The ocean is home to an incredible range of marine life—some of which can harm humans. While shark attacks may capture headlines, there are many other risks posed by marine animals. Spearfishers and divers must remain alert and respectful of the marine environment at all times.
🧠 General Awareness
Many marine creatures can cause injury through bites, stings, or venom. These include:
- Biting creatures: Sharks, crocodiles, large fish like barracouta and billfish.
- Stinging animals: Jellyfish (especially Irukandji and box jellyfish), stingrays.
- Venomous species: Blue-ringed octopus, cone shells, stonefish, seasnakes, lionfish, rabbitfish, red rock cod, bullrout, numb rays, and certain types of jellyfish and fish.
- Ciguatera risk: Be aware of regional ciguatera poisoning hotspots and avoid eating high-risk reef species.
⚠️ Rule of thumb: If you’re unsure about a creature—don’t touch it and leave the water.
🎯 Shooting Large or Aggressive Fish
Large or aggressive species may pose increased risk during and after capture. Follow these precautions:
- Always wear a sharp dive knife to cut yourself free if entangled.
- Swim along your line when retrieving a catch to avoid getting caught in loops.
- Play out green or powerful fish before bringing them close.
- Use caution with fish like Spanish mackerel and wahoo – their teeth can cause injury even after death. Always handle by grasping inside the gills, fingers behind the head.
- Be extra cautious with barracuda, sharks, and sailfish – they may charge or thrash.
- When dispatching large fish, beware of knife injuries – soft-headed species like tuna and Spanish mackerel can cause the blade to slip.
- Kill your catch quickly using Iki Jime to reduce blood and vibrations that attract sharks.
- Learn from real incidents like the entanglement shown in Darren Shields’ “Beyond the Reef” where a large dogtooth tuna tangled multiple divers.
👕 Protective Equipment & Best Practice
- Wear full-length wetsuits for protection from stingers and sunburn.
- Be familiar with dangerous species in your local area, including stingrays, moray eels, sea urchins, seasnakes, and cone shells.
- Check crevices carefully before reaching in for lobsters—eels and wobbegongs may be hiding.
- Avoid touching any marine creature unnecessarily, especially wobbegongs, which can bite if disturbed.
- Assess shark risks in your area – for example, Coral Sea waters are typically riskier than Sydney.
🦈 Shark Awareness & Safety
⚖️ Risk Perspective
Shark attack is one of the most feared hazards, but it is rare. Statistically, fatalities are less than one in a million. By comparison, shallow water blackout causes significantly more deaths among divers.
However, spearfishing increases shark interactions due to noise, blood, and vibrations. Understand and respect this risk while maintaining perspective.
- More people and more protected sharks (e.g., great whites) have led to a global increase in encounters.
- For further information, consult the International Shark Attack File (ISAF).
✅ Shark Safety Tips for Spearfishers
- Aim for a kill shot when spearing fish. If unsuccessful, bring your catch up slowly and dispatch it with a knife.
- Tow your catch at least 20–25 metres behind you on a float (e.g., a boogie board).
- Never keep fish near your body while in the water.
- Use a Shark Shield or deterrent device.
- Exit the water immediately if a large shark is sighted. Call the safety boat and get out.
- Never swim alone, especially at dawn, dusk, night, or in murky waters.
- Avoid seal colonies where predatory sharks may be active.
- Always dive in pairs or groups.
🧭 What to Do If You Encounter a Shark
Stay calm. Most sharks are curious and will leave on their own.
If you’re holding a catch:
- Release it and quietly exit the area.
- The shark is likely attracted to your activity—not you.
If the shark approaches:
- Stay still or back away slowly while maintaining eye contact.
- Keep your dive buddy close.
- If in a group, form a tight cluster – sharks are less likely to attack multiple divers.
If the shark shows aggression:
- Watch for warning signs: rapid zigzag movement, back hunched, pectoral fins lowered.
- Back up against reef or rocks to limit its approach angles.
- In open water, go back-to-back with your buddy and slowly ascend toward the boat.
If attacked:
- Defend yourself aggressively – aim for the nose, gills, or eyes.
- Use any gear (speargun, camera, fins) to fend it off.
- Do not play dead.
- If bitten and released, exit the water immediately – sharks may return once blood is in the water.
SPEARSAFE CONTENTS
Australian Underwater Federation - Spearfishing 