Swimming in Australia is a risk. You have crazy rips, bluebottles, jellyfish, and of course sharks.
A great white shark can grow to six metres long and weight up to 1900kg. That’s the size of a Toyota Landcruiser 300 series. Huuuuge!
You have no hope against a predator this size.
The other bad boy making news recently is the Bull shark. These predators are responsible for some horrific attacks. They are extremely dangerous and have a bite first, ask questions later attitude. They have been allowed to flourish by state governments and their numbers need to be looked at. There are at least 20,000 in Sydney Habour alone.
Much like the salt-water croc in the north of Australia – they should be culled in high human population zones.
Unfortunately, some local councils refuse to deploy lethal shark nets and drum lines. Think areas like the mid NSW coast such as Ballina. Shark attacks are unfortunately common in these areas.
Whereas beaches on the Gold Coast have nets and lethal drumlines which keep the big sharks away. Attacks are rare. One in the last 60 years.
Know what protections are in place (or not in place) before you decide to swim at a beach.
Luckily, humans are not on their normal ‘menu’. We are often mistaken for seals, or the shark wants to give us a bite to see if we are edible. We are the slowest prey in the seafood market. Much easier to snap a human sitting on a surfboard than chasing down a lightning-fast seal.
So how can you avoid being on the menu?
Straight answer is you can’t. If a shark wants you – you are fucked.
Unless you stick to the ocean pools (which are nice). But it’s more fun in the waves, so here is how you can bring the risk level down.
Timing and water quality
Bull sharks are the primary concern in Sydney Harbour and Gold Coast canals. Never swim in the Gold Coast canals or inland lakes. They are infested with Bull sharks. If you are staying in the Gold Coast for a holiday, don’t dare your mate to swim across it, as it might be the last thing you say to him.
Never swim in Sydney Harbour beaches or estuaries after heavy rain. Runoff makes the water murky and flushes nutrients (and baitfish) into the system, which triggers an aggressive kill-mode for Bull sharks.
The recent attacks came after heavy rain which forced a huge number of bull sharks into the harbour from the creeks. Bull sharks are most active when water temperatures are above 20°C. In Sydney, the risk peaks between January and April.
Dawn and dusk
Avoid the ‘grey light’ hours. Sharks have a visual advantage in low light and are most active during these peak feeding times.
The best wave quality is often in the early morning. Surfers chasing the perfect wave need to get a personal deterrent device (explained later in the article).
Watch for the signs
If you see these signs, it’s time to get the fuck out of the water.
- Diving Birds. Gannets or terns diving into the water mean a bait ball is present. If there are small fish, there are big predators nearby. Get out and preserve your own bait balls for another day.
- Dolphins do not mean sharks are absent. They often hunt the same schools of fish. Flipper does not mean Jaws is not around.
- Erratic Fish. If you notice schools of fish suddenly jumping out of the water, a predator is likely nearby. Get the fuck out.
Physical risk factors
- Steep underwater drop-offs. Avoid swimming in the deep zones where visibility is low. Like the deep channels near Garden Island or Vaucluse. Sharks use these deep-water highways to move through the Harbour.
- Fishing activity. Never swim near a fishing jetty or where people are cleaning fish. Chum (fish blood) attracts sharks.
- Shiny objects. Avoid wearing reflective jewellery or high-contrast swimwear (yellow/orange). Sharks see contrast very well. A black wetsuit against a white surfboard attracts their interest.
- The buddy system. Swim between the flags with a group of people. Sharks are more likely to approach a person by themselves. Keep your buddy nearby and look out for them.
Personal deterrents
If you spend a lot of time in the ocean, save up and get yourself a personal deterrent device. There are plenty on the market but go for an Australian brand.
Ocean Guardian Freedom7.
Best for divers and swimmers. The only device consistently proven to deter Great Whites with a 90% success rate in independent peer-reviewed studies. It uses a trailing ‘antenna’ (roughly 2.2m long) that creates a 6×4 m electrical field.
RPELA V2 Pro.
Top pick for surfers. 100% Australian-made and designed specifically for board performance.
Spidey senses
Trust your feelings. When your Spidey senses start to tingle and the water suddenly feels ‘sharky’ it’s time to get out – fast.
The silence.
If the usual chatter of small fish or the presence of dolphins suddenly vanishes, your brain registers the ‘wrongness’ of the silence. In the animal kingdom, silence usually means a large predator has entered the area. Get the fuck out.
Baitfish Behaviour.
You might not see a shark, but you might notice small fish moving erratically or in a tight formation. Get the fuck out.
Water clarity and light.
Shadows moving at the edge of your peripheral vision or ‘flickers’ in murky water can trigger an ancient threat-response. Get the fuck out.
Low-Frequency Vibrations (Infrasound).
Sharks, especially when hunting or agitated, can create low-frequency vibrations as they move. While humans can’t ‘hear’ these sounds, we sometimes feel them as a vague sense of pressure or vibration in our chest or ears. This can create an unexplained feeling of unease.
Get the fuck out.
The stats
Don’t let fear of sharks stop you from getting into the water. The ocean is great for physical fitness and increasing your mood and mental health.
You have to be super unlucky to be attacked by a shark.
You are more likely to die in a car accident over your lifetime.
Over your entire lifetime dying in a car accident is a 1 in 84 chance.
Over your entire life dying from a shark attack is a 1 in 4 million chance.
Be smart and get out there for a swim or a surf. And try not to have a drunk skinny dip at night.
A good way to drown or become fish food.