Bathroom Accessories
Basins
Baths
Cabinets
Mirrors
Showers
Bathroom Taps
Toilets & Bidets
Wall Tiles
Floor Tiles
Feature Tiles
Taps
Kitchen Sinks
Floor Tiles
Mosaic Tiles
Outdoor Tiles
Swimming Pool Coping
Natural Stone Cladding
Swimming Pool Mosaic Tiles
Over the past few years, we’ve been riveted by the fin-tastic adventures and discoveries of the fearless team of ocean experts and shark conservationists led by Marine Biologist Dr Sara Andreotti. We have proudly supported their important work and continue to do so, thanks to you, our Italstylistas: every time you purchase a stunning Tivoli tap, we donate R2 to the SharkWise Project. We thank you. Dr Sara thanks you. And, no doubt, in their own way, the sharks thank you, too. You’re doing your bit to protect the only home they will ever know.
Encountering a shark while swimming can evoke a wide range of reactions: fear and panic, surprise and awe, or calm observation. We’re prepared to bet most of us fall into the “fear and panic” category. That’s why it’s important to have a read of Dr Sara’s latest SharkNotes.
Dr Andreotti’s latest edition of SharkNotes gives us some pointers on what to do next time we drift into the path of one of the ocean’s most endangered sea shepherds.
#10 MARCH 2025: IN THE WATER WITH SHARKS: SOME DOS AND DON’TS
“What must I do if I see a shark?” this is by far the most-asked question I receive from people fascinated by sharks.
The greatest answer to this question I have ever heard (and have made mine ever since) came from Cristina Zenato (https://cristinazenato.com/), a scuba diving instructor who has been working and diving with sharks for more than 30 years. Her answer, straight away, is “Well, it depends on the shark, there are 500 different species of sharks, and we simply can’t generalise”.
Most people when saying the word “shark”, think about the shark portrayed and dramatised in the movie Jaws. They think about the triangular dorsal fin cutting through the water’s surface and a large torpedo-like animal coming out of nowhere. In truth, some sharks don’t even have a dorsal fin.
Photo of a seven gill cow shark: a prehistoric-looking species which doesn’t have a dorsal fin. Photographed in False Bay, Cape Town, in 2012. Photo credit: Jan de Bruyn (www.diveteam.co.za)
The vast majority of sharks are completely harmless to humans, so another right answer to “what must I do if I see a shark?” is “just take a good picture!”. Whether we will encounter the cutest puffadder shy sharks, or the largest (and without teeth) whale sharks, we are in the presence of some of the most ancient species living on our planet and, staring in awe of their elegance and taking a picture is the least we should do!
The stats speak clearly: there are, on average, in the world, only 7 to 8 shark-related fatalities and for vast majority of time a shark, even a large one, will avoid getting closer to people. We are really not part of their diet and they simply don’t recognize us as preys.
But here are a few dos and don’ts when encountering large sharks. We still need to respect the predatory role they have in their environment, and it is our responsibility to minimise the chances of having a negative interaction with them.
A close-up photo of a sand tiger shark (also called ragged-tooth shark) calmly swimming above me, during a scuba diving excursion in Aliwal Shoal. Photo credit: Sara Andreotti (www.sharkwiseproject.com)
The first rule is to check with local knowledge: local dive centres are the first place to approach; the Ocean is an unpredictable environment, vastly different from one area to the next. Checking with the local ocean-goers or, ideally, being guided by them, is the safest route to minimise accidents. Ask for the weather conditions, ask for guidance, and check the track record of the dive centres. Especially when diving with sharks it is key to be guided by local experts that have been doing so for several years. Even the same species of shark can behave differently in different areas.
If your plan is to just get your toes in the water – you don’t plan to scuba dive or to go on a snorkelling excursion, and you know that this is an area with large sharks – here are a few SharkWise Tips to remember before entering the water:
- If there are local lifeguards on the beach on duty, ask them first and listen to local knowledge.
- Check the time. Large sharks hunt early morning and late evening when the sun is low on the horizon. We are not part of their diet, but the risk of mistakes is higher during their hunting hours.
- Check the sky and check the water. If the sky is cloudy and the water visibility is poor, there is a higher risk of negative encounters with sharks. Poorer visibility affects sharks' accuracy on prey. But they like to hunt in poor visibility to improve their chances of success. They don’t recognise us as part of their diet, but in bad visibility, mistakes are more likely to happen.
- Check if there is action in the water: a lot of marine birds hunting often indicate the presence of fish schools, which attract marine mammals and sharks. Especially in bad visibility, this can improve the chances of negative shark interactions;
- Dress up for the occasion: think about a fish lure, and try not to dress the same way. Especially in areas with poor water visibility, shiny and glimmery objects many attract a shark's attention. Try to avoid colours with the highest contrast, such as yellow, white and silver, especially if they reflect the light. Dull and dark colours will attract less attention from curious marine predators.
And here just three key safety tips to remember after you are in the water, and you see a large shark (unless it is a whale shark or a basking shark – which are large but harmless and toothless):
- Remember not to panic: we are not part of their food chain, so unless we start acting like their prey, they will just keep on swimming;
- Remember to keep an eye on the shark and stand your ground. When the shark will swim away from you, start to slowly swim back to shore. When the shark is swimming towards you, stand still, hold your ground, and turn to face him. If the shark is swimming towards you and it comes too close, make yourself bigger by suddenly opening your arms or extending your legs in the water column; this will reduce the chances of a shark making contact with you.
Bonus SharkSafe tips:
- If you have a camera and you want to take a picture, do so, but do not chase after the shark. The shark might perceive this as an aggressive motion and defend itself.
On the other hand, if you are part of the increasing group of people becoming fascinated by these animals, try to put you and the sharks in the conditions to meet each other in a safe way.
Stay tuned for Dr. Andreotti’s next installment of SharkNotes, which will be part 2 of this topic, covering HOW TO SCUBA DIVE WITH SHARKS.
Validate your login