Is it too soon to joke about Mick Fanning’s attack in South Africa?

It seemed like for days the WSL was experiencing a series of emotional interventions with tear stricken surfers dominating the airwaves following Mick’s near miss with a great white shark. As surfers, we have to understand that each time we paddle out, we are entering a different domain.

While David Attenborough might argue that humans had an amphibious stage in their evolution, we can’t deny there are creatures out there far better suited to the ocean than us. The clumsiest pelican out there surfs better than Kelly Slater and don’t mention the breath-hold of the most accomplished free-diver in comparison to our aquatic cousins.

Unfortunately, some of the world’s best surf destinations are conveniently situated in some of the sharkiest waters in the world.

• So can ignorance indeed be bliss?
• Or is it time to start taking shark repellent seriously?

Beside shark’s relative absence in the line-up, there is an abundance of shark deterrent products on the market hoping to keep sharks at bay, or at least out of the channel.

Shark deterrents range from:

1. Electric emitters.
2. Magnetic shark blockers.
3. Biomimicry stickers and wetsuits.
4. Acoustic-based shark repellents.
5. Simple sprays.

They may be as simple as an augmented leash plug or coloured wetsuit to sophisticated electrical devices. But many shark deterrent or repellent products still have yet to stand the test of time, and there is still doubt about their effectiveness.

We are seeing a rise in shark attacks globally, everywhere from the U.S. to Australia is experiencing a renaissance in shark attacks. A recent study found that from 1955 to 2015 the number of shark attacks rose by a great amount in the U.S. and the same is true for Australia which experienced an increase from 3 attacks in 1995 and 23 in 2015.

Considering the population of Australia is over 24 million, your likelihood of being attacked is still 1:1 million. That being said, if you’re a regular surfer in sharky water, it’s really not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when!

We’ve dreamt of shark repellent since Sean Connery was James Bond. A convenient and straightforward solution to the nagging fear induced by films like Jaws and Deep Blue Sea. Who wouldn’t mind a little shark spray like Judy Hopps in Zootopia?

In this guide, we’ll explore the top shark deterrents/repellents on the market and see if they’re worth the cost of business.

More importantly; do they really work?

Keep reading to find the most effective shark repellents out there and see what you can do to keep yourself safer in the ocean.

 

1. Electric Shark Repellents:

Electric Shark repellents claim to use electrical signals in the water to interfere with sharks’ sensory input. More specifically, if a shark enters a certain radius of these electronic devices, sharks experience a sensory overload and are likely to head the other direction.
So are these devices beneficial?

Shark Shield:

Shark Shield by Ocean Guardian is one of the many electronic shark repellents – or deterrents depending on who you’re talking to – on the market today. This product is unique in that they have been proven effective to hinder shark bites. Typically, this is a long cord that trails from the swimmer, diver, or surfer. This cord can be cumbersome and even dangerous on a surfboard, however, for approximately $800, you can have the shark shield installed inside your board.

Forget about your quiver, you’ll probably never ride another board again. The bad news is, Shark Shield isn’t 100% effective. Recent research out of Australia suggests that Shark Shield had near 85% effectiveness on Great Whites and Tiger Sharks. It seems that there are certain shark species, and even individuals, which have a higher tolerance for this form of electrical stimulation.

Nobody’s saying a great white is trolling the line-up looking for electric kick-backs, but some sharks won’t be scared off by this device. There have been reports of shark attacks on individuals while wearing shark shield.

NoShark:

More affordable than the Shark Shield above, NOShark goes for approximately $449 and comes in the form of an anklet device.

Unfortunately, research has shown that tools like NoShark, while they do send out electrical current, do so with electrodes just a bit too close together offering less protection. While to you or I this may seem like a non-issue, in comparison to a device like Shark Shield, NoShark is considerably less effective. This is because electrodes emitted from the anklet device send currents with a shorter wavelength (or period for the amateur meteorologists in all of us). As a result, sharks are less likely to be shoo-ed away and might sneak up for a nibble.

Surf Safe:

At approximately $389, Surf Safe is an electric emitter similar to others referenced on this list. The most significant difference is surf safe, like the Shark Shield – Surf edition is mounted directly on your surfboard. Knee deep in research, Surf Safe boasts more than 1000 current surfers using their product across the globe. Surf Safe has proven successful in deterring sharks across a wide variety of company-sponsored research. However, it is still yet to experience external scrutiny.

But can these type of electrical emitters actually attract sharks?

Sharks use electrical currents to experience the world around them in the ocean. This is particularly true in their search for prey. Would strapping an electric emitter to your board, leash, or leg be more likely to inspire a quick visit from your local aquatic predator?

For many people interested in shark deterrent, this is a legitimate concern. Surfers have reported experiencing a more than a bit of push-back from other’s in the line-up mutually hoping to avoid a close encounter.

Research suggests that electrical emitters are not likely to attract passing sharks despite their extra-sensory electrical perceptions, especially from a long distance.

 

2. Magnetic Shark Repellents:

Aside from electrical shark repellents, there are a variety of different devices and tools available to swimmers, divers, and surfers which don’t utilise electrodes. Magnetic shark repellents are another standard option on the market for those hoping to steer clear of ocean predators.

Shark Banz:

Shark Banz is a budding brand on the market in the field of shark repellents. Their devices utilise a magnetic field via a wrist or ankle band which easily straps on with your typical watch band. SharkBanz is significantly more affordable than many electric devices and runs at approximately $84.

Shark Banz offers consumers more than 10 years of supporting research from users and scientists. These include peer-reviewed studies from outside researchers.

SharkBanz may be one of the more reliable shark deterrents on the market. Another great feature of SharkBanz products is they’re always on, and no charging is required. SharkBanz is the only shark deterrent which has withstood peer-reviewed research trials and come up successfully repelling shark attacks. To be a reliable shark repellent for an affordable price for those concerned surfers or divers.

 

3. Deceptive Colouring Shark Deterrent:

Deceptive colouring is an old tool in the animal kingdom from a tiger’s bold stripes to an Owl Moth’s false eye. Deceptive colouring mixes a combination of biomimicry and ingenuity to detract a shark’s attention. Keep reading to discover the plethora of ingenious shark deterrent systems you can find on the market.

SAMS – Shark Attack Mitigation System:

Aptly named the Shark Attack Mitigation System (SAMS), these wetsuits suggest a new and innovative method for deterring shark attacks. Since 2012, scientists, surfers, and researchers have been working on designing a wetsuit which used a combination of biomimicry and environmental camouflage to reduce the risk of shark attacks. This company has created two wetsuit designs meant to distinguish surfers from seals or sea lions.

Dive specific suits are designed using deceptive colouration, which is nearly invisible to a shark. While sharks utilise a variety of senses when stalking, hunting, and attacking their prey, scientists have recently discovered that a shark’s visual perceptions are more important than previously assumed, particularly when making an attack.

Deceptive banding on the SAMS surf suit imitates the banding of the banded sea krait. The dive suits are explicitly designed to camouflage into the water and detract a shark’s attention. These have proven to be successful in research studies, even when wrapped around a bucket of chum!

In addition to SAMS’s shark deterrent wetsuits, SAMS releases a corresponding product for your surfboard. Similar to the banded wetsuit, the bottom of the board is banded with a thin sticker which alerts sharks that it’s looking at something fishy – in the metaphorical sense.

Shark Eyes:

So simple, we can’t believe we didn’t think of it before, Shark Eyes is a new incredibly affordable shark deterrent system. This simple sticker can be slapped on to the bottom of your board, dive cage or kayak. Developed by Australian Abalone divers, who know a thing or two about sharks, Shark Eyes tries to think about an attack from the Shark’s perspective.

Imagine your tummy’s rumbling, and you’re ready for a tasty treat. Harbouring just outside the reef, you see what looks like a sea lion dropping in and smacking the lip. The electrical signal (heartbeat) coming off this seal-ish creature is just about right for a tasty morsel, so you edge closer to check for hazards.

Just as you’re getting ready to plan out your attack, you notice two big beautiful blue ones staring down at you from what should be the tail end. What the heck is that?!

Shark’s make an initial threat assessment using their visual senses before attacking prey. Fish and butterfly species have been using similar colouration techniques to detract predators for millennia so why not test it out with surfing?

Unfortunately, Shark Eyes still has yet to stand up to research trials and thus may not be considered as valid as some of the other research-based products on this list. That being said, if all you’re looking for is a peace of mind, Shark Eyes might be the perfect product for you.

 

4. Acoustic Shark Repellents

Black and white killer whales travel in packs across our oceans and occasionally stop for a sharky snack. Some logic might suggest that acoustic shark deterrents, imitating the sound of a killer whale or similar species, might scare away passing sharks.

SharkStopper takes this logic to the marketplace. Developed for use in Florida, a hotbed of shark bites, SharkStopper markets itself as “the world’s first and only acoustic shark repellent”. There might be a reason for that.

The unit is a small wearable device which sends out a combination of Orca calls and varied sound for, reportedly, repelling sharks. In research trials, they used a slightly different device by dropping a speaker off the bottom of a boat. However, there has yet to be peer-reviewed studies suggesting its validity.

Unfortunately, as you may have guessed, this technique hasn’t held up to peer-reviewed research. Dr Christine Erbe, a marine biologist with a specialty in whale vocalisation, explains that Orca packs or family groups have varying calls and language. This suggests that in different areas of the world, different orca calls may have varying effects, or may not work.

As previously stated, sharks utilise a variety of sensory perceptions when navigating the ocean and some of these various perceptions will most likely signal to sharks that you, not for lack of trying, are not an Ocra.

Erbe points out there’s also the problem of a shark figuring out you’re not an orca at all. In a similar study, certain fisheries have tried using orca calls to repel sea lions. These playful and intelligent creatures quickly realised that the fisheries, in fact, we’re not a family of whales and merely a collection of speakers. While sharks and sea lions are certainly physically and cognitively different creatures, we can assume that sharks may respond similarly.

 

5. Shark Spray? – Really?

Before heading out in the water, before to lather up with sunscreen and a bit of shark spray – really? However, there is some evidence that suggests that sharks have an aversion to the smell of dead relatives. SharkTec took a tip from Batman and Robin in creating their Anti-Shark 100.

So for an affordable $25 anti-shark spray carries an “essence of dead shark” – fragrance for men. Who doesn’t want to smell like a dead shark? Admittedly, the effects of Anti-Shark 100 are only temporary and will likely dissipate after some time spent in the ocean. Are these sprays designed to carry with you in the surf and release if you see a shark? Haha crazy concept, hard to sue them if you don’t live to tell the tale! lol.

So does shark spray really work? Maybe for Batman, but if you’re not a billionaire playboy from Gotham City, consider saving your cash.

 

So Do Shark Deterrents Really Work?

As stated, there’s a variety of different systems which claim to deter a shark attack. If you’re out in the water you might feel a tinge of the heebie-jeebies from time to time and carrying some form of Shark repellent might keep your demons at bay.

For better or worse, sharks are unpredictable creatures which may respond to different stimuli in a variety of different ways. If you’re looking for a true shark repellent, be sure to choose a system that offers peer-reviewed research on its effectiveness. That being said, you might just be the first failure of your chosen shark repellent.

Whatever shark repellent you choose, remember that no form of shark repellent is 100% effective. If you’re a casual surfer, you might save your cash or just stay out of the water. If you’re a diver, first-responder or professional rescuer, one of these tools might give you a little self-preservation in an emergency.

Written by Scott Shepherd.

As surfers sometimes we get caught up in our own world of chasing waves, which is all good and well, we know we like to switch off from the world any chance we can get.

But…

Whether you’re a weekend warrior or hardcore shredder it’s always good to keep up to date with what other surfers are putting down around the world.

Fortunately, there are plenty of websites available to keep you informed. From digital surf coaching such as OMBE to streaming websites such as Garage, the world’s most comprehensive adventure sports film, and tv library.

Not only do they get you frothing but they push your surfing to reach another level. One of the best ways to do this is to keep up to date with the latest in surfing and what other surfers are publishing online.

Here we lay down 13 of the best surf websites and blogs in no particular order to fuel your stoke and get you throwing more buckets and smacking more lips!

 

 

1. World Surf League

Number 1 on the list is a pure given. The WSL website is where we all go for live World Championship Tour (CT) event broadcasts.

Other than being on location it’s the only place you can see the best male and female surfers in the world compete live for a world title.

Literally the highest level in surfing entertainment, every world championship tour event is broadcasted live and is jam-packed full of surfing drama.

With the world’s best surfers doing mammoth airs to win heats, making the unmakeable barrels makeable and pushing the limits on what has never been done before in performance surfing to draw in even the shortest attention span.

 

Events

While also being home to all the necessary information, schedules, and regular updates on surfing’s other most popular events:

• Qualifying Series (QS)
• Big Wave Tour
• Junior Tour
• Long Board Tour
• Specialty Events

It’s the number 1 reason for a dramatic drop in productivity around the world if you work in an office whenever there’s a CT event.

Not only does the WSL site broadcast live CT surfing heats but a regular collection of highlight videos from past heats and events. Along with the biggest of surfing’s current events as well as the antics, pro surfers get up to on lay days.

Giving you a great insight into not only what pro surfers get up to other than surfing but the charismatic personalities that make up surfing’s pro tour and the great relationships they form outside of competing.

It’s a real insight into the true essence of surfing that is easily forgotten at times in crowded surfing areas around the world.

 

Big Wave Awards

WSL also has a page dedicated to the WSL big wave awards where you can check out the nominees pushing the absolute limits for each big wave category:

• Billabong Ride of the Year
• Biggest Paddle
• TAG Heuer XXL Biggest Wave
• Best Tube
• TAG Heuer Wipeout
• Men’s Performance
• Women’s Performance

 

Fantasy Surfing

Get involved with WSL’s fantasy surfing by picking your team of pro surfers for each CT event.

Create your own private league and invite your friends so you can compete against each other to see who picks the best surfers or join other leagues to match yourself against other surfers.

You are also given an event rank and overall rank against everyone in the world to see where you stand worldwide. It’s a whole lot of fun and makes every CT event even more fun when tuning in!

 

 

2. Surf Line

 

For everything surfing; live surf cams, reports, forecasts, videos, news, photos, travel, and more.

Surf Line has the most comprehensive range of surf reports and surf cams in the world with live surf cams worldwide in the most popular surfing destinations.

What makes it even better is that the website is well-organised, simple to use, and clearly communicated considering it caters to surfing worldwide. Get registered and check it out, particularly if there is a surf cam near you.

Not only will this save you time by checking that the surf is on before you skip the office but if you like the site and get used to it, it will be your go-to wherever you are in the world.

 

 

3. OMBE

 

Master Surf Coach, Shaper, and Ex-Pro Surfer Clayton Neinaber from OMBE (Ocean, Mind, Body, and Equipment) is one of the most knowledgeable surf coaches on the planet. Through the OMBE website, you can access surf training programs that get real results in your surfing.

Their 12 Week Accelerated Surfing Program focuses on revolutionary land and water-based training that will walk you through all of the training, theory, and drills each week. You can follow along each week or go at your own pace. The programs simulate surfing outside of the water, making it easier to develop muscle memory so that you can repeat the training in the water easier. This is the fastest way to improve your surfing. The programs are for all levels of surfers with multiple programs that will accelerate your surfing progression.

On top of the training programs, they break down the surfing of professionals and average surfers every week on their YouTube channel. These guys are pumping out the golden nuggets of information, whether it’s their programs, guides on the website, or YouTube. If you want to improve your surfing, then look no further.

 

 

4. Surf Careers

If you love surfing why not make a career out of it?

Surf Careers is a niche employment website for surfers. If you’re passionate about surfing and want to combine your passion with your work then register and set up a job alert to be notified when your dream job is posted.

It’s the only global employment site exclusively for Surf Industry professionals. Designed for Employers, Recruiters, and job seekers it’s the perfect platform to connect like-minded people looking to employ or be employed.

Get onto Surf Careers, even to just check it out. You never know it might just give you that surfing life you’ve always dreamed of.

 

 

5. Daily Surf Videos

As the Daily Surf Videos slogan goes “Surf Videos on Tap” that’s exactly what you can expect, nothing more nothing less.

As a surfer what more do you want when you’re not in the surf. Best of all it’s updated daily!

 

 

6. Red Bull Who is J.O.B.

Who is JOB? Inside the life of Jamie O’Brien.

Jamie O’Brien lives the dream. A champion pro surfer and one of the best barrel riders the world has ever seen. From the North Shore of Hawaii, he travels the world with a crew of friends that are down for whatever in a show that captures the craziness of his everyday life.

From crazy antics at Pipe to digging the river at Waimea to create the rippable river wave, the show is full of good times and plenty of amazing surfing.

Who is JOB? Watch and find out.

 

 

7. Real Surf Forum

The Real Surf Forum has a lot of input and engagement from the surfing community with well-known people such as Nick Carroll contributing regularly.

Register and share some positive input, become a contributor in a way that everyone benefits. If you’re new to surfing, this website can be a great starting point to learn the basics. Because of the community this website has, it’ll be easy for you to acquire valuable knowledge from experts and even ask questions from them as well.

Surfing forums have long been a channel for abuse where some force strong and stubborn opinions. Forums are generally unfiltered, which means that anyone can say anything they want. Thus, make sure you’re prepared for this kind of environment.

Go in with an open mind and you might just learn a lot from some credible people in the know within the surfing community.

 

 

8. Surf Science

Surf Science is a place to learn about surfing and surfboards. They bring knowledge from experts, shapers, coaches, and pros. Covering topics such as surfing tips, surfboard design and product reviews it’s is a great site to educate yourself on the aspects of surfing you may not be right up to speed on.

The content of Surf Science will help you know the basics of surfing, how you can deter sharks in the ocean, and even provide tips on the best surfing boards you should buy. Everything you’ll access from this website will ensure that you’ll be able to start on the right foot in surfing.
By better understanding the various aspects of surfing, even the simplest aspects, you will improve faster and have more fun in the water. Even Kelly Slater is still learning, the best always strive to be better!

They have an impressive directory with over 1,500 surfboard models and more than 5,000 user-generated reviews to help you find a surfboard that will work for you. By using their “Surfboard Match” tool that asks you a range of questions in regards to:

• Surfing conditions
• Surfing Profile
• Preferences

Based on the questions you answered, Surf Science suggests a range of suitable surfboards for you. It’s a quick bit of fun and may even open up you up to a different type of board you may never have considered.

 

 

9. Youtube

We can’t forget about Youtube. It’s everyone’s favourite go-to video option when all else fails on a flat day.

With 72 hours of video uploaded to YouTube every minute, there is literally an endless supply of surfing footage for you to dive into. Currently, there are about 70,400 results for “Andy Irons surfing” alone.

 

 

10. Garage

The world’s number one action-adventure sports channel and is jam-packed loaded with surfing.

Garage boasts the world’s most comprehensive adventure sports film and tv library, representing over 3,000 titles including many of the most well-known and loved brands in the space. Best of all Garage has 310 of the all-time best surfing movies ready for your viewing pleasure with a reasonable subscription price.

Garage produces award-winning feature films and TV shows which are offered exclusively first on our own platform.

On the Garage site, you have a number of options:

1 – RENT
Simply select the rental option for a movie and you will be directed to the payment page. Fill out the details and pay securely with a credit card or PayPal, and you will then be able to watch the movie for 24 hours. It’s that simple!

2 – SUBSCRIBE
Simply select the subscription option when you want to watch a movie and you will be directed to the payment page. Fill out the details and pay securely with a credit card or PayPal for a recurring monthly period, and you will then be able to watch hundreds of films at your leisure!

3 – FREE MOVIES!
Occasionally Garage may provide some movies or TV programs for free on the site. You can enjoy these at no cost (other than any data charges which may apply between yourself and your Internet Service Provider ISP).
It’s that simple. And if you do decide to subscribe and watch as much as you want, remember you can cancel at any time as there are no lock-in contracts.

 

 

11. Surf Strength Coach

If you are looking to improve your surfing like most surfers then look no further! Cris Mills is an extremely qualified and passionate surfing guru that helps surfers of all levels increase their surfing performance.

His website is a goldmine of surfing-specific information that will take your surfing to the next level and beyond. Take a look at his Instagram account as well, he is very active there also with a tonne of useful advice.

 

 

12. Surfer Magazine

Another great surfing website that provides a tonne of surfing resources. Have a rummage through their content and geek out on the articles that fuel your froth. They include breaking news with in-depth scoops on the latest news, videos, features, forums, and more.

All in all, it is a huge website with a tonne of surfing value, just what you would expect from a brand that has been around since 1962!

 

 

13. Stab

The number 1 place to go for trending surf articles. Stab gets the low down on high-performance surfing and is never afraid to go the distance for any controversial stories.

Check them out they love a story!

 

 

14. Surfers Hype Magazine

Surfers Hype Magazine; is a surf blog where newcomers can learn about every aspect of surfing. From surf gear and surf techniques to surf training and surf travel. While the experienced surfer will enjoy the comprehensive product reviews, surf culture stories, and updates from The Championship Tour.

It’s a relatively new blog founded in late 2020. Surfers Hype brings a new and exciting energy to the industry with the surf community embracing their entry, making it one of the fastest growing and best surf websites.

But, Surfers Hype is more than just a blog. It’s an online community for everyone with a passion for surfing. The website is well designed, and the content is structured in a very user-friendly way, making the overall experience excellent. Their content appeals to a broad audience, and it’s difficult not to get stoked when reading their latest blog posts.

The original content and diversity in the way they create content make it one of the best surf blogs to follow. Check them out and help spread the hype!

 

What Website Should You Visit First?

There are countless websites for surfers available on the World Wide Web, which means that regardless of your experience or goal, there will always be a platform that fits your needs. With the number of options available, you might feel that you’re bombarded with too many options.

If you’re having a hard time deciding which website to visit first, read reviews and ask referrals from your friends and family who are also into surfing. The more you know, the easier it’ll be for you to narrow down your options, allowing you to end up creating an account on a website that suits your needs.

 

In Conclusion

This list of our top 14 picks of the best surf blogs and websites so far is sure to get you amping and ready to chase more waves than ever, even on the days when a grovel is required. We are all here to learn more and surf better so if you can pick up one valuable tip from this article then we’ll be stoked!