Stay away from the mouths of rivers after heavy rain. Also avoid fishing boats, which trail fish chum. If you are bleeding, stay out of the water, as sharks can smell blood from more than a mile away. Avoid groups of seals, fish and sea lions. Stay away from dolphins and sea birds, which eat what sharks eat.
Stay out of the ocean at dawn, dusk and night. Do not wear shiny jewelry or bright clothes. Avoid a lot of splashing, which attracts sharks because they think something is injured. Don't go too far from shore, which puts you farther from help and increases your chance of an encounter.
Use your camera or anything at hand to gouge at the eyes or tear at the gills of an attacking shark. Your hands are a last resort -- a camera can be easily replaced. If the shark bites you, do not play dead. This is a myth and does not help. Instead, be as aggressive as you can. Typically, a shark will bite only once, so if you can break free, get to shore quickly, but stay on the defensive. Once ashore, stop the bleeding as quickly as you can and seek help. You also need to stay warm during the shock that follows major trauma.
