Just take a look at these beachgoers who have been seen swimming in Hartenbos despite shark sightings and seaside closure.
LOOK AT THESE BEACHGOERS IGNORING THE SHARK WARNING
Photographer Christiaan Stopforth of Drone Fanatics SA not too long ago caught this on digital camera.
In the pictures, a white shark flag might be seen on the seaside. A white flag with a black shark means a shark in the water is seen to spotters; keep on the seaside. At sure seashores, sirens will sound when a shark is noticed. If you’re in the water when this occurs, depart the water rapidly however calmly.
A inexperienced flag means the water is evident and no sharks have been noticed.
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A WHITE FLAG MEANS A SHARK IS CLOSE TO THE SWIMMERS
“While observing the sharks today, I noticed that the lifeguards raised the flags for sharks after one was spotted in the area, now I still see people swimming and giving the lifeguards a hard time for just doing their job.”
Christiaan Stopforth
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SHARK WAS SEEN TRYING TO BLOCK A SWIMMER FROM GETTING OUT
Christiaan additionally stated he noticed that whereas a swimmer was fairly deep in the water, a shark got here a lot nearer to shore to dam the swimmer from not getting out.
“Luckily, the swimmer got out in time.”
ALSO READ: Beloved father killed by a shark at Plettenberg Bay recognized
HERE ARE NINE TIPS TO KEEP YOU SAFE FROM SHARKS
Here are 9 ideas from Taylor Cunningham, a marine biologist and shark conservationist who works as a shark security diver with One Ocean Diving.
- Research native shark patterns – During sure instances of the 12 months, some shark species come nearer to shore to pup in the nice and cozy coastal waters.
- Bring a masks and fins on lengthy swims – You don’t have to put on a masks and fins each time you step foot in the ocean, however in the event you’re heading out on an extended swim and are apprehensive you would possibly run right into a shark, it could pay to convey alongside the correct gear.
- Believe it or not, in terms of sharks, the colour of your clothes and equipment issues. Cunningham explains sharks have a monochromatic imaginative and prescient, so it could be good to keep away from colours like white, yellow, and/or neon when swimming or diving as a result of these might stand out extra brightly in a blue ocean. Sticking to darker colours, like black and blue, can reduce undesirable consideration from sharks.
- Don’t fear if in case you have a reduce — sharks don’t react to human blood. Cunningham stated sure, you learn that proper. The longtime perception that sharks, who’ve an incredible sense of scent, are drawn to human blood is fake.
- Act like a predator by continuously checking your environment. Sharks will wait till they discover an animal’s blind spot earlier than they method.
- Make eye contact in the event you see a shark. When you see a shark, your intuition could also be to swim as quick as you’ll be able to in the opposite path, however this might talk that you’re prey and ought to be chased.
- Create house between you and the shark. This is the place these fins come in useful. If the shark is getting nearer, use your fins, GoPro, or any strong gadgets you’ve on you to create house between you and the animal.
- Slowly again away after you’ve made eye contact, however keep away from splashing and making noise. The purpose you need to act like a predator in the water is to inform the shark that you’re not on their menu. Splashing, screaming, and inflicting a scene on the floor would possibly make them suppose you’re a sick or injured chook or fish — issues which might be on their menu.
- Note the shark’s physique language. “Sharks are not inherently ‘aggressive,’ but they can be territorial or competitive,” explains Cunningham. “Sharks will use their body language prior to any physical confrontation. If you notice a shark is dropping its pectoral fins (like when a cat arches its back) or holding its mouth open (like when a dog snarls), slowly back away, give it space, and exit the water.”
