Knowledge is Power

Occasionally sharks like to wander up to divers and give them a closer look.  It is important to know what are normal behaviors, and imperative to stay vigilant and aware while watching and interacting with these creatures in the wild.  Watch a short clip about Staying Vigilant while Diving with Bull Sharks.

It is especially important to stay aware and watching for any changes in behavior as mating season approaches and male sharks become more protective and territorial when it comes to their potential mates and they can become more aggressive.  Watch a short clip of Bull Shark Mating Behaviors.

Aggressive behavior is also significantly increased in the presence of struggling fish or when blood and other juices are in the water whether as a result of a planned shark feed, spear-fishing or another shark or another animal feeding nearby.  Watch a short clip of Aggressive Behaviors by Bull Sharks.

If sharks display these behaviors on the dive, it isn’t necessarily a pre-cursor to an attack but you should be especially aware and vigilant if you start to notice these behaviors.  It is important not to panic, being buzzed or even brushed by a shark does not necessarily mean that you are about to become lunch. 

Shark Diving Fashion

This is not the time to flaunt your finesse for fashion, if you have anything bright or shiny such as jewelry, or even shiny objects attached to your BC such as reels, dive knife etc we suggest that you remove them or stow them in your BC pocket while diving with sharks so as not to be mistaken for the small silvery fish sharks like to snack on.

Covering up in a full wetsuit is generally a good idea as it provides some added protection not necessarily from a serious bite but even a brush from a shark and their sandpaper like skin isn’t fun.  It has also been suggested that bright colors be avoided, while there is no particular scientific evidence to confirm they are attracted to or repelled by certain colors, their diet is generally tropical (brightly colored and shiny) fish, so if possible a black or muted colored wetsuit is preferable.

If you have gloves, it is suggested that you wear them, regardless of the water temperature as once again, bare (white) hands may be mistaken for sometime that looks good to eat. Lastly, fins tend to be prime targets for bites. This is more likely to do with their movements and exposed position rather than color but white, silver, or bright fins should probably be avoided if at all possible. 

Leave your disco moves at home

Thrashing around in the water may mimic a wounded fish or animal or may replicate the movements of another feeding shark.  Either way, slow, rhythmic fin strokes are more likely to be ignored. 

Good buoyancy is also very important, crashing into the reef or struggling to stay down could generate unwanted interest in you or alternatively may drive away sharks that you and the others divers came to see.

The safest way to observe the Bull Sharks is kneeling on the sandy floor, as close to the bottom as possible staying calm and minimizing any sudden movements.

Keep your hands to yourself

The best way to avoid getting your hand bitten by a shark is to keep them to yourself, close to your body, folded arms across the chest is the safest bet.  If you are flailing your arms around, pointing or reaching out to touch a shark you are increasing your chances that it’s going to get bitten.

The worst thing you can possibly do is to grab a shark it by the tail or any other part of its anatomy, while this seems like an obvious statement many shark bites are a direct result of divers being over-confident around these creatures and attempting to touch them or get them to turn them around to get a better look or a better photo.   Sharks are very flexible and explosively fast and won’t hesitate to spin around and bite your hand if you touch them so just don’t do it. 

Getting down to business (and up again)

There are significantly more attacks on snorkelers, swimmers, surfers and other things floating on the surface than there are on scuba divers that are underwater.  If you’re floating on the surface you look like something the shark might want to eat, remember in the ocean it is usually things that are already dead that float on the surface, or if you’re thrashing around you may look like an animal in distress or dying, all being an easy dinner for the shark.

Furthermore, if your head is above water you can’t see what is going on and the movements of any sharks underwater.  The bottom line is once you’re in the water get underwater and down to the bottom as quickly as possible without crashing into the bottom while trying to do this, and remembering to equalize as you descend.  When you are ready to come up, once again do so efficiently and as quickly as possible while still within the recommended ascent limits. 

Once you have reached the boat, leave your mask and as much gear as possible on and get in the boat, while waiting to get in the boat keep looking below you so that you are aware of any sharks approaching, this is not the time to take your mask off and regulator out and start having a chat about what a great dive it was, save it for the boat.  Watch a short video about Making Safe Descents and Ascents with Bull Sharks.

Stay away from the chum

While we don’t feed the sharks unless specifically requested by a customer, many operators do.  Even if you don’t dive with us, we hope that you read this document and it helps make your dive safer.  If sharks want food and you're between them and dinner then you're in a very dangerous place.  Keep your distance from any hanging bait that has been placed in the water and if the current is moving chum or what is left of it away from the area make sure that you are positioned off to the side or up stream.

Having watched the shark's behavior for some time you may feel confident about moving in for better pictures or a better look.  Remember that if the current is running and you are downstream any sharks that are swimming up to the bait may think that those delicious odors are emanating from you. Now you're stuck in a position where a shark is coming toward you and you are drifting into it.  As it's very hard to swim against even a mild current you probably now have to turn around to make headway against it to get back up stream which puts you with your back to the approaching shark.  A better course of action is to swim sideways until clear of the chum slick at which point you can kick up current without looking like a fleeing wounded animal.

If a Shark gets too close for comfort

If a shark does get too close and comes directly at you there are two ways of discouraging it, firstly if possible push it way with your fins, if it does try and take a bite solid rubber is far less appetizing than flesh.  If pushing it away with your fins is not possible, punch it squarely between the eyes.  Defending yourself against a shark rarely provokes further attacks and generally dissuades it from coming near you again.