What to do if you see a shark or stingray in the water? (2024)

FAQs

What to do if you see a shark or stingray in the water? ›

It goes without saying that if you see a shark swimming nearby, leave the water as quickly and quietly as you can. Then, inform your fellow beach-goers and the closest lifeguard.

But remember those magic words: Stay calm. You'll want to move quickly, but calmly and smoothly. Do your best to keep the shark in sight. If you're in the water with other people, stick near them as you head to shore.

But as with all marine life, people must respect stingrays' personal space. So take lots of photos and enjoy watching them gliding through the water – but from afar. Never threaten or corner a ray, and always keep an eye out for their tail – and never touch the barb on the end of it.

Remove any speared fish from the water or tow the fish a safe distance behind you to avoid the presence of blood near you in the water. Leave the water quickly and calmly if a shark is sighted; if you see a shark, alert lifeguards or other swimmers immediately.

Because stingrays are typically on or in the sand, the most common place beachgoers get stung is the foot. The best way to avoid being stung is to do the stingray shuffle! By shuffling your feet along the sand when you are entering and exiting the water, the rays are alerted of your presence and can skitter away.

In theory, the combination of eucalyptus, chili, cloves, cayenne pepper, neem, tea tree oil, citronella and beeswax creates an odor that sharks dislike and will seek to avoid if applied to a surfboard.

Contrary to its reputation, the stingray is a shy and even gentle creature that would rather swim away than strike. It reserves its stinger for its predators – sharks and other large carnivorous fish. It attacks people only when it feels directly threatened, often when it's unintentionally stepped on.

Yes it is. You will get a safety briefing, which is more about making sure that the stingrays don't get abused than you getting hurt. Stingrays are not aggressive creatures and it's very possible to have really good interactions with them.

When you're walking in the ocean admiring all the unique marine life, shuffle your feet along the bottom. As a result of this stingray shuffle, the stingrays will feel the vibrations from your feet and have a chance to flee.

An aggressive shark often will return, however, and each subsequent hit to the snout will be less effective, so take advantage of any escape opportunities. If you do not have anything to poke with, use your hand, but remember that the mouth is close to the nose, so be accurate!

Why are sharks not attracted to period blood? ›

A shark's sense of smell is powerful – it allows them to find prey from hundreds of yards away. Menstrual blood in the water could be detected by a shark, just like any urine or other bodily fluids. However, there is no positive evidence that menstruation is a factor in shark bites.

Stingray shuffle until you get into deeper water where you can take your feet off the bottom and float or swim. Wearing swim fins can help a lot. With them on you can stand on the tips of the fins avoiding pinning one down with your feet. People have been stung by not pinning down a stingray but it's not as common.

Stingrays are not aggressive and are quite shy. You usually won't see them at all. Injuries from stingrays occur when the stingray gets frightened. You can lower your chances of being stung by a stingray by learning a little about them, and what you can do to avoid them.

Most stingray related injuries occur in the afternoon, especially when the tide is lower and the water is warmer. This is likely because that is when there are the most people using the beach. The most common place to be stung by a stingray is on your feet.

Did you know that stingrays can jump out of the water? Me either. This video was recorded. on their trip to the Bimini Islands.

Avoiding these unexpected encounters is simple, as long as you pay attention to your surroundings. Make sure to walk slowly and shuffle your feet along the sandy floor rather than taking big strides. The sound of your moving feet will alert stingrays to your presence and give them time to swim away.

They consider it a form of courtship that shows the. females the better males. They believe that it helps white spotted stingray get. rid of remoras and parasites.