Surfing today I was left out the back with my three surf buddies trying to tell me they'd seen a shark. They were waving me in and I was looking into the sun trying to make out what they were saying. I figured three surfers all getting out at once meant that probably I too should evacuate the water.
It made me think that we need some sort of signal that means "Get out of the water now" for use in a shark sighting or some other emergency. The SLSC ones are a little contradictory so I'm suggesting some possible signals.
I would have thought a mass exodus at near light speed in a blur of arms, legs, paddle, and survival of the fittest would be enough to go, ahhh maybe I should get out the water When kitesurfing we put a hand above our head like a fin to signal shark.
Hey Pete, I'm sure it was just kelp... We spent most of Sunday arvo supping the boat shed. We were told afterwards that there was a sighting there a week ago - I'd rather not know.
Around here bronze whalers don't seem to have too much effect at all .I've seen surfers stay in the water while the shark spotter plane circles overhead with the siren going,if the surf is good.A Great White and it's pretty much every man for himself,a good way to find out who your real friends are.No signal needed.At least on a sup you may get a glimpse or see it coming(maybe too late then).I will take the sup out to spots that seem spooky on the longboard,and stay out until it gets really dark,something I would never do prone.Being up above sea level gives that sense of a little security,rightly or wrongly.There is a utube video of a South African getting out of the boat and paddling a sup around a 4 metre white ,something I am guessing he would not do lying on the board.There was a tense moment when he got the wobbles up.As for a signal ,around here if everyone is waving from the beach maybe think about going in.
Even the word shark is not that effective as it sounds too much like the word that starts with F.
I was out at Pambula beach having a lovely late arvo session recently with only myself and and a shortboarder out. I was about 15 metres away from him when I heard him yell out what I thought was a rude word, because he'd wiped out or something. As I continued to paddle out for another wave I noticed quite a large dorsal fin slowly cruising toward me, it was sticking out of the water a good 2 and a half feet, so it was pretty surreal, as I held my breath waiting to see if it was going to bob up and down like a mammal, part of my brain realised "Oh, he yelled Shark......."
By then my missus was screaming her head off on the beach, standing next to the now safe and sound shortboarder who had bellied straight into the beach. I think my reaction was very different to what it would have been on a shortboard. I've often wondered whether I would hang around with a big fish in the water when I'm on a SUP, I certainly didn't feel like it then, but rather than do a flat out panic paddle to the beach, my instincts were screaming at me not to take my eyes off it, which was hard while I was trying to get in at the same time. If I was in the water on a shortboard, no question, I would have been windmilling to the beach like crazy.
Anyhow, it was not a mammal, but I did go back in at the same spot next morning, head swivelling a bit more than usual.
Around here bronze whalers don't seem to have too much effect at all .I've seen surfers stay in the water while the shark spotter plane circles overhead with the siren going,if the surf is good.A Great White and it's pretty much every man for himself,a good way to find out who your real friends are.No signal needed.At least on a sup you may get a glimpse or see it coming(maybe too late then).I will take the sup out to spots that seem spooky on the longboard,and stay out until it gets really dark,something I would never do prone.Being up above sea level gives that sense of a little security,rightly or wrongly.There is a utube video of a South African getting out of the boat and paddling a sup around a 4 metre white ,something I am guessing he would not do lying on the board.There was a tense moment when he got the wobbles up.As for a signal ,around here if everyone is waving from the beach maybe think about going in.
bronze whalers over here seem to be mostly non threatening & just passing by
Ive been out kiting while a mate surfed at suffolk park, i saw a fin and went to explore... a 1 meter thick white was cruising about 10m from him.. i yelled shark, did the fin thing over ur head like when diving... he didnt move ... kited over, he says, yeah i saw it... u reckon i should go in.... i say probably...
same bloke, same scenario... i see a bronze while kiting, we both head in... about an hour later we figure its gone, so go tow surfing.... im in the water about to have firt run... he calmly says... might head in aye... so i do a start and tow to beach... he then tells me the bronze had a mate and was heading straight towards me...
not really relevant to signals... just funny shark stories..
must confess once at makorori point saw something come out of the water and thought "thats a funny looking seal" and then realised it was a bronze swimming towards me looking like a predator generally non threatening "unless provoked" :)
We spent most of Sunday arvo supping the boat shed. We were told afterwards that there was a sighting there a week ago - I'd rather not know.
