Fear of sharks, called selacophobia, is a rather disabling problem for some people. In fact, it prevents them from swimming in the sea or going out in a boat. Although sharks are ocean predators, they pose very little danger to humans. You can overcome this fear and enjoy the ocean by "arming" yourself with greater knowledge of these animals, facing your fears and learning how to enjoy the sight of sharks in a safe way. Eventually, perhaps, you will also begin to appreciate these magnificent creatures.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Debunking Shark Myths with Knowledge
Step 1. Learn as much as you can about sharks
To start overcoming your fear, do some research. Begin to familiarize yourself with the habits of these animals, so you can dispel many popular legends that portray them as monstrous man-eaters. Here are some unambiguous facts regarding sharks:
- There are more than 465 known species.
- Sharks are at the top of the sea food chain and help regulate the populations of the oceans.
- A shark's diet consists of fish, crustaceans, shellfish, plankton, krill, marine mammals, and other sharks.
Step 2. Realize that sharks don't eat humans
We are not part of their eating habits. Our bodies contain too many bones and too little fat to be palatable to their eyes. These animals much prefer a meal of seals or sea turtles over one with humans.
Step 3. Know the odds of an attack happening
Most people who fear these animals have a distinct fear of being attacked. Putting your feet into the sea brings to mind images of large, razor-sharp teeth. However, shark attacks are extremely rare. The odds of suffering one are one in 11, 5 million. On average, only five people die from shark-related causes each year. To put these numbers in perspective, think about these common stats:
- Mosquito, bee and snake bites are responsible for more deaths per year than sharks.
- You are more likely to be the victim of a beach injury (spinal damage, dehydration, jellyfish sting and sunburn) than you are to be attacked by a shark.
- From 1990 to 2009, in the United States, 15,000 people died from a bicycle accident and only 14 from a shark attack. Over the same period, more than 112,000 people in Florida suffered a bicycle-related injury, while only 435 related to an encounter with sharks.
- You are more likely to be attacked by a domestic dog than by a shark.
- In the United States, 40,000 people die in automobile accidents each year.
Step 4. Recognize which species are most likely to bite humans
Out of over 465 known species, very few have been responsible for biting humans. The great white shark, the bull shark and the tiger shark are among them.
Tiger sharks are social animals, around which divers have always swam safely. The great white shark is territorial and tries to scare you to get away from its waters, moreover it is curious and can bite to understand who is in front of it; despite this, there are reports in which this species is described as social and whose specimens play with divers. Divers from all over the world have swam in the water among bull sharks. The whale shark, among the largest shark species, feeds mainly on plankton and is harmless
Step 5. Know that most bites are taken out of curiosity or by mistake
Often this is not aggressive behavior for the purpose of hurting. On the contrary, these are exploratory bites that the animal uses to understand what it is relating to. Think of the bite as the same gesture a human being makes when reaching out to analyze an object.
Another reason shark can bite humans is "identity swapping". Some swimwear confuses sharks. Contrasting colors such as black and white, black combined with fluorescent colors and patterns that create a high chromatic contrast, can deceive the animal and lead it to believe that the lightest part of the costume is a fish
Step 6. Think instead of how much man is a danger to sharks
Although there are very few accidents related to a shark attack every year, humans cause greater damage to these animals, with an exponential ratio. Each year, between 26 and 73 million sharks are killed and traded by poachers; their fins are removed when they are still alive and then thrown back into the sea. This figure corresponds, on average, to 11,000 sharks killed every hour.
- Since 1970, the population of these animals has decreased by 90%.
- As a result, many shark species are threatened with extinction and several will be completely extinct in the course of your lifetime.
Step 7. Ignore the sensationalism with which the media reports on the attacks
Thanks to this popular culture, sharks have become monsters of the abyss that eat humans. Films like Jaws have reinforced this stereotype; just think about how many times this movie's soundtrack has been used to scare someone. However, it is not only cinema that is responsible for this erroneous concept of sharks: whenever there is a human-shark interaction, the media go crazy. They use terms like shark attack when, more often than not, it is not an attack, but simply a human-animal encounter.
- 38% of the so-called attacks that took place between 1970 and 2009 in New South Wales, Australia, did not cause any harm to humans.
- A group of shark scholars has begun campaigning to ask the media to change the terminology used in reporting, preferring definitions ranging from sighting and encounter to fatal shark bite, to avoid constantly reinforcing the news. negative stereotype surrounding these marine animals.
Part 2 of 3: Coping with Fear
Step 1. Talk to a shark expert
Go to an aquarium and talk to the person who looks after the sharks. These scientists possess very broad knowledge, can answer many questions and dispel as many concerns you may have about it.
Step 2. Confront the sharks
One of the best ways to overcome the fear of these creatures is to swim with them. Many aquariums offer this possibility. All of this allows you to face your fears in a controlled, safe environment and unravel your fears that all sharks are killers.
Go scuba diving or snorkeling in the ocean. These activities offer you a clear view of the ocean and you will realize that there are very few sharks (if any) in most open waters, while there are lots of corals, coral reefs and fish. If you swim with sharks, you will understand that they are, for the most part, docile creatures completely uninterested in humans
Step 3. Go into the water
Walk in the sea, swim, surf. Take a boat trip in the ocean. Understand that just being in the water doesn't attract the shark. Don't let your fears stop you from enjoying sea-related activities.
When you are on the high seas with the boat, put your hands in the water to face your fear of the unknown
Step 4. Go see the sharks
If swimming among these animals or going to the ocean is too big a step for you, then start gradually and go to an aquarium to see them. Walk to the tank of these creatures and observe them closely. Get used to them, observe how they interact with each other and with the rest of the inhabitants of the sea. Study how they move and how they swim. Think of them as sea creatures and not monsters.
If you are really afraid to approach even with the protection of a glass, look at pictures of sharks. Watch documentaries and programs that show the true nature of these animals instead of portraying them as cold-blooded killers. Get used to the reality of sharks and then slowly try to observe them live in an aquarium
Step 5. Try petting a baby shark in a pet shop
Shops that sell tropical fish also sometimes have small sharks. Ask the clerk if you can touch him. This way you can feel his skin and interact with him. Some aquariums also allow you to do this. This activity will help you allay many of your fears.
Step 6. Talk to a therapist or hypnotherapist
If none of these tips work, then contact a professional who could help you find the roots of your phobia. This, in fact, could be linked to another problem, apparently without any relationship. A hypnotherapist could help you with alternative means.
Part 3 of 3: Knowing How to Coexist Safely with Sharks
Step 1. Avoid murky, dark waters
Areas where you are not easily visible can be dangerous. The shark may not understand that you are a human and mistake you for food. All this would lead to a bite.
Stay close to the shore. Avoid points where the seabed abruptly sinks and open channels form. Sharks usually congregate in these areas
Step 2. Do not go to the beaches where sharks are often encountered
Although these animals are widespread throughout the ocean, most of the sightings seem to be concentrated in a few places. For example, the beach section of Volusia County, Florida is well known for its high number of interactions. In Italy, sightings are rare, especially off the coast. From 1926 to 1991, there were eleven "attacks" in Italian territorial waters. In the world, the beaches where the greatest number of encounters are reported are those of California, South Africa and Australia. Do a thorough research and avoid those certain beaches.
Step 3. Do not stay in the water at sunset or sunrise
These are the times of the day when sharks are most active and forage for food. Swimming, diving and surfing at these times of the day, especially in shark-populated waters, is dangerous. You are more likely to be bitten if you disturb the shark's lunchtime.
Be cautious even on full and new moon nights. In these phases of the lunar cycle, the tides are higher and can alter the behavioral and mating patterns of sharks
Step 4. Avoid areas where there are many seals
Be very careful when swimming, diving or surfing in areas populated by seals, as these are the main food source of sharks. You also run the risk of being mistaken for a seal and being bitten by mistake.
Step 5. Never go into the water alone
Sharks have a tendency to bite only one person rather than groups. If you can't do otherwise, try to stay within sight of the lifeguards.
If you want to dive and swim with sharks, always do it with someone who already has a great experience. In this way you protect your safety. Learn how to behave around these animals and study them as much as possible in advance
Step 6. Do not enter the water if you have blood loss
If you have just cut yourself or have an open wound, do not enter the water, the blood could attract sharks. If you are menstruating, consider waiting for your period to finish or wear a highly absorbent internal tampon.
Also, don't swim, dive, and surf around dead or bleeding fish that might attract sharks
Step 7. Don't wear shiny items
Sharks are attracted to what glitters, especially colored glows on a dark background. For this reason, do not wear jewelry, bright swimwear or a mix of light and dark colors when swimming in the sea.
Step 8. Do not splash the water
If you find yourself in the vicinity of a potentially dangerous shark, such as the great white shark, tiger or lion, do not get excited by beating violently on the water. These animals are attracted by rapid and sudden movements; they could mistake you for a fish and therefore for a prey.
Try to walk away calmly and as slowly as possible; however, if the shark follows you, it swims quickly
Step 9. Put on special, repellent wetsuits
Scientists have designed "camouflage" wetsuits that allow divers to blend in with their surroundings and others that seem to repel sharks because they resemble poisonous fish. Another company, on the other hand, has developed the Shark Shield, a device that emits an electromagnetic field that is supposed to repel sharks. It is used on kayaks, fishing boats and by divers.
Warnings
- Remember that encounters with sharks are one of the dangers of activities at sea and in the ocean. Learn a lot about these animals and act wisely, think of them as a part of marine culture.
- Respect the sharks. Try not to hinder them, not to approach them and not to irritate them. They will not attack you simply because you are in the water, but you must remember that they can be dangerous and are natural predators. If you try to interact with them, touch them, kiss them or hold on to their fins, you could get very hurt.
