Wild footage shows diver's close encounter with tiger shark
Swimmers are advised not to 'splash or run away' as it could result in you being targeted.
As water temperatures heat up in Australia, drawing more sharks closer to shore, a marine biologist has explained what you should never do during an unexpected underwater encounter with the ocean predators.
Andriana Fragola, who goes by Andriana Marine on TikTok and Instagram, warned to never "splash and run away" from the potentially deadly predator, even if it's swimming towards you. Because splashing could actually attract the shark which could mistake you for an animal.
A heart-stopping video re-shared by the shark safety diver this week shows her getting up close and personal with a mammoth tiger shark — the second most dangerous shark behind the great white — while swimming in Hawaii where she lives.
The eerie clip shows Fragola snorkelling near the water's surface and slowly kicking her flipper-donned feet. But in the background, the silhouette of the huge shark appears, becoming clearer as it gets closer.
Eventually, Fragola turns her body to face the shark — which is exactly what you should do, she says.
"Sharks are typically attracted to the swimming away motion from other animals because that usually means they are scared or are prey. It is also important not to splash because splashing can make you also appear injured, or weak to the shark," she explained next to the video.
"Instead of swimming away, stand your ground, face the shark, make eye contact, extend your fins out if you can to ask for space, and if you absolutely need to then push firmly down on the top of the shark’s head to guide them away from you, making sure to follow through as they swim away."
The video has been posted previously by Fragola but was re-shared as a reminder to swimmers about how to behave in front of shark. The shark diver also stressed to "only use these tips as a last resort if you run into a shark while diving or swimming" and advised against diving with sharks without a professional guide.
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Warmer waters means more sharks
The safety warning comes days after a young woman was badly mauled by a shark in Sydney Harbour. Kayaker Lauren O'Neill was taking a dip off a private jetty in Elizabeth Bay, in the city's east, on Monday night when a suspected bull shark bit her on her right leg, leaving her with critical injuries.
Humane Society International marine biologist Lawrence Chlebeck earlier told Yahoo News that warmer waters in Australia "will definitely bring more bull sharks and tiger sharks to the area."
"We just have to be make smart choices when entering the water. That means we're swimming with a buddy, but also not swimming in extra cloudy water, or right after it rains, or in the middle of a ball of bait fish," he explained.
"Even when there’s a higher incidence of sharks due to the warmer water, I don't think we need to be any more worried or responsible than we already are."
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