How to Survive a Shark Attack

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Last Updated: February 23, 2024 Fact Checked

Sharks rarely attack, but when they do, severe and sometimes fatal injuries commonly result. Scientists do not believe sharks attack humans to eat us; rather, they bite into our flesh because they are curious to find out what kind of animal we are; kind of like how dogs like to sniff new friends, only a lot more deadly. Staying out of shark habitats is the surest way to avoid getting hurt. If you have accidentally wandered into shark-infested waters, however, you need to have a plan in place.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Playing Defense

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Research source} Sharks have several different attack methods. Sometimes they swim right up and charge, sometimes they circle for a while before lunging, and sometimes they sneak up from behind for a surprise attack. To be able to defend against the shark, you must know where it is, so make every effort to watch the animal, even as you are working out your escape.^{[2]
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Stay calm and do not make sudden movements. When you first spot the shark, chances are it will swim away without bothering you. You cannot out-swim a shark, so trying to sprint to safety may not be your best option, unless you are already very close to shore. It is important to keep your wits about you, so you can continuously appraise the situation and figure out how to get to safety.^{[3]
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- Move slowly toward the shore or a boat; choose whichever is closest. Do not thrash your arms or kick or splash while you swim.
- Do not block the shark's path. If you are standing between the shark and the open ocean, move away.
- Do not turn your back on the shark as you move. Remember, it is important to keep the shark in view.
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Get into a defensive position. If you cannot get out of the water right away, try to reduce the shark's possible angles of attack. If you are in shallow enough water, keep your feet on the ground. Slowly back up against a reef, piling, or rock outcropping or any solid obstruction so that the shark cannot circle around behind you. This way you only have to defend attacks in front of you.^{[4]
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- If you are diving near the shore, you may need to descend to find cover. Look for a reef or rock on the bottom of the ocean.
- In open water, get back-to-back with another swimmer or diver so that you can see, and defend against, an attack from any direction.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Fighting the Shark

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Hit the shark in the face and gills. Your best bet, if attacked, is to make the shark see you as a strong, credible threat. Usually, a hard blow to the shark's gills, eyes or snout (end of its nose) will cause it to retreat. These are really the only vulnerable areas on a shark.^{[5]
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- If you have a spear gun or pole, use it! A sharp object is a good way to inflict enough pain to scare away the shark. Aim for the head, specifically the eyes or the gills.^{[6]
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- If you do not have a weapon, improvise. Use any inanimate object, such as a camera or a rock to ward off the shark.
- If you have nothing around you, use your own body. Aim for the shark's eyes, gills, or snout. Fight with your fists, elbows, knees, and feet.^{[7]
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- Sharks have surprisingly rough and sharp skin, unlike the smooth scales of other fish, so be aware of this.
Hit the eyes and gills repeatedly with hard, sharp jabs. Do not wind up before hitting, since this does not provide extra force underwater. You can also claw at the eyes and the gills. Keep doing this until the shark lets you go and swims away.^{[8]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Escaping and Getting Help

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Get out of the water.^{[9]
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Research source} Even if the shark swims away, you are not truly safe until you are out of the water. Sharks may leave temporarily and then come back to continue the attack. Get back to shore or back on the boat as quickly as possible.^{[10]
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- If a boat is nearby, call out calmly, but loudly, for them to come to you. Stay as still as possible while waiting, as long as the shark is not actively attacking you; and get into the boat as quickly as possible, once the boat reaches you.
- If you are near shore, swim quickly, but smoothly. Thrashing will attract the shark's attention again and disperse your blood, which could draw more sharks. Do the smooth reverse breast stroke, which requires less splashing than other strokes.
If you have been bitten, get treatment as soon as possible. Massive blood loss could occur, depending on where you have been bitten, so immediately take appropriate steps to stop the bleeding. Even if your wounds appear minor, it is essential to get yourself checked out. Remain calm until you get medical care, so that your blood does not pump faster through your body.^{[11]
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Community Q&A

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How would it help to stay still? If the shark thinks I am dead, it will attack anyway, won't it?

Community Answer

It is erratic movement, such as swimming, that is a bad idea. Floating as if you were dead in the water is not a good idea either - the shark may still do a "trial bite" to determine whether or not you're food. The best thing to do is stay calm and hover in the water. Swimming will alert the shark because they have a sensor along their body that detects panicked movement. If you stay calm, the shark may be uninterested.

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What if I scream at the shark? Will it do anything?

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Screaming at the shark will have absolutely no effect, except perhaps annoying and angering the shark.

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What do you do if the shark's mouth opens when you are planning to strike the eyes or gills?

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If the shark manages to grab your arm as you intend to strike, use your other hand to punch the other side. Generally, most sharks' reaction times aren't so fast they can see you swinging and open their mouths first, but if they're already coming at you with an open mouth and you can't avoid them, try aiming with the other hand.

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Tips

Be aware of your surroundings. Sharks usually hunt at drop-offs or near banks. If you see fish continuously jumping out of the water, it probably means there is a predator around, which may be a shark.

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Avoid splashing, kicking, or thrashing about in panic, as this may encourage the shark to attack.

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Do not go swimming at dawn, dusk or at night because these are the times when sharks feed.

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The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Sharks are apex predators, which means they aren't threatened or hunted by any other creatures. As a result, they don't expect their prey to fight back. If a shark does attack you and you fight back, your odds at survival are very good.
Try to stay calm. If you freak out and make a lot of sudden movements or you start swimming erratically, the shark may think that you're injured and become even more aggressive.
Don't wear any shiny jewelry or bright clothing if you're going diving. There's some research that suggests sharks are attracting to bright, reflective surfaces.

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Warnings

Do not swim away from shark at any situation. The shark moves much faster than you.

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Never provoke a shark or intentionally put yourself in a position in which you are likely to be attacked.

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Do not hit the nose of shark, aim to strike the eyes. You can not only hit the eyes but also its gills. Hitting the nose will cause shark to bite.^{[12]
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