Surfing in Australia and Bali

[bucky1]

Hey Guys,

My parents have promised me a surf trip to Australia and possibly Bali if I can pull all A's this semester and recently I have been doing some research and alot of people are saying how sharky Australia is and I'm getting a little nervous. Are there alot of sharks in Australia as compared to Florida? How about Bali? What can I do to protect myself? I have heard of a little box like thing that you put near your fins on your board, and it is supposed to emitt electric pulses to ward off sharks do these work? Thanks.

Respectfully,
Bucky

[billie_morini]

Don't get uptight! Get straight A's, man!

Florida is every bit as sharky as Oz. Those tiger sharks in FL are plain mean.
Click this for world map and attach data:
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/st ... /World.htm

Then click this (or US on map at link above) to see FL has 637 documented attacks from 1670 to 2010:
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/st ... mapusa.htm

Then click this (or Oz on map at 1st link above) to see Oz has 488 documented attacks from 1700 to 2011:
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/st ... /MapAU.htm

Bali? Use same website, click on Asia, do some interpretation because they don't really show Bali. Or, better yet, look at some more sites like that.

The best protection you can get is to surf where there are other guys and hope the shark selects them. The little box does emit electric frequencies, but its only benefit is making money for the retailer. It won't help you. That said, you have 1000's times greater chance of being injured in an automobile accident in FL than you do for getting bitten by a shark in Oz or Bali.

Good luck to you,
Bucky

PS. get back to your studies now!

[drowningbitbybit]

PS. get back to your studies now!

One fatal shark attack per year on average in Oz... not something Im going to worry about too much

[dtc]

That said, you have 1000's times greater chance of being injured in an automobile accident in FL than you do for getting bitten by a shark in Oz or Bali.

And about 10000 times more chance of being injured in a motor vehicle accident in Bali!

Bali is pretty good as a destination, so long as you know what to avoid; but if you are worried about getting injuried (from all causes) then its much more dangerous than Australia!