Shark Shield

Anybody have any thoughts on this? Does it really work? I've heard it can actually attract sharks from far away, but once closer the shark gets agitated. This wouldn't bode well for diving with a buddy who didn't have one.

Thanks for any tips.
Andrew

Red lights stop traffic most of the time.....

It's worked so far!

Does tend to shock me when I grab my game clip, but it's not bad.

But seriously, I don't expect it to stop a 1000lb freight train in the middle of a full on charge, but I could see it discouraging any from nosing around and taking a taste-test.

Pardon my ignorance, but what is a shark shield?

A $600 stop signal.

Wow that is so ironic that you posted this because I was just doing research on this.  Looks like they have been tested in south africa on great whites with 100 percent results.  The waters were heavily baited and it detured every shark. A lot of research has been done at the aquarium because it was thought the electrical impulses from the pumps and electronic equipment was the reason captured whites were not feeding.  There are restricions on use in a confined environment with diving situations but otherwise I think it wouldn't be a bad investment for kayakers.

Pardon my ignorance, but what is a shark shield?

A $600 stop signal.

Here's a previous thread on it and the company website:
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,11728.0.html
http://www.sharkshield.com/Content/Home/

a big shark attacking from underneath that's moving fast enough to get airborne it's hard to imagine it would even notice it before it hit

Yep, that seems to be the biggest question about it.

Pardon my ignorance, but what is a shark shield?

A $600 stop signal.

Here's a previous thread on it and the company website:
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,11728.0.html
http://www.sharkshield.com/Content/Home/

a big shark attacking from underneath that's moving fast enough to get airborne it's hard to imagine it would even notice it before it hit

Yep, that seems to be the biggest question about it.

This brings up a good point though. Most people agree it will deter a shark that is stopping by to investigate.

We as kayakers probably resemble a dead floating object that a shark will come up and investigate. Something like a bear sniffing and opening an ice chest. If we were faster moving in an erratic pattern it might induce the hunting instinct.

-Brian G

I agree with Brian, the product isn't intended on stopping a full charge 10 feet from it hitting you, it is intended to keep their natural investigation instinct at bay which accounts for a very large percentage of attacks.   


Jeff B.

This brings up a good point though. Most people agree it will deter a shark that is stopping by to investigate.

We as kayakers probably resemble a dead floating object that a shark will come up and investigate. Something like a bear sniffing and opening an ice chest. If we were faster moving in an erratic pattern it might induce the hunting instinct.

I agree with Brian, the product isn't intended on stopping a full charge 10 feet from it hitting you, it is intended to keep their natural investigation instinct at bay which accounts for a very large percentage of attacks.

Fair enough. If I were getting in the water a lot (i.e. diving), I would consider the Shield, and if I had the extra cash to spend on it. Otherwise, it doesn't seem like it would do much for kayakers who generally stay in/on their boats.

future headline reads:  "Dead free diver found electrocuted"

a device called a sharkshield was found on the diver.  Investigators speculate a manufacturers defect caused the battery to discharge its entire load in seconds, leading to the fatality.

Apparently the guys in Hawaii & the tropics swear by the shield to ward off Tiger sharks.
Tigers have a different feeding pattern than Whites, so I can understand how the device would work well on them.
While I'm not currently motivated to drop the $ on the shield, I do like paddling close to EricB when I fish

Apparently the guys in Hawaii & the tropics swear by the shield to ward off Tiger sharks.
Tigers have a different feeding pattern than Whites, so I can understand how the device would work well on them.
While I'm not currently motivated to drop the $ on the shield, I do like paddling close to EricB when I fish

The little tingly feeling that comes from the scupper holes? 

-Brian G

If you have your legs in the water you can feel it...  not like touching 110V, but more like a pulsing sensation.

Battery seems to last 6-7 hrs, btw.

Pardon my ignorance, but what is a shark shield?

a big shark attacking from underneath that's moving fast enough to get airborne it's hard to imagine it would even notice it before it hit

Yep, that seems to be the biggest question about it.

Very valid point, and my biggest question about the product as well. However, have you seen the footage from the "seal popper" that Discovery Channel towed behind their boat in South Africa? In quite a few cases, a very fast approaching GWS veered off at the last moment. Literally feet away.  Apparently sharks sensed something about the "seal" was wrong. I'd think a little electromagnetic pulse would definitely tell the landlord that this particular object falls in the "not food" category.

If you read the actual accounts of the kayak attacks here in NorCal, there are definitely some boats that have been hit in full on predatory events. I'm not sure if this was the case for Dan though. I read that he wound up out of the boat, but did he go flying, or did he get knocked over right next to the kayak?