Guys and Gals,
with the increasing number of fatalities over the last few years, what are general attitudes towards wearing shark shields while surfing ??

Ha,

Make sure you cover it up when your walking down the beach ready to paddle out, other wise everyone will be surfing within a 8m radius of you, not much different to surfing surf beach really. In all seriousness though i still think some guys will think they are too cool to wear one, wait until a pro wears one and everyone will follow suit

Thought I read somewhere that some research suggested that the electrical impulse from these gadgets may initially attract the attention of an unwanted visitor and it was not until they came close to the device that it actually repelled them!

IF this is true, you would be the most unpopular person in the line up

I think they aren't a bad idea and a diver friend swears by them, however I have a read a few reports on them and they are yet be a proven deterrent for surfers.

Apparently sharks have the ability to use different sensory functions to seek out prey one being the senses that these shields target and the other is vibration. The Sharks shields don't work on the vibration senses of sharks.

So basically they are saying they work for divers because there is no 'splashing' about and effectively no vibrations in the water. However with us buggers teabagging around on the surface there is plenty of surface vibration from paddling etc...to attract the grey suits in for tapas.

I do like the idea of the ankle strap that essential looks like an unattached legrope.

I use one while diving and havent had any problems with sharks. But never had any problems with sharks before then either.

Not sure if I would wear one surfing they give you a good shock when they touch you which I think would happen quite often while surfing.

If a shark is charging at you it would get you before it senses the shark shield. I think it would only stop an inquisitive shark from havin a nibble to see what you are.

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airhead said...

Thought I read somewhere that some research suggested that the electrical impulse from these gadgets may initially attract the attention of an unwanted visitor and it was not until they came close to the device that it actually repelled them!

IF this is true, you would be the most unpopular person in the line up

The guy's who produce the shark shield have told me that if they could make something that attracts shark and fish they would be multi-millionares by now. Fair enough call I guess.

I've used them spear fishing at steep point and they definitly repel the bities when they come in for a look. All encounters have been freediving not on tanks where there was movement and splashing on the surface involved. As to whether or not it's the shark sheild or the splashing which has got them interested i am unsure as i've had sharks lurking around sometimes before i've speared a fish... some valid points as mentioned are they do zap you or anyone that comes into contact with them and i don't think if you had a big white powering in or up at you it would be bothered stopping before having a chew...
saying that i don't surf with them but wouldn't dive without one...

I have used one, however have found that it tends to drag on the back of the board as they are quite a bit heavier and longer than a leggy, and as woodo stated will give you a zap but nothing like an electric fence!

I also freedive/ speafish and own a shark shield, that I no longer use.

In a typical sech we chum up buff bream to bring in macky or the likes and right behind them is the grey suits. What we found, is that it really annoys the sharks and the people not wearing one get seriously harassed. We have now come to the decision, its easier to fend them of, with a poke from the speargun rather that piss the sharks off with a shark shield...

My 2 cents

Andy

^^Brave man Andy!

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au_rick said...

with the increasing number of fatalities over the last few years,

[citation needed]

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DL said...

au_rick said...

with the increasing number of fatalities over the last few years,

[citation needed]

although overall attacks are down, fatalities seem to be up with at least 5 in the last 10 years in W.A. alone (that's almost half of the global average !!)

Statistics:

http://www.taronga.org.au/animals-conservation/conservation-science/australian-shark-attack-file/latest-figures/latest-figures

www.biologynews.net/archives/2008/02/12/human_deaths_from_shark_attacks_hit_20year_low_last_year.html

"Elsewhere, there were 12 attacks in Australia, up from seven in 2006 and 10 in 2005, but down slightly from the 13 attacks recorded in 2004"

Shark in wa could have been spooked by shark shield

Not good enough, probably the worst thing that could have happened to shark shield, a confirmed attack on a girl wearing a shield.....

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airhead said...

Thought I read somewhere that some research suggested that the electrical impulse from these gadgets may initially attract the attention of an unwanted visitor and it was not until they came close to the device that it actually repelled them!

IF this is true, you would be the most unpopular person in the line up

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barndog said...

Shark in wa could have been spooked by shark shield

Not good enough, probably the worst thing that could have happened to shark shield, a confirmed attack on a girl wearing a shield.....

There's a full write up in todays West, says she was wearing no flippers, a weight belt, and using a scooter.

No mention of a shark shield !!
If she was wearing one, you'd think maybe she'd mention it ???

Sounding like another sensationalist channel 9 media beat up to me

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au_rick said...

barndog said...

Shark in wa could have been spooked by shark shield

Not good enough, probably the worst thing that could have happened to shark shield, a confirmed attack on a girl wearing a shield.....

There's a full write up in todays West, says she was wearing no flippers, a weight belt, and using a scooter.

No mention of a shark shield !!
If she was wearing one, you'd think maybe she'd mention it ???

Sounding like another sensationalist channel 9 media beat up to me

Yea it did mention it and she had one and said that she had it turned off. So shark sheild is safe if thats the case.

yep,
online story was longer than in todays printed verison:

"Then I noticed the grey figure and realised it was a shark . . . as soon as I realised it was a shark, I just thought (turn on the) shark shield."

She said she had left the shark shield - which emits electrical pulses that repel sharks by giving them muscular spasms - off during her previous swim because the water was clear and she did not "expect anything to happen".

Old adage applies "follow manufacturers instructions" if you want the thing to work.

Glad the injuries were not worse, and hope she is back in the water soon

Kill the F-----s (Fishies). Don't care what others think I am entitled to hate the big white f-----s. I just wish Norman from the fisheries could agree. NO Moore sharks Norman.