Maui's Ultimate Visitor Guide

Maui Shark Attacks : 5 Tips on How To Stay Safe

in The Water When Visiting Maui

Yearly about one hundred fifty people die from falling coconuts worldwide; sharks kill around five. Although you are more likely to die from falling coconuts than from a shark attack, here are five tips on how to stay safe in the water during your Maui vacation (just in case):

#1 Sharks are Nocturnal

Sharks are nocturnal, so one of the best ways to avoid sharks is to stay out of the ocean at dawn, dusk, and nighttime. Sharks move inshore during these hours to feed because most fish go through to focus in the changing light during sun up and sun down. In addition, sharks do not use their sense of sight as much as their sense of smell, allowing them to hunt in a different light. A typical shark behavior in these hours is to check out what are making vibrations and noises in the water.

#2 Leave the Jewelry at Home

Do not wear shiny jewelry or anything brightly colored. If you don’t want to attract barracuda or sharks, leave your precious metals and diamonds at home. The light reflected by jewelry looks like fish scales to sharks and other underwater predators. In addition, smaller fish have dark and brightly colored spots, so high contrasting swimwear and swim gear are also a no-no. Lastly, saltwater is not great in maintaining the shine of gold and silver, and no one sure wants to lose their diamond engagement ring in the ocean.

#3 Avoid Murky Waters

Avoid swimming, surfing, or snorkeling in murky waters or harbor entrances. Sharks are frequently spotted in these areas because they can sense their prey’s electrical fields using their ampullae of Lorenzini organs. Sharks, in turn, can hunt for their prey while remaining invisible. Their enormous size makes them easy to avoid in clear waters, and why it is safer to swim in these areas. This is also another reason why sharks primarily attack during night time and before sunrise and sunset.

#4 Sharks Love Blood

Stay out of the water if you are bleeding in any way or have any open wounds. Sharks can smell, taste, and trace small concentrations of blood within a one-mile radius. On the contrary, it is also known that sharks are only attracted to blood from animals that are native to marine environments. Nonetheless, it is better to be safe than sorry right? These assumptions are also unproven since no one ever volunteered to be in a controlled test of someone bleeding in the ocean.

#5 Stay Close to the Shore

Swim with other people and don’t wander too far from shore, away from assistance. Sharks are less likely to attack a group of people swimming or diving. However, sharks are more likely to single out isolated swimmers for attacks. Although sharks will rarely go after humans in general, swimming in a group can save anyone from drowning due to unexpected currents and conditions. Never drift away from the people you are swimming with, so that you are only a few paddles away from assistance.

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