How to Avoid Sharks While Surfing

Avoid surfing at dawn, dusk or night. Most sharks are crepuscular hunters, which means they are most active when the sun is low in the sky--whether it be rising or setting. Some species also hunt at night. In general, avoid surfing at these times when sharks might move closer to shore to feed.

Surf with a friend, or at least where there are other people in the water. Your chances of being attacked by a shark are less; and in the unlikely event that you are attacked, there will be people in the water to help get you to shore and treat your wounds until paramedics arrive.

Surf away from river mouths, drainage outlets, harbor entrances and steep drop-offs. Unfortunately, some of the best breaks are in these very spots. They also provide an ideal feeding ground for our toothy friends, however, sharks take advantage of the plentiful supply of fish coming and going with the tides, and getting the most from the nutrient-rich water.

Try to stay out of murky water. It may be torturous if a great swell rolls in, but during those few days after a heavy rain, surface runoff stretches out several hundred yards into the ocean--like a cloud of chocolate milk pushing its way into blue water. Sharks take advantage of the low visibility in their hunting; and, as most attacks on humans are a case of mistaken identity, odds are greater that such an attack occur in the murky water.

Keep your eyes out for bait fish--you know, those little guys that jump out of the water here and there. Sometimes, you can see funny little patches of water that seem to flicker or shimmer. These groups of bait fish swimming through your waves might be avoiding bigger fish out to eat them. Even a small shark, mistaking your dangling finger or toe for one of those little sardines, can do a number on you--take your finger off, or leave you with some nice nerve damage. A high percentage of reported attacks coincide with bait fish sightings.

Wear low-contrast clothing, and leave the jewelry at home. Apparently, sharks see this contrast very well and may strike out at it, or at a flash of light reflected by sparkly jewelry.

Don't splash around too much. Although this may seem next to impossible while surfing, if there is a shark in the area: try your best to paddle as though you're calm--even if you're not--slowly and smoothly towards shore. Get out of the water immediately.

Avoid surf breaks where sharks have been frequently sighted. This can be difficult if you see lonely barreling waves beckoning you to enter, but some sharks seem to be territorial and will hang around or frequent the same hunting ground.

Get out of the water if you're bleeding; and don't get in if you have an open wound. Yes, you want to tough it out and catch a few more rides, but keep in mind the amazing sensory ability sharks use to hunt. They have evolved very little during the past 400 million years, and are such effective hunters that they can detect minute amounts of blood in the water--from miles away.