If I'm out surfing, waiting for a wave, and I see a shark, what should I do?

Question

What's the best thing to do, stay still, paddle away, or what?

Answer 1

it depends on how close the shark is to you. if it isnt close it prob wont bother you so either just sit on your board and wait or continue surfing. but just dont splash around like a wounded fish or seal because it will get curious and come right up to you

Answer 2

cut your leg and make tons of noise.

seriously, unless you live in a "hot spot" for that, dont sweat it. i'm more worried about the sea lice biting my nuts.  

Answer 3

I guess that depends upon A) how it's behaving and B) how big it is.  If there are sharks actively chasing bait fish in the lineup it's probably a good idea to go in to avoid an accidental bump-and-bite scenario, in fact many times I'll paddle in if there is a large school of bluefish or something similar coming through the lineup even if I don't see sharks.  It's up to you on the size one.  I kinda go with my gut feeling, do I say "oh hey there's a shark I better keep an eye on it" or do I say "Holy Cr@p!"  If it's the second one I'm heading for shore.

Answer 4

I would slowly and non-panicly paddle in while trying not to splash the water.

The Surfboard Man

http://www.thesurfboardman.com/

Answer 5

idk just dont splash alot it attracks them but they'r usually not going to attack

Answer 6

You probably noticed that some of the other answerrs had a few qualifications to add to their answers, "It depends..." It does depend on a lot of things. First and foremost, realize that sharks are not just eating machines, and shark attacks occur THOUSANDS of times less frequently than getting struck by lightning. And, sharks are in every ocean of the world (and bull sharks in lots of fresh water estuaries), and you don't see the beach littered with the mangled bodies of shark bitten surfers, do you?

I could fill volumes with shark lore, I won't do that, but I do recommend you check the link that Surfammo included for you. It is VERY informative. Be mindful of what Surfammo and Kim_Dude said about the bait fish (that's what the sharks really want to eat, not you). However, not all of the advice you got from some other folks is right.

To keep it simple, without over-analyzing all of the possible scenarios, I would just suggest that you carefully, calmly and deliberately paddle into to the beach.

Two things to keep in mind:

You don't have to be faster than the shark, you just have to be faster than the guy who is surfing wth you, and

it usually isn't the shark that you see that eats you, it's the one that you didn't see.

Now stop worrying about sharks and go surfing!

Answer 7

Odds are in your favor that the shark won't bother you. I know of a guy who had a chunk of his board bitten off by a shark, paddled in, borrowed another board, and went right back out. A lot depends on whether baitfish are running and birds are floating on the surf, It also depends on how YOU feel, your instinct. Myself, if I see a shark close to me, I paddle in. I also wait until the baitfish have finished running through. I know that Sharks are always in the water, but try to be cognizent of my surroundings. Check out this site on advice.

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

Read though it. It has a lot of good information on understanding Sharks.

Answer 8

it depends how close the shark is to you

Answer 9

Use your board-mounted harpoon and get merry with the sushi!?!

Seriously though, unless the shark is really close, I wouldn't worry about it.  There are alot of sharks in the water that have no interest in eating people, even by accident.  If it's really close don't splash around or panic, just stay calm and my advice would be to swim to the shore slowly and calmly.

Answer 10

the only reason the would "attack" is because they think you are something else. i.e. a seal.

some say to sit up on the board cross legged, and others say to get off the board and make sure you show yourself to the shark as human and not a snack. just dont splash around.