Hang with lifeguards
A lifeguard watches swimmers at the Terre Sacrée beach on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica. Lifeguards might be able to tell you a lot about shark activity on their beach, and more importantly, about rip currents and other drowning threats.
Chris Lowe, professor of marine biology and director of the Shark Lab at California State University, Long Beach, advises you 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.
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