How to survive a shark attack from a real live shark attack survivor (not really)

Today, while snorkeling for nurse sharks a small, juvenile nurse shark came directly up to me. As I reached out my hand to pet the shark on the head, away from his mouth as the dive master instructed me to do; the nurse shark quickly turned its head making my hand go directly in front of its mouth. To my dismay, with the power of twelve Hoover vacuum cleaners, the nurse shark sucked my thumb into its mouth and took a little nibble. While I was obviously fine, shark attacks are a very real fear to the large majority of beach goers. That little nurse shark just wanted me to feed it like the dive master was doing, but a real shark attack would be completely unpredictable.

The actual chances of being attacked by a shark are about one in 11.5 million. Over the last ten years, there have been a total of 244 shark attacks in Florida waters, but only one attack was fatal. If stuck in the horrifying situation of being circled by a shark, or even worse actually being attack by a shark, there are some key steps that should be followed.

The best way to avoid shark any shark encounters is to not go in the water during dusk or dawn.

First a foremost, when approached by a shark, you cannot panic and start making sudden movements. There is absolutely no way that you can outswim even the oldest and most decrepit shark, and rapid movements could provoke the shark. It is best to stay still treading water slowly in a defensive position. Secondly, never take your eyes off of the shark so you can be able to defend yourself if the shark does happen to attack.  

 

If the shark actually attacks attempt to hit the shark on the tip of the nose, gouge the shark’s eyes with your thumbs, or jab the shark in the gills. These are the most vulnerable areas on the shark’s body, and hopefully the shark will release you from its jaws. It is important to keep fighting with everything you have because if you give up the shark is not all of a sudden going to feel bad for biting you and let you go.

 

Again, shark attacks are extremely rare, but it is important to know what to do if you do find yourself in that terrible situation.

https://www.wikihow.com/Survive-a-Shark-Attack

https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/shark-attacks/trends/location/world/