Shark Shield Presentation @ Red Triangle Spearfishing

 Question: As I too have been pondering the Shark Shield debate, I just keep asking myself, "If I had a fish finder, could I just spot it as easily???". Bare in mind, I do not have a fish finder, so not super up to snuff on their operation. But if it can see bait fish, why not a 15' GWS???

Question: As I too have been pondering the Shark Shield debate, I just keep asking myself, "If I had a fish finder, could I just spot it as easily???". Bare in mind, I do not have a fish finder, so not super up to snuff on their operation. But if it can see bait fish, why not a 15' GWS???

It could see it ... but then what?  A Shark Shield is not in play to detect a shark but rather detour it.

I was doing some research on shark deterrents and one company said that their product does not work on GWS attacks. The company was slightly different.  They had ankle and wrist bands for surfers/divers that let out an electric pulse that deterred sharks.  They have guranteed it on all sharks but GWS.  The reason being, that when GWS attack it is usually an ambush at high speeds, keeping them from being deterred.  It worked on sharks that were doing drive bys or checking out their possible prey.  Below is what is from the SharkBanz website.  Does Shark Shield work in similar ways?

Do Sharkbanz prevent Great White Shark attacks?

Great Whites are unique in that they are the only shark that acts as an ambush predator, attacking from a long distance at high speed. There is no effective way to prevent this type of ambush attack. However, Great Whites rely heavily on their electromagnetic sense when swimming in open water, and Sharkbanz could effectively deter an investigating Great White.

I was doing some research on shark deterrents and one company said that their product does not work on GWS attacks. The company was slightly different.  They had ankle and wrist bands for surfers/divers that let out an electric pulse that deterred sharks.  They have guranteed it on all sharks but GWS.  The reason being, that when GWS attack it is usually an ambush at high speeds, keeping them from being deterred.  It worked on sharks that were doing drive bys or checking out their possible prey.  Below is what is from the SharkBanz website.  Does Shark Shield work in similar ways?

Do Sharkbanz prevent Great White Shark attacks?

Great Whites are unique in that they are the only shark that acts as an ambush predator, attacking from a long distance at high speed. There is no effective way to prevent this type of ambush attack. However, Great Whites rely heavily on their electromagnetic sense when swimming in open water, and Sharkbanz could effectively deter an investigating Great White.

y'know I used to skeptical about this as well (& I did an undergrad thesis of 80pgs on the behavior of these animals).
mY 2 cents is this: Often a GWS will scope out a potential prey item by cruising unobserved before setting up for an attack. They are, generally, very conservative creatures. They do not want to be injured. Sometimes they will bump or mouth an item to see if it edible. Anything that seems off or unnatural may make them abort. I believe the SS does do that, as nothing in the shark's natural world issues such electric pulses.
My own personal experience in the ocean has been being thoroughly scoped by a shark for about 15-20 seconds (maybe it was longer, it felt like an hour ), with 2 drive-bys and then following me as i slowly paddled into shallower water, and then early this year having a 12ft shark breach between me & my buddy after it aborted a full speed prey attack, probably targeted on my buddies hobie.
I think in both of these instances a SS would have been nice to have.
This said, i do not think anything will stop a charging shark of size once it has completely committed. There is also the chance that rather a flight fear response, the shark may have an aggressive fear response (such as with an infamous attack off at bean Hollow).
so you buys yer ticket and you takes your chances either way, i think the SS is just a little insurance to stack the odds slightly more in favor of the kayaker.
I am paddling with one these days, so my personal field research in still ongoing.