increase the chances of being attacked unless you are the only surfer in the line-up.

Then again, I would have thought a shark would be able to tell the difference between seal and human urine? !

P.s. the ampullae of Lorenzini comprise the electrical sense. The chemical sense, "smell" is in snout openings like other fish.

[Dispatch]

Well... all I know is we have "atleast" 1 attack a month here (New Smyrna Beach), at all hours of the day. Its on local TV literally every other week for some new attack. Got friends who work for EMS, they say they're always getting calls to the Ponce Inlet area for attacks(them damn Bull sharks). The thing is no one is explaining why its so bad in that area, so bad that they gave it the infamous name. They take no precautions on that beach such as shark towers, nets or even helicopter patrols. Its definitely surf at your own risk.

[jaffa1949]

Well... all I know is we have "atleast" 1 attack a month here (New Smyrna Beach), at all hours of the day. Its on local TV literally every other week for some new attack. Got friends who work for EMS, they say they're always getting calls to the Ponce Inlet area for attacks(them damn Bull sharks). The thing is no one is explaining why its so bad in that area, so bad that they gave it the infamous name. They take no precautions on that beach such as shark towers, nets or even helicopter patrols. Its definitely surf at your own risk.

If that beach worries you. choose another.
I thought Ponce Inlet was named after Ponce De leon the Spaniard Conquistadore who went looking for the fountain of youth not sure whether the sharks, gators or the Seminole Indians got him.

Rickyroughneck is right too about the Ampula of Lorenzini mnute electric currents, so don't surf there don't bleed or emit electrical currents, don't emit fear pheromones, don't surf near fish, dirty water or rain run off ( so post Irene is out) seals are bad news, avoid deep water drop off, not sure about after shave or deodorants. Like I said avoid known dangerous areas.
Florida is really not too bad they don't even publish the statistics for the East African surf coast, where they have the Zambezi bull shark a thoroughly nasty one.
As for surfboard colours I don't know but one enterprising guy is selling decals for under your board to make it look like a sea snake.
Apparently sharks don't eat sea snakes

There is an electrical deterent that supposedly upsets the Ampulla of etc, but one guy wearing it was attacked and killed
I've been surfing over 50 years haven't been eaten yet. Nor have I been killed by the deadly jellyfish of Australia, nor eaten by crocodiles (bigger and meaner than Alligators) our resident sharks around my beach = tigers, great whites, bull, mako, hammerhead, bronze whaler , nurse, then there are Orcas and bloody huge sting rays.
i love my surfing, there are days that feel sharky I just go elsewhere an if I feel spooked I leave the water, I can't surf well if I'm not enjoying it, and spooked is definitely not enjoying it.
I said before you would have to be dead unlucky to become the statistic.
All the advice that has been given is good .

Now It is your choice alone

[kitesurfer]

Excellent another opportunity to plug my fav clip of all time!

I don't worry about sharks as i bought a job lot of this!!!

KS

[jaffa1949]

Excellent another opportunity to plug my fav clip of all time!

I don't worry about sharks as i bought a job lot of this!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_B_n-Rbros

KS

If you sprayed it with the mead it would get as high as a kite

[kitesurfer]

Excellent another opportunity to plug my fav clip of all time!

I don't worry about sharks as i bought a job lot of this!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_B_n-Rbros

KS

If you sprayed it with the mead it would get as high as a kite

Speaking of which i will be brewing up a new batch of the good stuff tonight. Its been long overdue.

KS

[Dispatch]

"Seriously there are many things that can harm you in the surf, you have to be extremely unlucky to be bitten, you are more likely to be killed by a bee sting or an car crash on the way to or from the surf.
Safety first when you hear the Jaws theme get out of the water.
Here is a picture I took at my local break, no surfers were harmed!"

Sure that's not a Dolphin... Looks to round to be a shark...

[drowningbitbybit]

Those are dolphins.
- Dolphiny shaped.
- More than one of them.
- They are 'bobbing' ie you can see their backs. Sharks glide, dolphins bob (although dolphins do occassionally glide just to see surfers panic)

[jaffa1949]

Dispatch, you are going to have to face your fears.
When everything looks smells and is suspected of being the shark that is going to bite you, nothing you do in the ocean is going to feel comfortable.
You are talking yourself into being unable to surf, you could also recognise the recent polar bear attacks and the girl eaten by bears in Russia and that could stop you camping, automobile accidents cause exactly the same sort of injuries and many, many more deaths, does that stop you driving
As I see it, you have two choices, give in to your fears and forget about surfing, or accept that you are concerned about sharks and surf under conditions that minimize your chances of being attacked.
Surfing is about fun not terrification