SlashGear Japan
I currently live smack dab in the Midwest, putting me too far away from the ocean to care about sharks. My biggest concern is dodging raccoons and deer on the road. For me taking a dip in the ocean and thinking about sharks is slightly nerve wrecking, not that it would stop me. However, anyone who lives close to the ocean probably knows that the odds of a shark attack are very low.
Well apparently the Shark Shield is meant to ward off sharks by creating a conductive field that causes spasms the closer the shark gets to the gadget. The makers decided to take it out for a test run in South Australia, where instead of repelling it caused a 12 foot long Great White Shark to actually attack the device. The makers are still claiming 100% success with tests and say that no one wearing it has ever been attacked.
I suppose that could be technically true, since they didn’t attack a person exactly, it just attacked the device. If for some bizarre reason you’d still like to give it a whirl it will cost you $645.
[via oh gizmo]
8 Responses to “Shark attacks a shark repelling gadget”
Harald March 4, 2008
This is a load of nonsense. I don’t know where the author picked up this piece of garbage but the fake pictures are already a good indication that his story is fabricated.
NeutralSteve Carlson March 5, 2008
Thanks for that insightful look into this post Harald. Your keen eyes have told you that this famously fake picture is in fact fake, congratulations. Do you really think that someone was right there taking a picture when the shark actually attacked the device?
Before attacking the credibility of a journalist based solely on the picture used (which was obviously done to add a bit of humor to the ironic incident), you might want to actually check the source. Not only have you questioned the credibility of this site, but numerous others across the web, and one of the largest newspapers in Australia because the picture looks fake.
Please do us all a favor and actually do a little research before posting.
-1steve March 5, 2008
Great White Sharks are perfect in their environment for millions of yrs. Adapting to all types of threats. So it’s kind of arrogant to think that some electrical device will work for that long, without the sharks adapting to the electrical signals?!
NeutralJust stay out of the water! Go in a pool or a lake!
johnny217 March 5, 2008
[quote comment="37754"]Thanks for that insightful look into this post Harald. Your keen eyes have told you that this famously fake picture is in fact fake, congratulations. Do you really think that someone was right there taking a picture when the shark actually attacked the device?
Before attacking the credibility of a journalist based solely on the picture used (which was obviously done to add a bit of humor to the ironic incident), you might want to actually check the source. Not only have you questioned the credibility of this site, but numerous others across the web, and one of the largest newspapers in Australia because the picture looks fake.
Please do us all a favor and actually do a little research before posting.[/quote]
I’ve done this research for you Steve and the unit attacked was in fact a shark POD, one of the first electronical devices bought to Australia from South Africa. How long ago this was i am not so sure. While i do not know the details of the Shark Shield company itself, i rang them after reading this article and your comments to investigate these rumours. As Harold stated at the top, these are infact false facts. A Shark Shield unit has never been attacked and i was informed that no shark has ever breached the field, whether it be a 2m bronzey or a 5m white. The Shark POD has been upgraded to Shark Shield over the last decade and developed with vastly improved and updated technology providing a very very safe field and extending the battery life to 7 hours from 4 and the field from 3 meters to 6-7m.
I don’t know about you guys but after hearing about the advancments of the technology i am 100% behind the company and am waiting to save up some money to buy one myself. Living in South Australia and right near the beach we have to contend with sharks constantly and there is nothing i could be happier with than a device that gives myself and my family extra confidence and peace of mind everytime i go snorkelling or diving in the ocean.
I hope this comment appeals to the emotions of others as i whole heartedly believe that from the conversations i had wioth the company, they are genuine in their approach to keeping people safe and would not put a product on the market that will be a liability to both themselves and the divers,snorkellers,surfers etc. families.
Cheers
+1Steve Carlson March 5, 2008
If I didn’t know any better I’d say that you worked for the company (johnny217). I’ve read plenty of public relations BS in my day to know when I’m reading it. Your over-eager product endorsement sounds like it was written not by an enthusiastic consumer, but some guy sitting behind a desk all day trying their best to try and win over consumers. You might want to ease up on the marketing-speak if you really want people to believe that you’re just another consumer
-1johnny217 March 6, 2008
Sorry to upset you Steve but that isn’t the case. I have relayed everything i was told when i spoke to them (called the company this morning as soon as i read the article). You bring up a fair point about the marketing speak but all i’ve done is copied what they told me into this bulletin board. I figured people should understand what i do after speaking to them.
Why are you being so defensive on the topic anyway? The 2 comments you’ve posted are about the authors and not the topic itself. Is there something negative you’re not telling us and want to get off your chest? I’m fairly sure that they informed me of all the up’s and downs and i’ve covered it above.
I’m not a member of slash to argue with other members so feel free to have more digs at me but at least people know how i feel
NeutralJohn October 2, 2008
Yep it is fake, google shark jumping pic just like that shark jumping there, it fits the size if you fit it correctly
NeutralBarry January 3, 2009
Hi Guys,
NeutralI am from South Africa and know the Sharks Board who developed this product ( in fact my father worked for them for a few years when they started out under Beaula Davies).
I am also a qualified electrician so know quite a bit about electric fields.
But probably the most I have to offer was that I was on site on one occassion when the sharks board were testing the device. At the time I was working for the Dept of sea fisheries which was based at the sea world in Durban. Some quite interesting things happened.
The sharks board used the main shark “tank” display at sea world to carry out the tests.
The occupants were mostly bull sharks, some ragged tooth or grey nurse sharks and one resident and huge ( 300 kg ) plus brindle bass ….huge grouper for the Aussies.
Well on this particular test run. The electric field generated actually excited the bull sharks. It also excited the big brindle bass who was actually the “boss” of the tank. The brindle bass actually investigated the cord …got a belt and almost jumped out the tank. The panic vibrations sent out by the huge grouper excited the already excited bull sharks and they attacked the grouper who they usaully avoided as it was very aggressive.
Well three days later Sea world lost their oldest biggest grouper…the bulls eventually ate him and the sharks board were left scratching their heads.
Now some seasoned ski boat fishermen will all share stories about whites attacking the outboard motors of their boats. Its a fact it happens. The sharks are attracted by the electrical fields generated by the motor…similar principle to a battery where you have different metals in an electrolyte…salt water is an excellent electrolyte.
Electrical impulses are a stimuli for a shark no doubt about it. The question is really whether too much is intolerable and how intolerable. Enough to prevent an attack?
We all know Paul Buckland was wearing the older “Shark Pod” which was activated when he was fatally attacked by a big white.
Also the actual pod itself has been attacked in experiments.
Personally I am currently not convinced. At full charge the electrical field might cause discomfort but what happens when the battery or the field weakens…I think the probability of it now becoming an attractant is very possible.
I wouldnt trust my life on something invisible. If you are hungry enough will you quickly dip your hand into uncomfortably hot water to grab a chunk of meat?
Ever taken a hot tit bit off the barbeque bare handed? Reckon the example sums it up pretty well.