Basic Survival: How to Survive or Deter a Shark?

In 1975, Steven Spielberg revolutionized the world with his film 'Jaws,' and many believed that experiencing an attack by this majestic fish could be a common occurrence, although that is not the case. However, we have prepared a basic survival guide just in case you find yourself in such a delicate situation. First, it is important to note that shark attacks tend to be concentrated in specific areas. Most occur in coastal zones, either near the shore of a sandbar or between two different sandbars, where they tend to go in search of food and can get trapped if the tide is low. They also tend to attack in areas where there are stairs leading to the water, as their prey often seeks refuge here.

However, those at the greatest risk of a shark attack are surfers and fishermen using spears. The former are at risk due to surfing in deep waters, while the latter often fish in the areas where sharks hunt their prey. Although it is unlikely that anything will happen to them while on a boat, this predator could attack the vessel if it feels threatened. While there are many species of shark, three are potentially dangerous to humans: the great white shark, the tiger shark, and the bull shark. These species grow large and therefore need a significant amount of food, consisting of large marine mammals, large turtles, or schools of fish.

The first piece of advice to follow if you want to avoid such a situation is to move in groups. When it comes to large prey, sharks usually attack individually. Do not stray too far from the shore, as the further you are from the coast, the more likely you are to attract the attention of a shark and the farther you will be from possible help. It is also not advisable to swim at night, as during low light hours, sharks are more active and have a more developed sense of smell. Avoid swimming if you have a bleeding wound or if you are menstruating if you are a woman, as sharks are attracted to blood and their sense of smell is highly developed. Do not swim with jewelry or shiny accessories, as their reflective light resembles the shimmer of scales produced by some fish. Avoid floating on the surface of the sea in a horizontal position, as this will make you detectable as easy prey, and you won't see it coming.

Beyond the beach, avoid polluted waters, where sports are practiced or where fish or any type of food is traded. The presence of any sort of waste in this area significantly raises the possibility of a shark being around. You should also exercise extreme caution if the water you are swimming in is murky, especially if you have noticeable tan lines or colorful swimwear, as sharks are highly sensitive to contrasts.

If, despite taking all these precautions, you notice a shark approaching you, stay calm. They are curious animals and are likely to approach you out of simple curiosity, so it is very likely that it will swim by and leave you alone. However, if it starts to swim around you, it is best to be prepared to defend yourself. If it attacks, use anything you have on hand, or in its absence, your fists, to strike it in the eyes or the gills, located on its neck, as these are the most sensitive areas. Being a predator, it will only continue its attack if it feels it has the advantage and chances of winning, so it is crucial that you hit it in the eyes and gills as many times and as hard as you can. If you manage to strike it repeatedly, it will sense that it is facing a hard-to-catch prey and is highly likely to leave you alone. Sharks are not fish that fight hard for their food; instead, they tend to go after easy prey.

To understand when a shark is attacking you, it is also important to identify when it is beginning its attack, which can occur in three different ways. The most common is the hit-and-run attack. This usually occurs in surfing areas, and the targets are often surfers. The shark bites once and then flees, without its victim often seeing it, with the sole intention of warning them to stay away from its habitat. Another more aggressive type of attack is the hit-and-bite attack. In this case, the shark starts swimming in circles around its victim and strikes before attacking more violently. This usually happens in deep waters, where the more daring bathers or divers venture. Finally, we have the sneak attack, which occurs without warning. The shark approaches so that we cannot perceive its presence and makes a rapid assault with multiple bites. This type of attack is the most dangerous of all, as it often inflicts serious and even fatal injuries.