I want to surf, but am afraid of a shark attack...?

Question

Can you give me any wisdom or reassurance?

Answer 1

a shark is a wild animal with no regard for morals whatsoever. They are predators by instinct looking for prey. If you are near them, they will attack you and your blood will ignite a frenzy. They will tear you apart in the most terrifying death imaginable, drowning in a meat grinder. The only thing you can do is stay away from the ocean. If you do venture into the ocean to "catch some waves dude" the only thing you can do is tuck your head between your legs and pray that the gods will spare you. If the gods are for you, your end will be quick.

Answer 2

Well let me put it this way. You'd have a lot more chance of being killed or maimed by walking out your own back door and getting hit by a flying tree branch.

Answer 3

No, because I also suffer from that unreasonable fear. Sorry.

Answer 4

i go surfing with sharks everyday.. theyll swim like right next to me and through the waves.. ill get out for like 10 minutes but then get back in ... you cant be scared your whole life , itll just prevent you from doing something sooo sick that gives you such a high, so suck it up, be a man ,, and face it!

peace.

Answer 5

It is very rare that a shark attacks a surfer.  Always be with other surfers and have fun!!!!!

Life is too short to think about all realms of fate possibilities.

You could die tomorrow in a car accident.  Live Life!!!!!

Answer 6

Well, sharks can be scary. However, there are millions of sharks in the ocean. I have KNOWINGLY surfed about twenty feet away from a shark, and he (she) just didn't worry me. I also saw one while diving, and I didn't like the way he was moving around me, and I got my buddy and we were in the boat in SECONDS. I am positive I have been right around them for thousands of times, after all, I surf where they live. I have been in the ocean, swimming, diving, snorkeling, surfing for most of my 55 years.Luckily, I am not their food of choice, and unlike the movies portray, they are not just killing/eating machines. Sharks are always there. Hopefully, they will always be there. If you did a statistical study of all of the humans who go into the oceans everyday, and all off the sharks who live in the ocean, and the number of times sharks bite/eat humans, you will find that it is probably statistically more likely to get win the lottery on the same day you get hit by lightening than to be attacked by a shark. The ocean is a source of food and joy, don't let unreasonable fear make you pass it up. However, I believe in professional courtesy, I don't eat sharks.

Science has not been able to determine whether or not sharks can see colors. The 'Brightness' of certain colors has also not been scientifically determined to be a shark attractant, but some scientists have called international orange (the color of life vests) "yum yum orange' for sharks. Sharks have been prove to be attracted to shiny, flashy objects that give the appearance of light glinting off fish scales. Great whites feed on seals. Surfers in wet suits can resemble seals, but if sharks can see colors, we all know there are no red seals.  If you wear a watch brushed metal or flat black are better choices than polished metal - gold or silver colored.

I do watch for certain signs, that tell me I might want to stay on the beach for a while. When bait fish, particularly large bait fish, like mullet, start jumping out of the water, that usually means there is a predator behind them. If I have seen dolphins around, I relax, it is likely them. However, no dolphins, I start to think shark. Or, a school of feeding blue fish, which scares me more than any shark would.

Sharks are a beautiful and ancient part of the ocean ecosystem. We swim and surf where they live. We are not their food of choice, so just try to avoid the water during their prime feeding times, in many cases at dusk. Don't surf around big schools of bait fish, sharks can think your foot looks a lot like a bunker or a mullet. If you surf near a big seal population, be careful of seasonal seal movements, sharks love seals for dinner.

I am very sad about the death of the swimmer in CA last week. Unfortunately a 'school' of triathlon swimmers in wet suits must have looked just like a school of seals to that Great White. My condolences to his family

Answer 7

Don't slather your self with blood or tuna juice.

LOL!!!  Just kidding.

I don't think that shark attacks occur very often.

I would surf somewhere that keeps up on watching the waters and get a report for that day.

Answer 8

Naturally...however, you want to know: that sharks DO NOT attack you for no cause at all, they only attack you when you are bleeding or have some form of "food" (meaning shark food) or want to attack them, them that is. I have gone surfing billions of times and have never ever been attacked by a shark or any other sea creature in this case. You do your thing, they do theirs, you don't irritate them they don't care about you. Just as long as you're not giving a scent of blood, you're safe. Surfing is great, and sharks will never do you harm unless you try to do them.

Answer 9

You 100000 times more like to be killed in a car crash on your way to the beach.  There are over a million people whjo surf in the US.  When you think of how many hours this group spends in the water each year it is no surprise that some of them will get bit, but the odds are really, really low.  

As a friend of mind says, you don't have be able to paddle faster than the shark, only the guy next to you.

Answer 10

Grow bigger teeth than the shark and attack it first.

Answer 11

there are places that make fake waves where you can surf safely without any Marine life at all

Answer 12

sharks are like bees they not bother you unless you bother them I been surfing for like ten years and no bites I even petted a shark

Answer 13

sharks dont attack everything stupid ***

Answer 14

I am a professional surfer mate... and I go everywhere and surf...like literally everywhere. I have never actually encountered a shark attack myself but I have met Bethany Hamilton, who is among one of my heroes because even though she got bit she still had the nerve to get back out there and surf. Getting bit by a shark is really unlikely and I am sure you will do fine. My whole theory of surfing though is if you don't mess with the ocean (creatures and what not) it won't mess with you. I say don't worry about it and have fun!

Answer 15

lol

Answer 16

Just think of statistics

More people die from lighting than shark attacks.

You have a better chance of winning the lottery than a shark attack.

Your chances of dying in the car ride to the beach is about 10000x more likely than being attack by a shark.

And just be smart when you surf and be observate. Remember dont go in early morning or evening when sharks do most of their feeding

Answer 17

The chance of an unprovoked shark attack is 1 in 12 million. Check out:

http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/sta...

for a better understanding of sharks.

http://surfammo.com

Answer 18

your much more likely to get hurt driving to the beach than from surfing at it.

i reckon you should just go for it get out there in small waves where theres lots of people out which makes it a lot less scary and when you realise it isnt that bad youll be more comfortable with less people at more spooky seeming spots (which are still very very safe)

Good luck