Shark Attacks on the Rise; Avoid Being a Victim Yourself

Going to a beach is a given when you're on vacation in Australia. However, all over the world, many beach-goers forget basic shark safety.

For me, even the though of sharks slipped my mind as I waded out into the gorgeous blue water on a New South Wales beach. As soon as I swam out to deeper water, I noticed people moving closer to the shore. I looked around and saw blue water. Suddenly, I felt a sharp, burning sensation on my lower left leg. I yelped out for help as I panicked and swam as fast as I could to the shore, leaving a small trail of blood behind me. I laid down on the sand and examined my leg. The marks left on my leg clearly indicated a shark bite, but not one of a full grown shark. A local on the beach informed me that they were the marks of a Grey Nurse Shark, a smaller shark native to Australia.

I was lucky, I had survived and pretty much walked away from what could have been a deadly situation. According to USA Today, David Martin, a 66-year-old San Diego resident, died recently after a violent shark attack in the Southern California city. Martin, however, was reportedly attacked by a Great White Shark, a large variety of Shark that is known to be more prominent near beaches during the months of April and May. Great White Shark tooth fragments were taken from Martin's leg during an official investigation of the tragic incident. Just recently the beach where the attack occurred re-opened to the public. Needless to say, many people are taking precautions when returning back to the water.

Beach goers are left to wonder if their favorite spots are no longer safe for them or their families. Evidently, shark attacks can be easily avoided. Here are some extremely important tips:

1) You should never swim after sunset. Being able to observe the area you're in means you're more likely to be safe from dangerous animals. Additionally, sharks hunt moreso when it is dark out in order to sneak up on their prey.

2) Secondly, never swim alone. Sharks' natural instinct is to attack lone prey and avoid prey that is grouped together with others. Sharks will often go for easy targets, so avoid putting yourself in this position.