Whether you’re an experienced swimmer or a beach-goer newbie, one’s heart can’t help but skip a beat when you hear the shark siren. As South Africa has a wide variety of sparkling waters by beaches to enjoy, you’ll need to know what course of action to follow if you hear the shark alarm.
Unsplash/Chase Baker
Are you unsure how to keep your cool when you hear the shrill siren that indicates there is a shark in the waters? Here are a few things to keep in mind when this event occurs.
When does the siren go off? – What to keep in mind
It’s important to note when and why the shark siren goes off. Firstly, a shark siren does not go off for every shark species that is spotted. Most shark species do not pose an immediate threat to humans. In regards to dangerous shark species in South Africa, the shark siren will go off when a great white shark is spotted in the area.
Keep close to shore
While this is a more general rule to follow, if you’re scared a shark alarm might go off, it would be better if you’re closer to the beach. This way, you’ll have ample time to make your way out of the water without feeling you have to swim for your life.
As shark attacks have a tendency and are reported to more often than not take place 30 meters from the shore, you’ll also feel safer if you keep to shallower waters.
Get out of the water calmly
You might be tempted to get out of the water in a fast and splash-frenzy fashion, but this is not advised. While you should make your way to the beach immediately, do so calmly to attract the least attention to yourself when you’re in the waters.
Take note of the flag system
Beyond the siren wailing, you’ll notice a white flag waving. This is to indicate that a shark has been spotted, and the water should be vacated immediately.
Once the shark has left the area, the white flag will change from white to red. The red flag indicates that the area has high shark activity but no immediate danger. Here are a few other flag colours to look out for and what they mean:
- Green flag – visibility of water is great, and no shark activity has been spotted.
- Black flag – visibility of the water is poor, so no clear activity can be reported.
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