Sharks... What would I do?

[Surf Hound]

One morning while on a SUP I nearly hit a 10' Tiger shark on the nose with my paddle. I saw the shark last minute as my paddle was about to enter the water. I dropped to my knees and lifted the paddle back and just coasted right beside the shark. He was heading the direct opposite way as I was paddling and maybe 2' under water. My paddle would have hit him in the nose had I kept with the paddle. I can still see the stripes running down it as well as its big ol tail. I tried to stay calm and paddle quickly to shore but in my freight I hit the water on my back stroke and said f@&k it and paddled as fast as I could. I never once looked behind me to see what the shark did after we passed each other. When I got to shore my heart was about to explode, I was out of breath and could barely speak to tell the people on the beach. Lifeguards went out and verified on their skis and then shut the beach down for the day. The week prior someone had been bitten about 2 breaks down so I was terrified. Every time I saw a shadow or any dark spot in the water I got scared for about a year after. Now I live in NORCAL and you can't see xxxxx in the water so I don't see dark shadows (rocks) or anything so now worries now. Never kept me out of the water though just made me think about sharks frequently which sucked. Hope I never see one again and I will be fine. I know they are there I just really never want to see one again unless I am at an aquarium or something. It's a love hate relationship.

[mjames]

My wife brings this up all the time as I'm loading up the board for a surf...and when I suspect she would rather have me mow the lawn. It pays to be ready with the odds.

According to the Discovery Channel News,

Haha, yeah it was my wife's idea (demand) to wait a week before I went to the normal spot again... As far as the stats, I wonder if that is for the standard human who doesn't spend as much time in the water as we do.... I feel like if I spend 100 times the amount of hours in the water each year as some of my friends do aren't my odds 100 times more than theirs?

[oldmansurfer]

Yeah if you never go in the ocean then the only way you will get bit by a shark is if you mess around with one on dry land or.......Sharknado The more hours spent in shark infested waters the more likely you will get bit. Also the more you resemble a dying fish the more likely a shark will bite you. Certain areas have a higher incidence of shark attacks such as Reunion Island.

[BoMan]

As far as the stats, I wonder if that is for the standard human who doesn't spend as much time in the water as we do.... I feel like if I spend 100 times the amount of hours in the water each year as some of my friends do aren't my odds 100 times more than theirs?

Keep that to yourself.

[BoMan]

The more you resemble a dying fish the more likely a shark will bite you.

Being 65 years old, I resemble a dying fish most of the time, so if I can just figure out how NOT to look so appetizing, maybe I'll be safe. Here are some ideas...

1. Try not to open and close your mouth constantly.
2. Avoid swimming on your side, tilting at an angle, or upside down.
3. Do not float with your head out of the water gasping for oxygen.

[oldmansurfer]

Don't bleed or splash around or make jerky movements. Be calm and paddle strong and effectively. Don't paint your board to look like a fish or a turtle or a seal.

[mjames]

I went to the spot on Sunday morning and talked to some people, apparently the shark was sighted the morning prior and one other time during the week. Apparently there is something really tasty by tower 16 that he is sticking around for. There were people out and I would have gone if I felt like paddling through 5' surf with a hangover, instead I opted to greet the nice 1-2' waves further south with the 10' board, which ended up being perfect for my coordination that morning

[oldmansurfer]

http://www.wftv.com/news/local/sharks-bite-3-surfers-at-new-smyrna-beach/447181529 Florida sharks chasing fish and biting humans

[DreamSurf]

http://www.wftv.com/news/local/sharks-bite-3-surfers-at-new-smyrna-beach/447181529 Florida sharks chasing fish and biting humans

how can we possibly fight that in the water. its their domain

[saltydog]

Here is the shark related stats in the western Pacific.
http://www.sharkresearchcommittee.com/statistics.htm
That website also list shark behavior and reported past attacks and encounters. Seems like they are out and about all day long.

[dtc]

It's dolphins you have to watch out for