Prevention

• Avoid the shark's favored hunting grounds. Sharks frequent drop-offs from shallow to deep water, troughs between submerged sand bars, and deep channels.

• Avoid the water if bleeding. Menstrual blood has not been shown to increase the risk of shark attack, but a shark in the vicinity can likely sense the blood.

• Avoid wearing or carrying shiny objects, such as jewelry or brightly contrasting colors.

• Spear fishing, fishing, and chumming the water will likely attract sharks.

• Erratic swimming or splashing at the surface may cause a shark to mistake a person for its natural prey.

• Beware especially of any shark greater than 2 meters, or about 6 feet, in length.

• Agitated swimming movements by a shark, particularly if accompanied by a raised snout, lowered pectoral fins, and hump-backed posture, may indicate aggressiveness.

• Avoid swimming at dawn, dusk, and nighttime hours when many sharks actively feed.

• Swim in a group because sharks are more likely to attack if a person is isolated and alone.