Australians like to play down danger.
This is no surprise really, given the number of creatures they share their land with which could slay them in one bite or sting. They even have a bird that could kill you, for God's sake.
So, although everyone knows the sharks are out there, it's not stopping anyone from going in the water.
Until now, at least.
Recently we have had 3 attacks in as many weeks, one of them a great white on a beach local to us. There have been more sightings than usual from the spotter planes, and anecdotally, people are reporting far more interruptions to their enjoyment of the sand, sea and surf by the shark alarms.
We are told that improvements to the water quality and the establishment of a number of aquatic marine reserves along the coast are to blame. With the cleaner water come more fish, and with more fish come more predators. It's a feeding frenzy, and if you are looking anything like something tasty for a passing shark to nibble on, you are in trouble.
The people who look most like something worth nibbling on are the surfers. Apparently their boards make them look like seals from below, and there is nothing a shark likes more for supper than a nice, rubbery seal. Most shark attacks are on surfers, who tend to be in the water at dawn and dusk, when they get the best waves. It's also when sharks feed. You'd think then, that surfers would be starting to take the hint....but no. In true Aussie style, when the alarms go off, the swimmers duck out, and the surfers ignore it. And despite the 4 or five beaches surrounding Avalon, where the latest attack took place, were closed for 2 days while the authorities looked for the offending great white - the surfers were still in the water.
And despite the warnings about being in the water at dawn and dusk, it's still the busiest surfing time of day.
For me, it hasn't helped my nervousness about the sea in general. You don't generally get a warning when there is a shark about, unless you are lucky enough to be in the water when the spotter plane goes over. And don't be thinking that you'll see the fin like in Jaws. You NEVER see the fin. Sharks attack from below, and the first you'll know about it is when you feel the bite. Interestingly, once they've taken a few bites and discovered that you are not in fact a seal or any other fish, they will usually discard you - but by then it's too late.
So, should you visit Australia whilst we have these unusual numbers of sharks around, you should remember the following:
Don't do anything that might make you look a bit like a seal. If you look a bit like a seal whenever you put your swimmers on - stay away from the water!
Always swim on a patrolled beach in between the flags. This is where the most swimmers are, and statistics tell us that someone else will look like a seal before you do.
Never get in the water at dawn or dusk, unless you are prepared to be a shark smorgasbord.
Try not to swim with seals. I say this because at the moment there is an advert on TV trying to persuade you to go on holiday to South Australia by showing how you can swim with seals. Are they mad?
This has been a public service broadcast.....
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