Swim training with sharks

I beleive sharks normally feed at twilight or at night, but that doesn't mean that they won't snack at other times of the day.

Never at dusk or dawn should you train.  My OWS group trains at 5:50-6:50 at night.  Sometimes i get freaked if i see the sun setting, but right now, that doesn't happen til later.  So, if you can train inbetween 9 am and 7 pm you should be fine.

I live in Orlando, but train train at Cocoa or New Smyrna Beach. We have more shark bites than any other place in the world. None fatal so far, but three times more than any other place in the world.

1. DON'T swim by yourself. Swim in a group. Sharks don't care for company.
2. If you are bleeding or have an open wound, stay out of the water. Yes ladies, that too.
3. DON'T wear jewelry or shiny things (zippers). Sharks mistake these for fish scales.
4. If you see small schools of fish or lots of birds diving, stay out of the water. These bait fish are what sharks eat.
5. If people are fishing nearby, stay away. Again, sharks will be attacked to the bait and chum.
6. Don't swim in the dark, nor at dawn or dusk. That's when sharks feed.
7. Bright swim/wet suits are great for attracting sharks. Sharks don't see well, but do see great contrast. That bright suit may draw attention you don't want.
8. Be aware of sandbars and drops off. Again, bait fish hang out there and so do sharks.
9. Don't go too far out. Just last week a kid was bitten in 18 inches of water at NSB (http://www.local6.com/news/16187329/detail.html) . Swim in water deep enough get moving, but not so deep that help would take a while to get to you if something happened.
10. Don't splash and make lots of ruckus. Also don't allow your dogs make a ruckus. The uneven splashing may be mistaken by the shark as an animal in distress.

I have never been bitten, but I can tell you it gets your heart racing when you see them swimming by you.

Also, for those folks who'd like to swim in Florida's lakes, the same rules go for gators. Assume gators are in every body of water. They likely are.

And if you are attacked by either critter, fight back. Go for the eyes or snout. You have a fairly good chance of getting away with fighting back.

Leighsah
Floridian for many years

c'mon panout, do you really think a shark is thinking "hmm, human, not fish, guess i don't wanna bite it?"  i don't think so.  (i dive too in the bahamas with the nurse & reef sharks.)  shark wants you, shark's got you, that's about it.  just a matter of shooting the odds out there.