Shark Attack!

My husband and I were browsing through Netflix documentaries this morning, and we came across "Shark Week: The Great Bites Collection," a film series comprised of some of the most memorable moments from the Discovery Channel's annual shark weeks. We watched the first episode about surviving shark attacks in warm waters. It was a very analytical approach to attacks including information like when sharks are prone to strike, how they prey upon and bite their victims, and even what to do if you're faced with a great white shark.

The most beneficial information I learned was about what to do if you're in the water during a dive and you find you're being stalked by a great white shark. Basically, you have one of two decisions to make: do you play dead or do you begin swimming for the boat? As it turns out, your best bet is to swim for the boat. The reason is because the kicking of a swimmer's legs is enough to deter the shark from attacking. This is because sharks use all of their senses when hunting, and when a swimmer sends out kicking vibrations the shark can sense it with something called their lateral line. 

The lateral line can be thought of as an extension of the shark's ear, which detects vibrations in the water caused by movement. This helps the sharks find prey and predators within the water. So in the case of a potential shark attack, a stationary target, such as a swimmer who is playing dead, seems to be an easier target because the sharks won't detect any movement.

Other information I learned from this documentary is that when faced with a shark you want to make it seems like you're a credible threat. Keep your eye on the shark, take a defensive stance within the water, and if necessary try to hit the shark in a vulnerable area like his gills or eyes. Also, any type of object can be used as a weapon against a shark: a camera, a rock, and even your knees and elbows will work to help you strike at a giant monster like the great white. But most importantly, don't play dead. If you can't trigger the shark's lateral line you are not posed as a threat to the shark. Your best bet is to keep moving around and do your best to get back in the boat.

Get more information about surviving shark attacks by watching this short clip from National Geographic: