how to survive a shark attack, tip #5

Accounts from commercial divers point out that sharks are aware of eye contact. This explains why sharks tend to attack more from the blindside, when the victim has little chance to react defensively, than from upfront.

Divers expecting sharks are often carrying a rod or a harpoon. You have neither. But you can fool that shark into thinking you are carrying either.

Here is what you do. Make sure you are facing that shark. Stretch your right arm out and point it toward the shark. Hold your right forearm with you left hand, making sure the shark sees your left arm bent at the elbow. Point all your right hand's fingers at the shark, so that your hand's pointed tip mimics the shape of a harpoon ready to be launched.

As the shark continues to encircle you, make sure you continue to face it. If it changes direction, continue to “aim” your “harpoon” at it.

Three possibilities now emerge.

First, the shark, familiar with divers and their rods and harpoons, will flee. Second, the shark, unfamiliar with divers and their weapons, will continue to encircle you until it loses interest. Third, the shark, unfamiliar with divers and their weapons, will interpret your posture as prelude to a preemptive strike, and will lunge at you mercilessly.

Do not wish for the third possibility.

how to survive a shark attack, tip #4

Most sharks that attack people are of the "bite-and-run" type; preferring to swim close to their target, bite, and then swim away. The logic behind this is that most sharks avoid the desperate retaliation of a wounded animal. Seals bitten by sharks have been recorded to bite back.

Most bite-and-run types are smaller than the Great White Shark, whose one bite could kill you, given its massive jaws and the size of its serrated teeth. The Great White has been recorded to reach lengths of about 20 feet, which, along with its massive bulk, is like a small pointed gray submarine that bites.

Look closely at that shark that is encircling you.

Is Great?

Is it White?

Stay calm and be eaten slowly. Panic and be eaten quickly.

You decide.

how to survive a shark attack, tip #3

Jaws" and succeeding shark movies have always depicted the Great White Shark as behaving like a bully, showing its fin above-water for panic effect, biting a victim and dragging him away while he screams and waves to his friends, and ramming small boats until they capsize.

This "bully" behavior is based on isolated accounts. Great White Sharks have been known to be playfully malicious with their prey, but they munch them slowly, and they tend to encircle their victims a lot, unlike their adrenaline-filled counterparts in the movies. Therein lies your chance to escape. There is a self-defense tip wherein you use your fingers on the attacker's eyes. It works against sharks, too. So, when a Great White lunges at your torso, take big gulps of air before you are forcibly submerged. The pain will be excruciating, as your hips and ribs are crushed. Persevere, squint underwater, find one of the shark's eyes. Now, make a fist, but stick out your thumb. Thumb that angry fish's eye repeatedly, with all your strength. The shark will either be annoyed and spit you out, bloodied and mangled and all, or it will hasten the crushing motion of its jaws.

Two possibilities now emerge. If you've been spat out, the shark will either be annoyed and will come at you again, this time making sure to chew its food well and quick, or it will be seriously hurt and will swim away. If you have some, long nails really help.

If the shark spat you out and then swam away, leaving you bleeding, you may still be able to swim to the surface and wave for help, thus increasing your chances of survival. However, pray that help comes quickly, for that blood trail you left will attract other sharks. And you will not survive a feeding frenzy, long nails or no.

However, if the shark spat you out and intends to come at you again, this is what will happen. You either have a moment before you are mangled for the last time, or the shark will swim around you, like a villain who has underestimated his prey and intends to take no more chances.

In the latter case, remember to look brave, until you black out--either due to your spine being crushed, or due to lack of oxygen. Go back to that fist with your thumb sticking out. This time, pull back your thumb and stick out your middle finger. Watch the shark coming at you. Face it. Show it that finger.

Watch the shark hesitate for a moment. You have gained its respect.

how to survive a shark attack, tip #2

Two pieces of reliable info have been gathered on sharks: first, they can smell your intentions; second, they rarely die from dynamite fishing. Once you are in the water, do not thrash about wildly; for they will know that you want to flee. Stay calm. Research has shown that since sharks do not hunt or move about in schools, and because they are migratory, they are rarely blown to death by dynamite fishermen. Therefore, while you are calm underwater and a shark is nearby, having a stick of dynamite is not so useless. Here is what you do. Stay calm, do not trash about wildly. When the shark gets near, hold out your arm toward the creature and display that dynamite. The shark will either recognize the explosive and flee, or will suddenly bite your calm arm.

how to survive a shark attack, tip #1

Sharks often mistake humans swimming underwater to be seals or large fish or both. When you see a shark swimming toward you, place your arms parallel on your sides, and swim in a dolphin-like motion. The shark will hesitate and think you are a seal or a dolphin looking like a human, or a human swimming like a seal or a dolphin. Sharks rarely attack dolphins, almost always attacks a seal or a large fish, and sometimes attacks a human. Confusion is your best bet. Remember to swim away, like a dolphin, and to swim like hell. The point is to make the shark think you are a seal looking like a human moving like a dolphin who clings to dear life.