• Log in
    NewsVoicesExpertsEat & DrinkTravelogueExclusivesTravel TipsPrint IssueVideo
    ADVOCATEOUTPridePLUSADVOCATE CHANNEL
    SubscribeSubscriber ServicesEmail Newsletter Signup
    CONTACTCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
    © 2023 Pride Publishing Inc.
    All Rights reserved
    OutTravelerOutTraveler
    Scroll To Top

    By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.

    Accept

    How to Survive a Shark Attack

    Nick Thompson And Forrest Brown, Cnn
    | 11/05/22

    How to Survive a Shark Attack

    Rare but dangerous encounters

    Great White

    (CNN) -- First things first: Despite some truly terrifying tales of survival, you are incredibly unlikely to be duking it out with a shark any time soon.

    But sharks do occasionally attack humans.

    Florida teen Addison Bethea was severely injured this past summer when a shark attacked her in the waters off Keaton Beach along Florida's Gulf Coast. And a beach closure was in place after a woman suffered a shark bite off Southern California's famed Del Mar Beach on November 4.

    And while these kinds of encounter understandably strike fear into would-be ocean swimmers, there's no need to panic about your upcoming beach vacation. The chances of being attacked by a shark are extremely low.

    The Florida Museum of Natural History's International Shark Attack File found only 73 confirmed, unprovoked shark bites on people and 39 confirmed, provoked bites in 2021 worldwide.

    Think about it a minute -- the world population is nearing 8 billion people. Many of those live near or vacation at the coast. And only 112 bites were logged. Your chances of drowning are much, much higher.

    In 2021, the United States led the way in unprovoked attacks at 47; Florida had the highest state total at 28.

    That said, you can take steps to increase your chances of survival during a highly improbable attack, according to shark experts interviewed by CNN Travel.

    • Rare but dangerous encounters
    • Before you get in the water
    • If a shark is nearby
    • If you're being attacked

    Before you get in the water

    White shark off Cape Cod

    Know your environment

    Sharks are salt-water creatures. The ocean is their home; we are the visitors.

    "If you're going to the ocean, you have to assume you could encounter a shark regardless of when or where that is," said Neil Hammerschlag, director of the Shark Research and Conservation Program at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School.

    "Fortunately, humans aren't on the menu, and also fortunately, sharks tend to avoid people."

    Still, there are places you're more likely to encounter a shark.

    River mouths are not the best place to swim

    You should avoid estuaries, said Richard Peirce, an author, shark expert and former chair of the UK-based Shark Trust and Shark Conservation Society.

    Their often-murky waters are a favorite with bull sharks, which are the most likely to attack humans along with great whites and tiger sharks.

    "An awful lot of attacks occur in river mouths, where there is silt and other material in suspension in the river -- people washing their clothes, people washing themselves," said Peirce.

    Hammerschlag pointed out another area where an encounter is more likely: deeper channels between the shoreline and sandbars farther out.

    Avoid areas with fishing

    Before you jump in the sea, have a look around the horizon: What do you see? If you see fishing boats, Peirce says "forget it."

    "Whether the fishing activity is commercial or recreational, material will often be being discarded, and unwanted dead fish, fish parts and the action of gutting fish are all putting chum in the water and inviting attention from sharks," he said.

    Before you go in, watch for unusual fish activity, such as a whole bunch of small- and medium-sized fish jumping out of the water, Hammerschlag said. That's a possible sign a shark might be nearby.

    He also advised to not swim within roughly 50 yards of where someone is fishing from shore.

    Lifeguard

    Avoid dusk and dawn

    Swimming early in the morning or late at night can be lovely, but it's also the time when a shark attack is most likely.

    "A lot of shark attacks are cases of mistaken identity," Peirce says, "due to reduced visibility and identification ability on the behalf of the shark."

    Hang with lifeguards

    Chris Lowe, professor in marine biology and director of the Shark Lab at California State University, Long Beach, advises to "do your homework" before you go into unfamiliar waters. Bone up a little bit on species you might encounter in different places.

    If you have any questions, ask a local lifeguard. He said they are a great resource.

    "I always recommend people go to guarded beaches. It's a lot safer," he said.

    Don't wear shiny objects in the water

    "Be careful with jewelry, anything that flashes because sharks are always looking for fish." Lowe said.

    In murky water, a shark may think that flash is a sign of a meal. "And you don't want your hand or foot to get confused with that."

    Follow your instincts

    "Probably the most important thing is to follow your gut," Hammerschlag said. "If you feel wary about getting in the water ... just don't go in the water."

    "A lot of people who have been bitten actually said they had a weird sensation before that, like they had an inner voice telling them to get out of the water and they didn't listen to it," he said.

    If a shark is nearby

    Florida Bull Shark

    Don't panic

    So you're being circled by a shark. The worst thing you can do right now is panic.

    "Don't start splashing around -- you're just going to excite, incite and encourage the shark's interest," said Peirce.

    Humans, apes, dogs and cats all have paws and hands. If we want to explore something we pick it up and we touch it, we feel it, we put it to our nose.

    "A shark has got no paws or hands, so if it wants to explore something, the only capability it's got to do that is to put it in its mouth," said Peirce.

    "That's why we often get exploratory bites which don't result in death and sometimes don't even result in serious injury. If you go swimming and splashing away, you're almost inviting the shark to come give you an exploratory or an attack bite."

    Maintain eye contact

    As the shark swims around you, keep your head on a swivel and try to maintain eye contact.

    "Sharks are ambush predators," Peirce explained. "If you're turning around and facing it the whole time while it circles you, it's not going to be half as comfortable as if it's able to sneak up from behind."

    Hammerschlag concurred, saying you should posture your body toward the shark so it knows you see it and you're following it. Then slowly back up toward your exit to a boat or shore.

    If you're surfing, track the shark with your board, Lowe said. "Let the shark know it's being watched."

    Marine biologists and shark divers Adriana Fragola and Kayleigh Grant show how that eye contact method works with tiger sharks. In a viral TikTok video (see top of story), the shark is seen as Fragola splashes away, capturing its attention. She turns around, faces the approaching shark, remains still in the water and gently deflects the shark away with her hand.

    "You're definitely never going to outswim or outrun a shark if it were actually chasing you," Fragola says in the video.

    Stay big or get small

    This is where it gets complicated. If a shark is clearly in attack mode, you need to make yourself as big as possible in the water, according to Peirce.

    "The bigger you are in the water, the more respect you'll get," he said.

    But if the shark seems to simply be passing through, Peirce's advice is to roll up into a ball.

    "If a shark sees you as a competitor for its food source, that can be one reason it attacks you," he explained.

    "If I didn't want to be seen by a great white shark as a competitor -- and if it wasn't showing massive interest in me -- I would actually curl up so he shows even less interest in me."

    If you're being attacked

    Great White Shark Mouth open

    Don't play dead

    This isn't a bear, it's a shark. If you find yourself in an aggressive encounter, give it hell: punch, kick and poke at sensitive spots -- but be careful where you aim.

    "There's all this talk about punching a shark in the nose. That's OK, but remember that just underneath the nose is a mouth," said Peirce.

    "This is a moving object in the water and you're not staying still either, so what you don't want to do is end up effectively punching at the mouth or anywhere near it."

    A good shot to the gills can also do the job: "The gills are very sensitive -- giving a shark a whack in the gills isn't a bad idea."

    Are you carrying anything with you? If so, turn it into a weapon.

    "If you're a diver with an underwater camera, use it, if you're a snorkeler, rip off your snorkel and use it to poke the shark," Peirce says.

    "I've had a lot of sharks come at me, and it's (been) enough to use a shark billy -- a small metal rod between two and three feet long -- and I've just given them a little nudge on their nose."

    It's a good idea to swim with other people, Lowe said. Not only does that decrease the chances of an attack, he said, but you've got someone to assist you to a boat or shore if you are bitten.

    Cut off the angles

    If you're a diver and you run into trouble, try to get into a position where the shark can't get behind you, says Peirce.

    "Keep your back to something like a coral reef. Then you've only got one direction to look. You're protected from behind, for example, and that enables you to keep the shark in sight in front of you and maybe swim to the top of the reef slowly to where your boat is."

    Bull Shark

    Slowly back away

    Displace the least amount of water possible. Try not to thrash and splash around as you gradually swim backwards toward shore.

    "You must try and keep the animal in sight and very slowly and gently try and swim backwards and get into shallow water. Again, you've got to be careful -- large sharks can attack in very shallow depths."

    Doing the above may help to a degree, but Peirce says the likelihood of escaping without injury when a big shark attacks is slim.

    "If a white shark is in full attack mode, there's not much you're going to be able to do at that point," he says.

    The-CNN-Wire
    ™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

    Latest Stories

    These 8 European Destinations are Perfect for Fall Colors and Savings
    Europe
    Badge
    gallery

    These 8 European Destinations are Perfect for Fall Colors and Savings

    21h
    NoRal Apparel Blatino Oasis Fashion Show
    Fashion
    Badge
    gallery

    13 Sizzling Hot Pics of NoRal Apparel at Blatino Oasis 2023

    September 25 2023 8:30 AM
    Galpão Gaucho Brazilian Steakhouse
    Restaurants
    Badge
    gallery

    Check Out These Delicious Dishes At Galpão Gaucho Brazilian Steakhouse

    September 21 2023 5:30 AM
    Six Road Trips Perfect for Fall Colors
    Road Trips
    Badge
    gallery

    6 Great American Road Trips Perfect for Fall Colors

    September 18 2023 9:02 AM
    Kevin Aviance DJs Launch of Zcrave’s New F3TISH Collection
    Fashion
    Badge
    gallery

    Kevin Aviance DJs Launch of Zcrave’s New F3TISH Collection

    September 15 2023 4:20 PM
    Here’s Why So Many Visitors Yearn to Stay on This Secret Island
    Caribbean
    Badge
    gallery

    Here’s Why So Many Visitors Yearn to Stay on This Secret Caribbean Island

    September 15 2023 9:21 AM
    Lisa Rinna Does PTown
    Provincetown
    Badge
    gallery

    Lisa Rinna Does PTown

    September 03 2023 2:18 PM
    Visit Datça, the Turkish Village Forgotten by Time
    Europe
    Badge
    gallery

    Visit This Turkish Village Forgotten by Time

    September 02 2023 11:30 AM
    55+ Pics of Provincetown Carnival 2023
    Provincetown
    Badge
    gallery

    55+ Pics of Provincetown Carnival 2023

    September 01 2023 7:50 AM
    Southern Decadence in New Orleans
    Non-topics
    Badge
    gallery

    Southern Decadence 2023: 5 Things to Know Before You Go

    August 31 2023 4:07 PM
    Top 5 Must-Have Items From Roam Luggage
    Travel Gear
    Badge
    gallery

    Our Top 5 Must-Have Pieces From Roam Luggage

    August 30 2023 5:45 PM
    Out Travelers Michael and Matt Share Their Secrets for Berkeley
    Travel Tips
    Badge
    gallery

    Out Travelers Michael and Matt Share Their Secrets for Berkeley

    August 28 2023 5:12 PM
    Disneyland teases menu for new Tiana's Palace restaurant
    Food
    Badge
    gallery

    Disneyland Teases New Tiana’s Palace Menu

    August 27 2023 12:53 PM
    Travel Tips: A Guide to ETIAS and Europe’s City Taxes
    Travel Tips
    Badge
    gallery

    ETIAS Tax Guide 101: Everything You Need to Know About ETIAS and Europe’s City Taxes

    August 25 2023 4:16 PM
    Fun Factory Celebrates 40th Anniversary with One Day Only 40% Off Sale
    Travel Gear
    Badge
    gallery

    Fun Factory Celebrates 40th Anniversary with One Day Sale

    August 11 2023 4:40 PM
    Discover this Forgotten Aegean Coastline – By Boat
    Turkey
    Badge
    gallery

    Discover this Forgotten Aegean Coastline – By Boat

    August 07 2023 9:04 AM
    Discover this Hidden Gem of the Spanish Mediterranean
    Spain
    Badge
    gallery

    Discover this Hidden Gem of the Spanish Mediterranean

    August 05 2023 10:20 AM
    7 Insider Tips for Making the Most of Your Trip to Italy's Cinque Terre
    Travel Tips
    Badge
    gallery

    7 Secrets to Unlocking the Best of Italy's Cinque Terre

    August 04 2023 8:57 AM
    Exploring Berlin: A Guide to Germany’s LGBTQ+ Capital
    Travel Guides
    Badge
    gallery

    Exploring Berlin: A Guide to Germany’s LGBTQ+ Capital

    August 02 2023 8:53 AM
    A Gay Guide to Cannes and Antibes – The Crown Jewels of the French Riviera
    Travel Guides
    Badge
    gallery

    A Gay Guide to Cannes and Antibes – The Crown Jewels of the French Riviera

    July 26 2023 11:01 AM

    Trending stories

    How California Is Using AI to Stop Wildfires Before They Start

    The Writers Strike Is Nearly Over—So What Does That Mean For the Actors Strike?

    Este Aliado del VIH Está Condimentando la Salud Sexual

    Ghana's Newest Anti-LGBTQ+ Law Sparks Protests

    Slayyyter On Poppers, Voguing & Entering Her STARF***KER Era

    New 'Loki' Season 2 Teaser Shows Our Hero Running Out Of Time

    Texas Man Sentenced to 36 Years in Prison for Murder of Transgender Woman

    Gavin Newsom Vetoes Bill Requiring Custody Decisions Involve Affirming Children’s Gender Identity

    35 Bisexual Politicians You Should Know

    Arrests Follow HIV Funding Protest at Speaker McCarthy's Office

    Here's How Celebs Are Reacting to the WGA & Studios Reaching a Deal to End the Strike

    'Fellow Travelers' Creator Had 'Rules' For Spicy Scenes On Set

    Angelica Ross Got Backlash From Ryan Murphy For Tweeting About On-Set Racism

    Meet Two Amazing Activists Speaking Up About Black Women and HIV

    Writers Guild of America & Studios Reach Tentative Deal To End Strike (Updated)

    Monday's Top Stories: Government Shutdown, AI & Wildfires, Funding Haiti

    Democratic Cities in Mississippi Achieve Small Victory in Fight to Break From Republican Control

    9 Best States To Live In As A Trans Person

    Pete Buttigieg Slams Donald Trump’s Alleged Remarks About Disabled Veterans

    Writers and Studios Reach Deal That Will End Strike

    What to Know About Taylor Swift Cheering On Travis Kelce at a Kansas City Chiefs Game

    These Studs Competed in the 2023 Mister International Pageant

    9 Celebrities Who Came Out As Bisexual in 2023

    Baton Rouge Police Tortured Detainees in ‘Brave Cave,’ Lawsuits Claim

    STI Rates, Including HIV, Could Spike Due to Medicaid Cuts

    Most Recent

    Travis Scott Investigated For Assault and $12,000 in Property Damage

    'RHONY's Jenna Lyons Sparks Engagement Rumors With Diamond Ring Pic

    HIV Warrior Ronnie Grace Battling Stage 4 Cancer

    How California Is Using AI to Stop Wildfires Before They Start

    DACA Immigration Policy Ruled Unlawful, But Allowed to Continue

    'RuPaul's Drag Race' Queens Who Were Ahead of Their Time

    20 Steamy Pics Of Christian Chávez To Celebrate The RBD Reunion Tour

    STIs Rates Could Spike Due to Medicaid Cuts, Experts Warn

    How to Honor Senior Survivors of HIV

    The Fastest Woman in the World Is Leaving Her Haters Behind

    George W. Bush Calls Out Republicans Trying to End HIV Program PEPFAR

    Grace Van Dien, Stranger Things Actor, Says She's Turning Down Roles Over Sexual Harassment

    New 'Drag Race' Host Is a Legendary Activist Living With HIV

    15 Gay TV Shows & Movies You Can Watch On Hulu Right Now

    Donatella Versace Perfectly Calls Out Italy's Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws

    Bomb Threats Target LGBTQ+ Events Across the U.S. Over the Weekend

    Baton Rouge Police Tortured Detainees in ‘Brave Cave,’ Lawsuits Claim

    Halloween New Orleans Is Throwing an XL-Sized Party, Celebrating 40 Years of AIDS Fundraising

    Canada Has Some of the Highest Mpox Rates in the World

    California Gov. Gavin Newsom Signs 9 Pro-LGBTQ+ Bills Into Law

    Fans Speculate That 'RHONY's Jenna Lyons Is Engaged

    What to Know About Taylor Swift Cheering On Travis Kelce at a Kansas City Chiefs Game

    Halloween New Orleans Is Throwing an XL-Sized Party, Celebrating 40 Years of AIDS Fundraising

    Dr. Randa Jaafar on Her New Practice & Helping Women Feel Their Best

    Recommended Stories for You

    Travis Scott Investigated For Assault and $12,000 in Property Damage

    'RHONY's Jenna Lyons Sparks Engagement Rumors With Diamond Ring Pic

    HIV Warrior Ronnie Grace Battling Stage 4 Cancer

    How California Is Using AI to Stop Wildfires Before They Start

    DACA Immigration Policy Ruled Unlawful, But Allowed to Continue

    'RuPaul's Drag Race' Queens Who Were Ahead of Their Time

    20 Steamy Pics Of Christian Chávez To Celebrate The RBD Reunion Tour

    STIs Rates Could Spike Due to Medicaid Cuts, Experts Warn

    How to Honor Senior Survivors of HIV

    The Fastest Woman in the World Is Leaving Her Haters Behind

    George W. Bush Calls Out Republicans Trying to End HIV Program PEPFAR

    Grace Van Dien, Stranger Things Actor, Says She's Turning Down Roles Over Sexual Harassment

    New 'Drag Race' Host Is a Legendary Activist Living With HIV

    15 Gay TV Shows & Movies You Can Watch On Hulu Right Now

    Donatella Versace Perfectly Calls Out Italy's Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws

    Bomb Threats Target LGBTQ+ Events Across the U.S. Over the Weekend

    Baton Rouge Police Tortured Detainees in ‘Brave Cave,’ Lawsuits Claim

    Halloween New Orleans Is Throwing an XL-Sized Party, Celebrating 40 Years of AIDS Fundraising

    Canada Has Some of the Highest Mpox Rates in the World

    California Gov. Gavin Newsom Signs 9 Pro-LGBTQ+ Bills Into Law

    Fans Speculate That 'RHONY's Jenna Lyons Is Engaged

    What to Know About Taylor Swift Cheering On Travis Kelce at a Kansas City Chiefs Game

    Halloween New Orleans Is Throwing an XL-Sized Party, Celebrating 40 Years of AIDS Fundraising

    Dr. Randa Jaafar on Her New Practice & Helping Women Feel Their Best