I’m a diver – here are my top three tips if you ever encounter a shark
- A shark diver from Hawaii has given tips on how to protect yourself from attack
- The self-proclaimed “part mermaid” often swims with the sharks
- She shared her top three tips on her TikTok account @mermaidmariahhh
A diver from Hawaii shared her top tips for avoiding a shark attack.
Mariah Meyer, a shark diver and marine biologist at One Ocean Diving, Haleiwa, Hawaiii, is a self-proclaimed “part mermaid” who often swims among the sharks.
While most people wouldn’t dare venture into murky waters, Mariah embraces the thrill of being underwater.
In partnership with snorkel shop scuba.com, Mariah took to TikTok to share the rules all novice divers must abide by.
A Hawaii-based diver and marine biologist at One Ocean Diving has shared her top tips on avoiding a shark attack
Making eye contact with the sharks is a top method of avoiding threat, according to Mariah this makes sharks aware that ‘you too are a predator and not prey’
The diver explained, “Stay calm at first and remember we are not part of the shark diet, but we don’t want to act like prey in the water, so limit erratic swimming or splashing.”
In the images, Mariah is shown carefree among the sharks, wearing a wetsuit and large webbed feet, but restricting her movements.
She explains: “Second, if you encounter a shark in the wild, don’t take your eyes off that shark.
“Making eye contact with the sharks around you lets them know that you too are a predator and not prey.”
She is then shown among a shiver of sharks, closely watching their movements and making sure to check behind her on a regular basis.
Mariah added: “Finally, if the shark continues to approach you, use your fins to create space around you.
“Using your fins creates space between you and the shark and lets the shark know that this is your space.”
To do this, Mariah demonstrates kicking a shark that keeps closing in on her with the diving roar she’s wearing.
The shark quickly moved away from her and joined the rest of the group instead of bothering the diver.
Adding a final piece of advice, Mariah said, “The number one tip for getting into the ocean is to never go alone, always make sure you have a buddy with you.”
She is then depicted exploring the depths of the ocean with a fellow diver.
Posting the video to her own TikTok account, @mermaidmariahhh, got the daredevil a lot of attention from her followers.
According to Mariah, swimmers should avoid ‘erratic movements’ while diving to prevent sharks from mistaking you for prey
One frightened user commented, “I’m so glad I followed to live vicariously through others risking their lives.”
While another asked if she’d ever seen a great white shark, to which Mariah replied, “I wouldn’t recommend it!”
Mariah regularly shares videos of her diving adventures on her account. She has encountered many types of sharks, including a ’25-ft whale shark’.
She often films herself swimming among tiger sharks, even touching one they named Queen Ali’i Nikole to divert it. While the act seems dangerous, she told followers: “I’m a professional shark diver, please don’t try it.”
Mariah’s tips come shortly before a reported shark attack off the coast of Spain, in the municipality of Oliva south of Valencia.
The man was reportedly standing in shallower water when the shark bumped into his leg before clamping its jaws around him.
Council chiefs ordered beaches along the coast closed while an investigation took place after the incident – the latest in a series of domestic sightings of blue sharks off Spain’s beaches.