The 11-time world champion and GOAT of surfing explains what to do (and what not to do) if you encounter a shark in the water.
Surfing legend Kelly Slater’s surprising shark advice: “I don’t care what your instincts tell you”
Legendary surfer Kelly Slater, an eleven-time world champion and one of the sport’s most iconic figures, has offered a piece of advice that’s raised more than a few eyebrows: when faced with a shark in the water, don’t flee – confront it. “You have to face the shark. I don’t care what your instincts tell you, face the shark. It’s predator or prey,” Slater says in a video that’s recently resurfaced on social media.
What to do if a shark comes at you?
According to the Florida-born surfer, simply making eye contact with the animal can be enough to discourage an attack. “If a shark realizes it’s been seen, the whole dynamic changes. It slows down, calms down. You’re no longer easy prey,” he explained. He even drew a comparison with other animals, like with lions. When they know they’re being watched, everything changes.
Still active at 53, though no longer competing in the top division of world surfing, Slater remains a respected authority in the sport. He insists his approach isn’t just born from personal experience but also from observing divers and marine scientists in places like Hawaii. “I’ve seen some of the people who swim with the tigers and they do this experiment to film and show... They swim away splashing and the shark comes at them quick. As soon as they turn around and face them, they slow down,” he said.
The GOAT of surfing stressed, however, that the safest move is always to get out of the water if possible. But in extreme situations, looking the shark in the eye might make all the difference. It’s not about challenging the shark, he explains, it’s about showing you’re not prey.
It’s advice that might sound reckless to some, but coming from a man who’s spent more time in the ocean than most people spend on land, it carries the weight of experience – and perhaps, a touch of the fearlessness that defines his legacy.
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