Today! SCUBA Diving Magazine shared an article about a new shark deterrent product that is backed by research conducted by Shark Defense Technologies. The new wristbands, and the manufacturing company that makes them, are called Sharkbanz. Using 'patented magnetic technologies,' these bands supposedly interfere with sharks' electromagnetic receptors at the tip of the animals' snout. The bands are intended to deter a curious shark from getting too close to swimmers, surfers, or divers. If you so choose, here are several links to familiarize yourself with the dazzling wrist bling.
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| http://www.scubadiving.com/gear/accessories/sharkbanz-shark-repelling-wristband http://www.sharkdefense.com/shark-repellent-technologies/magnetic-shark-repellent/ http://www.sharkbanz.com/ |
The real point of this blog post: I couldn't care less about the product; it's about how people have responded to the post. Typically the internet is filled with trolling ignorant pessimists that have a comment for everything to bring down your day. But today! A slight hope for humanity has been revealed through the encouraging and appreciative responses to Sharkbanz.
It seems as though most SCUBA divers have a very different view on underwater shark encounters, myself included. We believe that seeing sharks while diving is exhilarating, a sign of healthy ecosystems, and much safer than our topside friends would expect. Every dive that I get to see a shark is a reminder of the true beauty of these ancient oceanic predators, and it is an encouraging sign that man has not yet managed to decimate all wild shark populations.
My favorite is the desire for a "shark attracting band." Brings me back to the day I spent physically splashing around a barred metal platform with bluefish chunks clouding the good visibility of the open ocean. Clapping the water and repeatedly clanging the steel bars was my idea of how to attract sharks. However childish, my thoughts were that strange sounds carry much farther underwater than our chum slick and that anything out there would come to investigate. The good news? We got to see about eight blue sharks! Even a fin whale stopped by! :)
Today, the comments left by fellow ocean and shark enthusiasts reassured me that the underlying social perception of sharks IS changing. The rational human fear of 'what lies beneath' will always persist in a dark and murky ocean environment, yet sharks are now emerging as the misunderstood creatures that deserve our respect instead of our hooks. More people now recognize that sharks are an integral part of the food chain and the ocean ecosystem! We are in their environment. Many species of shark can be dangerous to humans, but that doesn't mean we cannot have positive underwater encounters. Many animal species are far more dangerous, yet people choose to love them and appreciate the animals for their place in the world.
Though the science behind Sharkbanz may be sound, the product's viability and functionality is slightly blurred. HowEveRrrr... if wearing this wristband makes swimmers feel more secure, it may foster a growing relationship between the feared shark and an individual. To me, it is not about the product, but instead about a growing appreciation for nature and a positive awareness on how humans and sharks can interact.
Cheers to the ocean education movement! Let's go diving!
