Has anybody any further info/experience with the new Electronic Shark Defense System (ESDS)?

I see it does not have an antenna to zap you with and is very compact, fitting as a leg rope ankle strap, which is appealing as I would probably actually use it.

However.. I note the website states it will only work if it is submerged, and I don't know about you guys, but my ankle is not always submerged when paddling around..

Also, after a bit of googling i found sceptics as to shark repellents using electro magnetic pulses on all sharks. These reputable commentators also say defense systems should target particular species as one size doesn't fit all when it comes to sharks- they all rely on different senses to different extents.

Finally, I am not convinced by the videos the product manufacturers provide with dead fish etc showing the effectiveness. I have watched sharks go for dead fish hanging off back of boat and they don't go straight in and bite it, rather charge and turn away a few times before taking a bite.

Interested to hear thoughts from those more knowledgable than me on this topic..

I use head and shoulders shampoo twice a week and have never been attacked by a shark; therefore it is has a 100% success rate in preventing shark attacks. I will post a youtube video so you can 'see for yourself'.

I would be sceptical of shelling out my hard earned on anything that makes these amazing claims, unless they are able to provide results from an independant, peer reviewed scientific study to support their claims.

Until they do, take their claims with a pinch of salt, and spend your cash on something you'll enjoy.

I must admit, when doing a bit of googling into the subject the thought did cross my mind that it provides an ultimate opportunity, like those rubber wrist bands and Firepower fuel pills.

If you wear this Product A, you wont get eaten by a shark although we cant guarantee it will work and if it doesnt, bad luck. I am $500 richer, you $500 poorer and dead and unable to do anything about it..

Nevertheless still interested for some real life experiences or knowledge into the subject.

cue suba response,....

In addition to the company promotional materials, there are several anecdotal reports that these devices can repel sharks. It must be kept in mind, however, that at least two people have been killed by sharks while wearing these devices. IMO, the odds of this happening casts doubt on their efficacy and safety.

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LateStarter said...


I would be sceptical of shelling out my hard earned on anything that makes these amazing claims, unless they are able to provide results from an independant, peer reviewed scientific study to support their claims.

Until they do, take their claims with a pinch of salt, and spend your cash on something you'll enjoy.

One has been very recently released/is about to be released. I can't find a URL link yet but will post it when I find it.

I spoke to a abalonie diver who told a story about a mate of his who had a shark come at him five times with its mouth open and was repeled every time. He was wearing a shark shield. I spoke to a few govt agencies who use them and stated to me that they work.

www.sharknewz.com/shark-shield-under-investigation/

Is a little bit of info about the investigation, can't find the paper though and I don't know how to upload a PDF...

I'd love to hear more about them also.... why don't they just test them from a shark cage? It seems like it would be a fairly simple to do

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waterdancer said...

I'd love to hear more about them also.... why don't they just test them from a shark cage? It seems like it would be a fairly simple to do

Why didnt I think of that!!

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waterdancer said...

I'd love to hear more about them also.... why don't they just test them from a shark cage? It seems like it would be a fairly simple to do

With 14 million tax dollars earmarked for shark patrols and research (purportedly with human safety in mind), is it too much to ask for these devices to be thoroughly tested by an independant body that is responsible to the general public?

I think the placebo effect can be a very positive thing in some situations,
Maybe not this one though

Finally found it.

Click on this link and it is the forth one down the page.

www.wetmules.com/publications

Thanks for this Dawn Patrol.

Fairly definitively says shark shields are useless..

Yeah the report is not a glowing referance. It does state that the device interupts the sharks normal behavior. It stated the device was kept at 2m away from the baits which allowed the shark to get to the bait. Further to this the only way to attract sharks to the test was to burley up. This would have an effect on the mind set of the tested beast arriving into the zone.

I am not recomending shark deterants however it would seem from this report the device that attaches directly to your ankle may have a better result. In saying this I believe if the shark wants to attack the device in present forms would not prevent the attack.

I still believe that shark shields are effective (not full proof) in deterring exploratory bites, but not ambush attacks where you are singled out from a distance and hit hard from below.

I agree with Suba. From what i have been told this is the case.

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subasurf said...

I still believe that shark shields are effective (not full proof) in deterring exploratory bites, but not ambush attacks where you are singled out from a distance and hit hard from below.

People i have heard from have said that in fact they will stop a full on charge. The bigger the shark the harder the turn around. But the prod needs to be under water and charged to work.

I also had a mate who was working as a Naval Doctor of shore when testing these style devices. They found that one group of sharks they worked well but after a4 to 5 days of testing it decreased its ability to work. SO they moved area and tried again and found the same result. He likened it to and normal block gets punched in the nose and his eyes will water and he'll go down like a sack of sh-t. Punch a boxer in the nose(some one or something used to the attack) and no issue.

These tests were completed of Bermuda on smaller reef style sharks through to larger school sharks

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People i have heard from have said that in fact they will stop a full on charge. The bigger the shark the harder the turn around. But the prod needs to be under water and charged to work.

Friends of mine who are abalone divers have said the same thing. Thing is, it is hard to tell the difference between an aggressive charge and a predatory charge. I know I know, sounds like splitting hairs, but I've been charged by sandbar sharks while diving and had them stop and divert off at the last moment. Had it happen to friends who encountered aggressive bullsharks too. They weren't charging us down as prey, just trying to intimidate. If I was wearing a shark shield I could easily have mistaken it for having deterred the sharks.

Having said that, if I was doing my deco/safety stop on the way up from a long dive and I saw a large white pointer cruising by I would want to have a shark shield with me. Anecdotal evidence suggests it's better than nothing. People just need to remember that it's not full proof and we're talking about wild animals who have had very little behavioral research conducted on them. Just remember there are plenty of people who are hardly effected by tazers when the police deploy them, yet some suspects drop like sacks of 5hit.

Yeh my understanding of the article was that the shark will eventually still take the bait, but it might take it a little longer.

Also gotta remember that they were using tuna baits in a chummed environment (also in areas where cage diving is a big thing, sharks could be used to getting a feed etc.)

I'd definitely rather have one than not if I were diving, still no guarantees though.

was thinking of getting one from kitesurfing but not sure if it would work
what do you think??

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subasurf said...


Just remember there are plenty of people who are hardly effected by tazers when the police deploy them, yet some suspects drop like sacks of 5hit.

Not quite correct on this point suba. People cannot resist the effect of Tasers as they do not work on pain compliance unless used in a "cattle prod" manner. The effectiveness will be determined by whether or not the necessary contact of the probes has been made. If it has then the smallest to the largest person will be effected whether "straight" or "off tap" on drugs. You cannot build up resistance to this like OC Spray.

With regards to Shark Shields I was told years ago that Shark Shield themselves admitted that it would not prevent an attack by a GWS that had selected it's prey. As suba said, exploratory - yes, attack run - no.

^^^
The way I see it, is shark shields do work In that they lower the risk. A study done I south Africa found they lowered the risk Of attack by 85%. The recent study in south oz found that even though they didn't prevent an attack in all cases, they did extend the time before the shark took the bait (by double).
Note that both these tests were in the location of a seal colony and where cage diving is common, so it is likely the sharks were in a heightened attack mode.
Both tests recommend that more testing be complete in an area away from such colonies.
Nothing is fool proof but they do lower risk.

not wearing a shield is not working!!! why not wear one at least u may have time to leave the water. a shotgu8n wouldn't stop those things if they were in attach mode. what if half a dozen dudes in a lineup had them one as roaming shark dets.

can't see it working for kitesurf, maybe u just have it handy so u can put on if lost board / kite offshore and have to self rescue, i know if i was 2k offshore post a tack and faced the long swim post a kite drama i'd like to have one to put on and turn on, at the least might save the anxiety for the swim. maybe just have in a camel back for those times u get stuck out at sea.

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Glasslove said...

^^^
The way I see it, is shark shields do work In that they lower the risk. A study done I south Africa found they lowered the risk Of attack by 85%. The recent study in south oz found that even though they didn't prevent an attack in all cases, they did extend the time before the shark took the bait (by double).
Note that both these tests were in the location of a seal colony and where cage diving is common, so it is likely the sharks were in a heightened attack mode.
Both tests recommend that more testing be complete in an area away from such colonies.
Nothing is fool proof but they do lower risk.

Yep, I'll mention though that I'm not arguing either for or against, simply relaying what the manufacturer themselves is said to have conceded.

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fozzy said...

Glasslove said...

^^^
The way I see it, is shark shields do work In that they lower the risk. A study done I south Africa found they lowered the risk Of attack by 85%. The recent study in south oz found that even though they didn't prevent an attack in all cases, they did extend the time before the shark took the bait (by double).
Note that both these tests were in the location of a seal colony and where cage diving is common, so it is likely the sharks were in a heightened attack mode.
Both tests recommend that more testing be complete in an area away from such colonies.
Nothing is fool proof but they do lower risk.

Yep, I'll mention though that I'm not arguing either for or against, simply relaying what the manufacturer themselves is said to have conceded.

Also worth noting that there is belief that they will also bring a shark in first to check out the electrical field but then keep them away.

I looked at the new model and it is only good for 300 charges and battery;s cant be replaced. I mentioned this to a mate (who was involved in very early testing of this style of devise in the Bahamas) and he for bid me from wearing one. I talked it over with my family and said if they wanted me to id wear it and my wife had a look around. She came back with the same answer, not worth it as per the risk and uncertainty. But i guess everyone is different.
But i don't think ill surf with someone who wears one.

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fozzy said...

subasurf said...


Just remember there are plenty of people who are hardly effected by tazers when the police deploy them, yet some suspects drop like sacks of 5hit.

Not quite correct on this point suba. People cannot resist the effect of Tasers as they do not work on pain compliance unless used in a "cattle prod" manner. The effectiveness will be determined by whether or not the necessary contact of the probes has been made. If it has then the smallest to the largest person will be effected whether "straight" or "off tap" on drugs. You cannot build up resistance to this like OC Spray.

+1
Not been tasered myself, but I've heard it described as every muscle group going into a big cramp. Also heard it's the worst pain a lot of blokes have ever experienced. As for OC, some blokes won't even bat an eyelid after copping a can full in the face.

Weren't the couple that got buzzed while getting into their boat while diving off Dunsborough a few months back claiming it was the Shark Shield on the womans leg that saved them?

I came to the same conclusion as you JB. I would be more than happy to fork out if I felt it would even reduce the risk, but after a little research I found they provided little more than a placebo. The only independent and halfway scientific research conducted indicated a slight correlation toward a greater chance of attack if wearing a shark shield. Much more needs to be done.. Ie develop one that has deters sharks from eating us!

I hope you don't stock shark shields JB - they wont exactly be flying off the shelf with your comment.

I have read all the research reports in detail. What people are saying here is not correct and is not what the reports indicated. All reports including the recent South Oz one said shields don't attract sharks in any way.

Each to their own - but I think they are effective in reducing risk. I have tried them on reef sharks and bronzies in the NW and the do work.

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Kiting said...

The only independent and halfway scientific research conducted indicated a slight correlation toward a greater chance of attack if wearing a shark shield.

The independent Scientific research does suggust that these Shark Guards have been known to arouse interest from passing sharks on occasions, but their effectiveness in preventing attacks is inconclusive.

I wonder what the legal ramifications would be in the event that a person was injured/killed by a shark while in the presence of another ocean user who was wearing one of these devices.

If these devices do in fact arouse shark interest then a person wearing one at a crowded beach could effectively be ringing a dinner bell...

Perhaps the ACCC should look into the claims of these shark guard products, as they have done with hologram bands, and let the world know if they do indeed deliver on what they promise.