Sharks have a reputation for killing humans onshore, and the rate of such attacks in Texas has only increased in the past decade. However, while sharks do tend to bite humans in the most unexpected situations, it’s worth mentioning that these attacks aren’t usually feeding events. In reality, most sharks attack humans by mistake, thinking of them as large fish. Other times, they retaliate when feeling threatened about their territory, similar to how dogs bark or bite when dealing with intruders.
It’s still crucial to learn how to avoid a shark attack in Texas oceans by keeping safe practices in mind. Here are a few tips to keep yourself protected at all times from these apex ocean predators:
1- Swim in a Group
It’s a known fact that sharks usually target lone individuals, thinking of them as large prey. Therefore, it’s best to avoid wandering too far into the ocean alone and swim in a group of people to maximize your chances of avoiding a shark attack.
2- Avoid Swimming at Dusk or After Dawn
Most sharks are active at dusk and after dusk, including at night. Moreover, these are the peak times when you can’t detect a shark movement near you if you’re in the water because of the dark. These two reasons are enough to keep yourself a safe distance away from the ocean at the suggested timings.
3- Avoid Wearing Shiny Accessories
When the sun rays reflect from your jewelry on any other shiny accessory you’re wearing when swimming in the ocean, they look like fish scales to sharks most of the time. This puts you at unnecessary risk when a shark is nearby.
4- Never Enter the Water When Bleeding
Sharks can not only smell and taste blood from a long distance away, but they can also trace the scent back to the source. That’s why it is crucial to stay out of the ocean when you’re bleeding from anywhere or have an open wound.
5- Avoid Splashing the Water Unnecessarily
Erratic movements in the water will also gain you unnecessary shark attention, and the blurry waters nearby will make it impossible for the shark to differentiate you from their prey. Therefore, when deciding to take a quick dip into the ocean on your boating trip, keep this point in mind to minimize shark attack risks.
6- Never Interact with a Shark Upon an Encounter
Furthermore, you must never try interacting with a shark or touching them just for the sake of cutting an item off your bucket list if you see one in the ocean. Case in point, most shark attacks these days are a result of undesired interference.
7- Don’t Enter Water If You See Several Baitfish
Lastly, water abundant with baitfish is heaven for sharks. Therefore, it’s best not to enter such waters if you want to avoid a shark attack. A good indication of such an occurrence is seabirds diving onto a particular patch or surface of the water to catch fish.
By keeping these tips in mind, you can avoid a shark attack or, at least, minimize the risks of getting bitten in the Texas oceans to a significant extent.
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