Hi,

ocean-guardian.com/products/freedom-surf

There was an old topic on these however the topic is now closed. www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Surfing/Shortboards/Shark-shield-Freedom--Surf

I am interested in any user feedback on this device. Not it's effectiveness against the men in grey suits but how the device holds up after prolonged uses. I would have thought electronics and seawater just don't go together.

They are not cheap to buy if they only lasts a short period but justified if you can get a few years out it.

Also, it looks like the weight of the battery doesn't effect board performance too much but would be good to hear any feedback on this as well.

Thanks

Select to expand quote

Daneli Returns said..
Hi,

ocean-guardian.com/products/freedom-surf

There was an old topic on these however the topic is now closed. www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Surfing/Shortboards/Shark-shield-Freedom--Surf

I am interested in any user feedback on this device. Not it's effectiveness against the men in grey suits but how the device holds up after prolonged uses. I would have thought electronics and seawater just don't go together.

They are not cheap to buy if they only lasts a short period but justified if you can get a few years out it.

Also, it looks like the weight of the battery doesn't effect board performance too much but would be good to hear any feedback on this as well.

Thanks

Wow you are more spooked than I thought...been a few up.my way of late...

Select to expand quote

chrispy said..

Daneli Returns said..
Hi,

ocean-guardian.com/products/freedom-surf

There was an old topic on these however the topic is now closed. www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Surfing/Shortboards/Shark-shield-Freedom--Surf

I am interested in any user feedback on this device. Not it's effectiveness against the men in grey suits but how the device holds up after prolonged uses. I would have thought electronics and seawater just don't go together.

They are not cheap to buy if they only lasts a short period but justified if you can get a few years out it.

Also, it looks like the weight of the battery doesn't effect board performance too much but would be good to hear any feedback on this as well.

Thanks

Wow you are more spooked than I thought...been a few up.my way of late...

Yeah not spooked really Chrispy. Definitely not as as much as some down here. I have only not surfed once over past 12 months because there were bait fish around.

However, whale season is coming and I am really enjoying my surfing out front at the moment which is often on my own. I am just interested if there is any feed back on the OG. They are a bit expensive just to give em a go.

Hope your well mate.

PS: Family would rest a bit easier if I had something like this.

Hey Daneli I use a Repla, they are transferable between boards and don't change the performance suggest having a chat with Dave at Repla about his testing of the units.

The units are really robust and will likely see out the life of the battery.

One thing about the deterrents that use the electric field method is that if you do get attacked hopefully you can use the board to give the shark an eclectic shock to fend it off.

BTW Carrying a tourniquet is just as important IMHO.

Any questions happy to answer.

Have there been any updated independent studies into effectiveness? User experience is important but you'd think effectiveness would be #1. Otherwise might as well use the magnet product. No charging ever required and their Facebook videos tell you how awesome it is.

Select to expand quote

Legion said..
Have there been any updated independent studies into effectiveness? User experience is important but you'd think effectiveness would be #1. Otherwise might as well use the magnet product. No charging ever required and their Facebook videos tell you how awesome it is.

There was this one

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6120439/

Select to expand quote

IFocus said..
Hey Daneli I use a Repla, they are transferable between boards and don't change the performance suggest having a chat with Dave at Repla about his testing of the units.

The units are really robust and will likely see out the life of the battery.

One thing about the deterrents that use the electric field method is that if you do get attacked hopefully you can use the board to give the shark an eclectic shock to fend it off.

BTW Carrying a tourniquet is just as important IMHO.

Any questions happy to answer.

Yep I carry a compact tourniquet down front of wetsuit when kitesurfing and surfing north coast
Seen a few Noahs kiting

Select to expand quote

Daneli Returns said..

Legion said..
Have there been any updated independent studies into effectiveness? User experience is important but you'd think effectiveness would be #1. Otherwise might as well use the magnet product. No charging ever required and their Facebook videos tell you how awesome it is.

There was this one

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6120439/

Conclusion
The rise in the number of shark bites worldwide and in Australia has led to global development of shark-mitigation measures and the commercial availability of several personal deterrents. Our study clearly shows that while some products are capable of affecting the behaviour of sharks and can reduce the risk of a shark bite, others did not have the advertised outcome. Manufacturers should consider these results to assess the suitability of their products and gauge whether changes are required to ensure their intended performance. Our results will allow private and government agencies to make informed decisions about the use of these devices for occupational activities and enable the public to make appropriate decisions about the use and suitability of these five products.

Select to expand quote

Buster fin said..

Daneli Returns said..

Legion said..
Have there been any updated independent studies into effectiveness? User experience is important but you'd think effectiveness would be #1. Otherwise might as well use the magnet product. No charging ever required and their Facebook videos tell you how awesome it is.

There was this one

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6120439/

Conclusion
The rise in the number of shark bites worldwide and in Australia has led to global development of shark-mitigation measures and the commercial availability of several personal deterrents. Our study clearly shows that while some products are capable of affecting the behaviour of sharks and can reduce the risk of a shark bite, others did not have the advertised outcome. Manufacturers should consider these results to assess the suitability of their products and gauge whether changes are required to ensure their intended performance. Our results will allow private and government agencies to make informed decisions about the use of these devices for occupational activities and enable the public to make appropriate decisions about the use and suitability of these five products.

Well written Buster, I agree to the point before government inclusion, the less government inclusion the better. It was government inclusion that got us into this mess in the first place (sharks). Sadly we are yet to see so called "experts" responding with anything other than "more research $$$ required" in response to every incident.

No new studies need to be conducted to reverse the chance of shark attack, we just need to accept that great whites and other species are far from endangered now & we need to remove them from protection & work on a strategy to control their numbers. Then everyone will be happy, the marine biologists can still receive their bread & butter & less people will die.

Select to expand quote

MickPC said..

Buster fin said..

Daneli Returns said..

Legion said..
Have there been any updated independent studies into effectiveness? User experience is important but you'd think effectiveness would be #1. Otherwise might as well use the magnet product. No charging ever required and their Facebook videos tell you how awesome it is.

There was this one

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6120439/

Conclusion
The rise in the number of shark bites worldwide and in Australia has led to global development of shark-mitigation measures and the commercial availability of several personal deterrents. Our study clearly shows that while some products are capable of affecting the behaviour of sharks and can reduce the risk of a shark bite, others did not have the advertised outcome. Manufacturers should consider these results to assess the suitability of their products and gauge whether changes are required to ensure their intended performance. Our results will allow private and government agencies to make informed decisions about the use of these devices for occupational activities and enable the public to make appropriate decisions about the use and suitability of these five products.

Well written Buster, I agree to the point before government inclusion, the less government inclusion the better. It was government inclusion that got us into this mess in the first place (sharks). Sadly we are yet to see so called "experts" responding with anything other than "more research $$$ required" in response to every incident.

No new studies need to be conducted to reverse the chance of shark attack, we just need to accept that great whites and other species are far from endangered now & we need to remove them from protection & work on a strategy to control their numbers. Then everyone will be happy, the marine biologists can still receive their bread & butter & less people will die.

Ooops, sorry Mick. I copy/pasted from the link to save everyone else the scroll. A very interesting read, but there's a lot there.

Select to expand quote

Buster fin said..

MickPC said..

Buster fin said..

Daneli Returns said..

Legion said..
Have there been any updated independent studies into effectiveness? User experience is important but you'd think effectiveness would be #1. Otherwise might as well use the magnet product. No charging ever required and their Facebook videos tell you how awesome it is.

There was this one

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6120439/

Conclusion
The rise in the number of shark bites worldwide and in Australia has led to global development of shark-mitigation measures and the commercial availability of several personal deterrents. Our study clearly shows that while some products are capable of affecting the behaviour of sharks and can reduce the risk of a shark bite, others did not have the advertised outcome. Manufacturers should consider these results to assess the suitability of their products and gauge whether changes are required to ensure their intended performance. Our results will allow private and government agencies to make informed decisions about the use of these devices for occupational activities and enable the public to make appropriate decisions about the use and suitability of these five products.

Well written Buster, I agree to the point before government inclusion, the less government inclusion the better. It was government inclusion that got us into this mess in the first place (sharks). Sadly we are yet to see so called "experts" responding with anything other than "more research $$$ required" in response to every incident.

No new studies need to be conducted to reverse the chance of shark attack, we just need to accept that great whites and other species are far from endangered now & we need to remove them from protection & work on a strategy to control their numbers. Then everyone will be happy, the marine biologists can still receive their bread & butter & less people will die.

Ooops, sorry Mick. I copy/pasted from the link to save everyone else the scroll. A very interesting read, but there's a lot there.

Oh OK no worries mate, no apology needed, cheers!

Thanks Daneli. I was familiar with that one. Be great if there was more research/testing going on since then but for various reasons it's all gone quiet in the last year or so.

Select to expand quote

Legion said..
Thanks Daneli. I was familiar with that one. Be great if there was more research/testing going on since then but for various reasons it's all gone quiet in the last year or so.

Yes for such a big issue at the moment I'm surprised there has not been more studies done. Maybe because they are having trouble finding a solution that is effective !!

I'm a believer that it only needs to be a bit effective to move the Shark on and was happy with the Freedom Surf product in that regards. My main interest was in the cost v durability of the product - Very thin looking element that requires an electrical current to pass through it in a wet, salty and harsh environment. I see the pressure dings I get in my boards and wonder what effect will have on any product. Below is the installation guide which gives a closer look at the product.

Theres this old guy who surfs at my local who wears what looks like a moon boot with a wire coming out of it at first I thought he was wearing it for some injury it looks and must fill terrible to wear.One day I asked hey what have you do to your leg he replied its a shark deferent device and the wire sends out electric currents for 5 meters only problem is if you come into contact with the wire you receive a shock,have anybody seen or heard of this? He said he only wears it when he thinks its sharky.

Select to expand quote

Macaha said..
Theres this old guy who surfs at my local who wears what looks like a moon boot with a wire coming out of it at first I thought he was wearing it for some injury it looks and must fill terrible to wear.One day I asked hey what have you do to your leg he replied its a shark deferent device and the wire sends out electric currents for 5 meters only problem is if you come into contact with the wire you receive a shock,have anybody seen or heard of this? He said he only wears it when he thinks its sharky.

Macaha sounds like the dive version a few guys used to wear them surfing over here back in the day lots of stories of grabbing the wire thinking it was the leg rope apparently its used to make your teeth fillings glow.

A abalone diver I know who dives on the south coast of WA uses two recons they work as long as the orientation is right as the shark approaches, has the horror stories of White Pointer "interactions" (averages around 4 a season now).

Select to expand quote

IFocus said..

Macaha said..
Theres this old guy who surfs at my local who wears what looks like a moon boot with a wire coming out of it at first I thought he was wearing it for some injury it looks and must fill terrible to wear.One day I asked hey what have you do to your leg he replied its a shark deferent device and the wire sends out electric currents for 5 meters only problem is if you come into contact with the wire you receive a shock,have anybody seen or heard of this? He said he only wears it when he thinks its sharky.

Macaha sounds like the dive version a few guys used to wear them surfing over here back in the day lots of stories of grabbing the wire thinking it was the leg rope apparently its used to make your teeth fillings glow.

A abalone diver I know who dives on the south coast of WA uses two recons they work as long as the orientation is right as the shark approaches, has the horror stories of White Pointer "interactions" (averages around 4 a season now).

Oh ok thanks for the info.

I couldnt imagine surfing in a moon boot

Select to expand quote

Legion said..
Thanks Daneli. I was familiar with that one. Be great if there was more research/testing going on since then but for various reasons it's all gone quiet in the last year or so.

here is some research from French scientists with flinders Australia

following our mission conducted in New Caledonia last September 2019 on the shark repellent devices tested on bull sharks species where the Rpela V2 shows some effectiveness on significantly reducing the number of baits taken when the product is activated.
Micha?l HOARAU

search the text below for much more
Variable response to electric shark deterrents in bull sharks, Carcharhinus leucas | Scientific Reports (nature.com)