SHARK SAFETY FOR FREEDIVERS AND SNORKELLERS

Written By Annabel Massey

Shark Safety: A Practical Guide for Snorkellers & Freedivers

Feeling nervous about getting back in the water in Sydney following recent shark incidents? Not sure how to stay shark-safe as a snorkeller or freediver? You’re not alone.

It’s understandable. Shark bites receive major media coverage because they are unusual, they are scary, and they play into long-held cultural narratives. The shark is the ultimate ‘villain’ and the ultimate clickbait.

We believe that there IS a healthy way to coexist with sharks, still taking part in snorkelling, freediving and the ocean activities we love, whilst taking steps to understand and manage the risk of shark encounters. After all, ALL activities in nature come with their own risks.

Sharks are highly misunderstood predators. We CAN co-exist with them.

So we’ve decided to share with our community the steps WE take to manage shark risk, as professional freedivers and as a commercial dive operator.

This guide explains our approach to shark safety for freedivers and snorkellers, and it can be applied to all regions and countries.



BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME

Good decisions usually begin before you arrive at the dive site.

TAP INTO LOCAL KNOWLEDGE

It’s good practice whenever you’re adventuring into the wild, regardless of your feelings about sharks: Get to know wildlife seasonal activity, typical conditions and risks for each dive site.

  • Local dive centres - drop in for a chat or check socials/websites for recent condition reports and wildlife sightings

  • Community freedive and snorkel groups - tune in for visibility reports, wildlife sightings, and suggestions

  • Shark activity trackers - In NSW Australia we have the SharkSmart App showing recent tagged shark activity


CHECK FORECAST & DAYLIGHT HOURS

Use a tool such as WINDY to check out conditions if you’re planning a future dive. Avoid snorkelling or freediving after:

  • Heavy Rain

  • Big Swell

  • during Sunrise or Sunset

These conditions can lead to lower visibility. Lower visibility increases risk by potentially giving sharks more advantageous hunting conditions. Sharks are known to be more active hunters during twilight hours.

KNOW YOUR SHARKS

Teach yourself to ID the typical sharks found in the area you’re snorkelling or freediving. It’s very helpful to know the difference between harmless sharks and higher-risk shark species

Use resources such as the NSW SharkSmart site to learn how to ID.

SAFETY IN NUMBERS

OK we shouldn’t need to write this one. Every time you go in the ocean you need a buddy. It’s the most important safety measure in freediving and snorkelling.

More people means:

  • better communication

  • more eyes

  • immediate assistance

Also, a large group is far less appealing to a curious shark.

Group of 6 freedive girls linking arms underwater

WHEN YOU ARRIVE

Avoid rushing straight into the water. Spend a few minutes observing the environment before putting your mask on.

LOOK FOR EVIDENCE OF FEEDING ACTIVITY

High levels of fish activity may attract mid-level predators, which may attract higher-level predators such as sharks.

Look out for:

  • Surface splashing

  • Diving birds in one area

  • Dolphins, sealsand marine mammals concentrated in one area

None of these observations automatically means it is unsafe to dive, but they should influence your decision-making.

Do not go swimming straight towards an area of clear feeding activity.

AVOID FISHING, SPEARFISHING AND SHARK MITIGATION ACTIVITY

  • Fishing boats

  • fish cleaning stations

  • drumlines

  • active spearfishing

These activities all introduce sharkfood into the water.. Try to choose another entry point or another dive site.

If you’re spearfishing, PLEASE avoid popular recreational snorkelling and freediving sites where possible.

Separating these activities benefits everyone sharing the water.

PLAN YOUR EXIT

Before entering the water for a snorkel or freedive, plan how you will leave it. Have a plan B exit if you’re covering a large distance.

If conditions change unexpectedly, or you spot a shark, having an exit plan avoids rushed and fearful decisions.

BE PATIENT

Always spend some time communicating with your buddy and observing the dive site. Make sure you agree on your emergency plans.

If you’re freediving or snorkelling from a boat, wait a few mins after turning off the engines. In our experience, nearby sharks are more interested in the boat’s engine than a couple of boring snorkellers.

Heaps of action from marine birds and mammals usually indicates a big feeding event. Sharks may be present.

IN THE WATER

BE AWARE OF YOUR BUDDY AND YOUR SURROUNDINGS

Keep alert and look out for changes in conditions, visibility, wildlife behaviour.

Stick with your buddy! You should be no more than 10 second swim from them on the surface.

LISTEN TO YOUR INTUITION

If something feels off, don’t continue. You won’t enjoy the session and you never know what you’re picking up on.

Girl freediving with tiger shark holding a camera

WHAT TO DO IF YOU SEE A SHARK

The majority of sharks are not interested in people and will simply continue on their way.

If you do spot a shark, and you’re not sure it’s a ‘harmless one’:

  • Remain calm and avoid splashing frantically

  • Regroup with your buddy

  • Keep your eyes on the shark at all times

  • Try to put an object between you and the shark (i.e. fins or camera)

  • Slowly and calmly move to your exit point

Sharks are risk-averse and will likely avoid you if you’re acting more like a predator than prey.




Freediver with two tiger sharks

If you see a shark, keep eyes on the shark and avoid panicked, frantic movements

EQUIPMENT

No piece of equipment replaces good judgement or careful planning, but there’s some freediving and snorkelling gear out there that may provide additional safety.

  • A tourniquet carried somewhere accessible.

  • A curved mask that provides good peripheral vision, so you have a wider field of vision.

  • Personal shark deterrent devices, - evidence is limited and anecdotal experience has highly conflicting results

  • Bite-resistant wetsuits such as SharkStop - designed to reduce the severity of bites rather than prevent bites altogether.

When thinking about shark safety, do NOT lose sight of freediving and snorkelling safety.

The risk of drowning and blackouts far outweighs the risk of shark encounters. Use equipment that is safe, high-quality and helps keep you visible to your buddy.

Examples of shark safe freediving equipment including a tourniquet, a bite resistant suit and a rounded dive mask

OCEAN CONFIDENCE

is so much more than guaranteeing you will be 100% safe at all times.

It comes from:

  • Knowing the measures you CAN control to improve your own safety

  • Sharing and learning from professionals, peers and other water users

  • Building the skills and knowledge you need to enjoy the water as safely as possible

  • Accepting that the beauty of being in the ocean comes from its wild and uncontrollable nature.



WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

What would you add to this list? We appreciate hearing about your experiences and tools. Drop us an email or a comment on Instagram and let us know your thoughts!

WANT TO DIVE DEEPER?

Here’s some recommended reading which has heavily informed our knowledge, along with collective decades of experience across the team.

Check conditions & shark activity‍ ‍

Understand the actual risk‍ ‍

The science on deterrents

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The science on bite-resistant wetsuits

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Shark behaviour & senses

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Annabel Massey
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