Shark behavior, what to look for, and tips on how to behave.

In this article: Shark Behaviour  |  The Do's and Don'ts  |  Shark Diving  |  Shark Conservation

When you love the ocean, it's natural that you want to understand and respect its inhabitants. Learning more about sharks brings a deeper understanding of them. What they’re about and why they do what they do. Being so sharky with massive mouths filled with razor-sharp teeth makes it hard for them to change public perception.

They are almost always portrayed as mindless man-eating machines in media and movies. The truth is that they are not out to get us. We are not their natural prey, that’s why most bites are just that, bites. They realize that it’s not their food and then move away.

It is no secret that the ocean desperately needs our protection. Educating yourself and others is the first step.

Shark Behavior

We need to understand shark behavior and read the physical cues they give us to anticipate potential threats to swimmers and divers. The only way they can communicate is with their bodies. We need to know what to look for in their body language especially if we enter their habitats.

Ragged tooth shark also called the gray nurse shark sand tiger shark or blue nurse sand tiger MadeleinWolf photo 2 2

Ragged-tooth shark (also called the gray nurse shark, sand tiger shark, or blue-nurse sand tiger)

Rare Natural Shark Encounters

What I mean by a natural encounter is when you see a random shark on a normal dive. So, not being on a special shark dive.

Most sharks are quite skittish and encounters are rare and sought after by divers.

Sharks generally avoid divers as they are weary of anything foreign in their domain. Their priority is to preserve their own lives, they are mostly aloof and cautious. They will not just go up to a strange-looking object, because they don’t know what it is and whether it could be dangerous to them.

Calm and Inquisitive Behaviour

If the shark is comfortable with a situation they will swim around, observe, and swim away.

Sharks displaying curiosity often swim in a steady, predictable pattern, occasionally approaching to investigate new objects or creatures in their environment, including humans. These sharks might circle divers or swimmers at a distance, maintaining a relaxed and gentle swimming pace.

Unlike aggressive behavior, calm sharks keep their pectoral fins horizontal, and their movements are smooth and fluid rather than erratic. They may come closer to inspect but usually do so without sudden lunges or jerky motions.

A curious shark might pass by closely, sometimes even brushing against a person, but this behavior is usually exploratory rather than aggressive.

Floating calmly and allowing the shark to satisfy its curiosity without interference can lead to a peaceful and awe-inspiring encounter.

Zambezi bull shark MadeleinWolf photo

Zambezi (bull) shark circling me

Threatened or Aggressive Behaviour

Sharks typically exhibit a range of behaviors when they feel threatened, territorial, or are in a heightened state of predation.

Key indicators of aggressive behavior include rapid and jerky movements, arching their bodies, and swimming erratically.

Sharks might also lower their pectoral fins and make sudden changes in direction.

If a shark begins to circle a person or swims directly at them, these can be signs of increasing aggression.

The Do’s and Don’ts

When in the water with a shark, it is crucial to remain calm and avoid sudden movements, which can provoke the shark. Maintaining eye contact with the shark and slowly backing away towards the shore or boat can help reduce the risk of an aggressive encounter.

It’s also important to avoid splashing or making excessive noise, as these can attract a shark’s attention. This can indicate to the shark that there’s easy prey because it’s in distress.

In the event of an attack, defending oneself by targeting the shark’s sensitive areas, such as the eyes, gills, or snout, can deter it.

Keep your movements slow and deliberate and maintain eye contact. If a shark approaches closely, position yourself vertically to appear larger and less like prey. This is also the main reason why we never want to swim away from a shark, that is prey behavior.

Awareness of these behaviors and responses can significantly enhance safety when encountering sharks in their natural habitat.

Are you new to scuba diving black tip shark

Oceanic blacktip shark

Shark Diving

With all sorts of shark dives becoming more and more popular worldwide divers need to educate themselves to avoid any unnecessary accidents. These are almost exclusively attributed to uninformed divers misunderstanding the shark's behavior or not sticking to the rules stipulated by the dive operators.

Dive operators should always give a proper briefing with clear instructions to divers before taking a group out on a shark dive. These instructions will include specific rules like the ones mentioned in the list below.

Divers should always adhere to these rules and not get too comfortable, sharks are apex predators and should always be respected.

Education and awareness play a vital part in protecting sharks.

Here’s a List of Tips on How to Behave

  • Maintain your position — let the shark approach you.
  • Avoid waving your hands around, keep them still and close to your body.
  • Be aware of where the shark is — always look around.
  • Maintain eye contact with the shark at all times.
  • Do not try and touch the shark.
  • Don’t swim after the shark.
  • Never swim away from a shark.
  • The dive group should stay together.
  • Never separate yourself from the group.
  • Check your buoyancy, do not drop below the group.

Ragged tooth shark also called the gray nurse shark sand tiger shark or blue nurse sand tiger MadeleinWolf photo 1 2

Ragged-tooth shark

If you feel threatened during your shark dive:

Sharks will feel more comfortable investigating you if you are split from the dive group because you are much less threatening on your own. We were on dives where one person did not check their buoyancy and dropped deeper, the moment they separated from the group, the Bull shark that was circling below started to approach him.

If you feel threatened because the shark comes too close for comfort, breathe out, the loud release of bubbles from your regulator should deter the shark.

Make yourself bigger. Join hands with your dive buddy and stay close together. In this way, the two of you seem like one big animal and should keep the shark at bay.

If a shark exhibits aggressive behavior, divers should calmly exit the water immediately.

Shark Conservation

We fear what we do not understand. As divers and ocean enthusiasts, we must educate ourselves and others about sharks.

The last thing sharks need is a bad wrap because of careless human behavior when they are encountered.

Sharks are facing tremendous pressure and increasing threats.

Shark Finning

Globally an estimated 23–73 million sharks are finned each year. This is a wasteful practice and occurs uncontrolled in the majority of the world's oceans.

Over Fishing

There are more and bigger fishing vessels than ever before. This causes a massive reduction in the availability of food for sharks.

Destructive Fishing Methods

Unwanted fish or marine life can make up 40–90% of the bycatch. The industrial methods used to harvest marine life are so destructive and wasteful that they would be banned if most people were fully aware of their impact.

Fear of Sharks

The fear of sharks and ignorance about their biology lead to a lack of compassion and a reduced desire to conserve them.

Sharks are slow-growing animals and have low reproduction rates, making them vulnerable. Populations can collapse rapidly, but take decades to recover.

Sharks are crucial for maintaining marine biodiversity, and there is concern that some species may become extinct before their ecological role is fully understood.

Hammerhead shark MadeleinWolf photo

Hammerhead shark

We Protect What We Love

I have been diving with these magnificent animals since 2014. From the very first shark dive I ever did, with our local broadnose sevengill sharks, my fear turned into immense respect and admiration. I aim to educate people about sharks and encourage firsthand experience of being in the water with them. This is a teaching experience like no other. We protect what we love and come to love only what we endeavor to understand.

It’s truly a life-changing experience to encounter a shark and to see how they move and behave. They are powerful animals that sometimes choose to interact with us, and on their terms, these interactions are peaceful and awe-inspiring.

I hope this will become your experience too. Let’s learn and grow to understand.

We Protect What We Love, Join the Movement!

by Madelein Wolfaardt
Images ©️ by @sealife_madeleinwolf

powered by social2s
06 December Digital Marketing 23

You've found it - that perfect, clever domain name that makes you smile. Maybe it's a witty wordplay, or perhaps it uses one of those trendy new domain extensions. Before you click "purchase," consider that this creative domain name might undermine your business's success.

Your domain name isn't just a web address - it's your business's first impression, your brand's foundation, and a key factor in whether

...
14 November Digital Marketing 71

As a Web Content Manager and Designer, I've seen countless beautifully designed websites fail to generate results because they're treated like digital business cards instead of marketing tools.

Your website should work for you. Think of a static website like a poster in an empty room - it might look great, but if nobody sees it or takes action, it's not helping your business grow.

While proper SEO

...
01 November Digital Marketing 181

The Importance of Content Marketing

What is content marketing? It’s a top way to showcase your products or services to potential customers by creating and distributing valuable, relevant content to attract and engage your target audience. I will focus on using blog articles, a highly effective form, to drive website traffic and establish your brand as an industry authority. I will show you why and how.

Your website is the

...
01 November Digital Marketing 209

The Importance of Content Marketing

What is content marketing? It’s a top way to showcase your products or services to potential customers by creating and distributing valuable, relevant content to attract and engage your target audience. I will focus on using blog articles, a highly effective form, to drive website traffic and establish your brand as an industry authority. I will show you why and

...
30 October Scuba & Exploration 365

Dive Travel — Cape Town, South Africa

Nudibranchs, or nudies, are captivating creatures. They exist underwater where few people can enjoy their variety, vibrance, and small sizes. But, once discovered, many underwater enthusiasts are captivated.

In my hometown of Gordon’s Bay, False Bay, we are lucky to find around 75 species. When photographing nudibranchs, you’re never disappointed. Spotting new ones is an exciting

...
25 October Digital Marketing 273

SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, enhances your website’s ranking in search engine results, like Google. Using keywords and quality content helps more people discover and visit your site, boosting visibility and promoting business growth.

If you’re not familiar with SEO, this may sound intimidating. But it’s straightforward changes you can apply yourself to improve your site’s SEO. I’ll show you how easy it is to implement and

...
11 October Digital Marketing 204

Identifying your ideal customer is crucial for your marketing strategy because it allows you to tailor your messaging, products, and services to the specific needs, preferences, and pain points of the people most likely to buy from you.

This targeted approach increases the efficiency of your marketing efforts, helping you attract more qualified leads, improve customer engagement, and ultimately boost conversion rates. By

...
04 October Personal Growth 194

I was shocked to discover that I’m a highly sensitive person (HSP). A few years ago, someone gifted me Dr. Elaine N. Aron’s book, The Highly Sensitive Person. It was my first encounter with this personality trait, and it described me perfectly. Initially, the word ‘sensitive’ put me off due to its negative connotations; in my mind, it equated to weakness.

An HSP is someone who

...
04 October Personal Growth 359

Isn’t there more to life? Is this it?

Have you asked this before? Well, there certainly is more to life, and you’ll discover it once you start asking questions like this.

This article isn’t to pressure you to be more, do more, or achieve more. It’s to guide you on an exciting self-edifying path with a different mindset and attitude toward life, which leads to a fulfilled

...
04 October Scuba & Exploration 265

A Guide to Appreciating Underwater Biodiversity

Getting to know the underwater world has always been one of my favorite things. When you start free diving or scuba diving, you’re introduced to a new alien world with unknown creatures. Everything seems strange and remarkable, and you feel like you’re discovering new animals on every dive. This is always thrilling. In this article, I use examples from the ...

08 September Scuba & Exploration 795

Dive Travel — South Africa

One of the world’s largest kelp forests is in South Africa. Kelp is a marine alga and not a true plant, with species ranging from shorter “bottom kelp” to taller ones. This ecosystem serves as food and shelter for many marine species and is one of the richest habitats on earth.

From the shore on the water’s surface, the forest canopy is visible and

...
08 September Scuba & Exploration 245

Dive Travel — Cape Town, South Africa

Diving in False Bay offers a variety of dives, making it a sought-after destination.

Location:

False Bay is an Atlantic Ocean body of water between the Cape Peninsula and Hottentots Holland Mountains in southwest South Africa. The bay’s mouth faces south, demarcated by Cape Point to the west and Cape Hangklip to

...
27 August Digital Marketing 977

Boost your productivity.

As a business developer and entrepreneur, my top priority is finding the easiest and shortest routes to get things done. We all have to take on multiple roles, from developing websites to ...

13 August Scuba & Exploration 1018

Here are 6 easy ways to get to know the underwater world.

When you start exploring underwater and everything is new to you, where do you even start to get to know the vast number of underwater animals and plants? Don’t worry, it’s not complicated. In this article, I will show you six easy and practical ways to start familiarizing yourself with the marine environment.

...

Shark behavior, what to look for, and tips on how to behave.

In this article:Shark Behaviour  |  The Do's and Don'ts  |  Shark Diving  |  Shark Conservation

When you love the ocean, it's natural that

...
Use of Images & Content of Website
© Madelein Wolfaardt 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this website’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Madelein Wolfaardt with appropriate and specific direction and links to the original content.