Shark sheilds are they worth getting
Submitted by mulloway_hunter on Fri, 2016-07-29 05:17
Hey i was just wondering if anyone on here has a shark sheild and thinks there worth it. Pros and cons and so on. Iv read a few mixed reviews so was just looking to hear some feed back from people that have used them. Cheers in advance
Brock O
Posts: 3163
Date Joined: 11/01/08
Each to there own, I'm on my
Each to there own, I'm on my second unit with first one lasting just on 10 years.
Peace of mind for me, paranoid as phuk with out it...
scotto
Posts: 2470
Date Joined: 21/04/08
when
I have one, and when scuba diving, wear it nearly every time. free diving it seems to get in my way a bit, but I do wear it occasionally (especially when Albany way). it seems to give you a boot when you either touch the lead, or when your ankle leaves the water. you get used to it though. doesn't hurt though, and fun dragging it over your dive buddy's heads!
I know that with the amount I dive, I'm going to be happy that I'm wearing it when I do actually happen to bump into ol' whitey....
Ricko19
Posts: 52
Date Joined: 27/05/14
Research from UWA
The recent research from UWA confirmed they work - saw it on the news I think. Never seen anything other than a Wobby and Port Jackson whilst diving so can't be sure but like Brock O says - Peace of mind ( and I dive with a mate who is slightly fatter than me, so I'm hoping he looks a tastier meal than me!).
Ninety Mile
Posts: 193
Date Joined: 17/01/12
Would be interesting to know
Would be interesting to know if any of the scuba diving fatalities, particulary of recent had a shark shield on.
bennym_82
Posts: 86
Date Joined: 18/05/16
attacks/shields
The only case I've heard of that involved a shark shield unit was an attack on a snorkeling groups guide off rockingham I think. Seem to recall she was wearing one but didn't have it turned on due to tourists continuously getting zapped by it. Some other people on here may remember it or know a few more details?
I use both the ankle strap style which produces a smaller magnetic field and the freedom shark shield 7 which that new research proves to be 99% effective. Dive conditions play a part in which unit I use, group dives and strong current I go with the anklet to reduce chance of booting others/myself and solo dive or still conditions go with the 7.
beeroclock
Posts: 733
Date Joined: 22/08/12
I dive with a scuba 7 shark shield as i understand they are
effective in deterring sharks and the videos ive seen of them being tested are convincing but i dont believe it will save a diver who is on the surface swimmimg back to dive boat and a monster white comes rocketing up from below in full attack mode.
Pitty
Posts: 161
Date Joined: 08/12/12
Scotto's on it, I wear mine
Scotto's on it, I wear mine every time, it is fun zapping your mates and I only get the occasional boot when backing out of a cave (when jamming myself into grab some crays). Doesn't bother me anymore.
have had a couple of big tigers circling me when I had it on up in Exmouth inside the reef in about 2.5m but I did have a big gt speared and was kicking around and bleeding on the end of the line. when they came in I was pushing them away with my cray loop. I'm confident the only reason they didn't come smashing in and take the fish or a piece of me is that I had the shark shield on and if nothing else slowed them down.
never dive without it now
UBIQUE
mulloway_hunter
Posts: 446
Date Joined: 18/04/11
Yea hahaha well it looks
Yea hahaha well it looks like they work. Im looking at getting one and what brand should i be using. I want if for my kyak wen i drop baits out lol. See 2 last season about 10 foot at night. Not fun eh :/
MandurahMatt
Posts: 613
Date Joined: 18/09/13
Shark shield have a new
Shark shield have a new model out designd tobe stuck on the bottom of a surf board could suit a yak quite well also.
Bewdey Fellaz
Brock O
Posts: 3163
Date Joined: 11/01/08
Good investment for the yak
Good investment for the yak for sure...you can sell on no worries.
The surfer type might suit the yak better, from memory they need to be fully submerged during use.
greyheads1
Posts: 242
Date Joined: 27/08/11
Yeah I have the standard
Yeah I have the standard Freedom 7 on my Yak. the velcro pouch attaches to the Hobie no problems. i leave it switched off and out of the water unless i see something (yet to happen) and being 5kms+ out from the marinas I dont want to be messing around with a big bitey. Good precautionary investment on the yak IMO. I was planning to do a bit of amateur testing on my next quobba trip and see how effective they are first hand.
rob90
Posts: 1522
Date Joined: 06/02/13
Hi my name is rob............. and I'm a........... fishaholic
tiimmbo
Posts: 694
Date Joined: 16/08/09
I don't dive without mine
I don't dive without mine
Fireguard
Posts: 75
Date Joined: 13/09/09
Just thinking outside the box
Just thinking outside the box a little bit here....
For places like Steep and Quobba when you have to fight with the Tax Men to gaff your fish, how about dropping down a shark shield on a rope/other rod etc. next to your fish whilst you then try and gaff it ??
greyheads1
Posts: 242
Date Joined: 27/08/11
So we did try this
So we did try this previously with limited success and with a fairly inept test process.
Our strategy basically comprised of having the SS attached to a rope out of the water turned off, as soon as w hooked up on goes the SS and drop it in the water. However the problem was that we were getting sharked 30, 40, 60, 80m out of the rocks (at Garths). There were a number of occasions when the big bronzies would cruise underneath whilst the SS was on. The sharks were about in huge numbers and we found lobbing rocks to be a bit more practical (if not primitive) than lifting and lowering the SS whilst trynig to gaff and fight fish.
So in short there was little control to the test, and we were more keen on fishing during the mack run last year - but will give it more of a go this year. perhaps a dead bait under the SS probe and see what happens.
mulloway_hunter
Posts: 446
Date Joined: 18/04/11
So Witch brand does everyone
So Witch brand does everyone use out of the yak and how mutch do they retail for. Oh and where can i get one lol
mulloway_hunter
Posts: 446
Date Joined: 18/04/11
So Witch brand does everyone
So Witch brand does everyone use out of the yak and how mutch do they retail for. Oh and where can i get one lol
MandurahMatt
Posts: 613
Date Joined: 18/09/13
Shark sheild is the only
Shark sheild is the only brand that has been proven to be efective dive or surf shops sell them.
Bewdey Fellaz
mulloway_hunter
Posts: 446
Date Joined: 18/04/11
Haha only one thats
Haha only one thats effictive look like thats the knly one im buying then haha. Ill start asking around when im home
Dean78
Posts: 40
Date Joined: 05/01/15
Each to their own
I bought one in about 2010 and my mate has been using it lately. UWA research is inconclusive for great whites. Did find Flinders Uni tests at Neptune island (ABC article) which puts us off. Better than nothing though, I choose to fish rather Tha dive.
google
ABC neptune island shark shield
Rod P
Posts: 725
Date Joined: 20/05/08
ACtually the laitest round
ACtually the laitest round of tests by UWA found that the SHark shield Freedom 7 was effective at repeling a great white shark 9 out of 10 times.
These units are designed to stop a attack, not really a effective barrier full time. But yes many people do use them of boats when fishing to some varying degree of success.
Me personaly i use the Rpela system from Surfsafe. Locally designed to fit into my surfboards by Katana. They can also fit to surfskis and kyaks i think, might be worth a call to ask more info.
Rod
spinksy
Posts: 266
Date Joined: 06/10/10
Go to the 60 minutes site
There was an article done on them a couple of weeks ago. Freedom 7 worked 90% of the time with baits the best of all shark deterents. they were doing a story on the model put into surf boards and the guy from Katana surf in Perth was surfing in shark infested waters and the locals thought he was mad. But he never got attacked so the locals all got one and are back out there.. so I would use one for sure
trueblue_10
Posts: 104
Date Joined: 29/06/11
Do shark shield Freed 7 affect breath & heart snorkling
The reason I ask is I got my son a freedom 7 as a gift just recently.
He has a mate who snorkels/spearfishes in South West waters who told him not to wear the SS Freedom 7 whilst one snorkelling because if zapped it will interfere with snorkelers holding breath and may affect heart. My son is now thinking he will wear the SS but leave if off unless he sees a shark.
I personally do not believe what he has been told. The story of Elyse Frankcom strengthens my belief they should be kept on all the time regardless if Scuba Diving or snorkelling/spearfishing.
Any experiences with this issue of getting zapped when snorkelling/spearfishing and affecting holding your breath .
Marineboy
Posts: 839
Date Joined: 14/03/14
Getting zapped
you might cop a bit of a zap if the antenna touches you but it just feels like pins and needles, as for the heart thing someone is either misinformed or taking the piss.
My spots are so secret even the fish don't know about them !
spinksy
Posts: 266
Date Joined: 06/10/10
do the cable tie thing
And it trails behind you. I have never been zapped by mine.
I did a lot of research before I bought one. The guys in far north Queensland wear one on their leg and one on their catch float and they say they work no question repel big tigers and bull sharks. For 600 bucks its a no brainer might not work on a charging Great White but been proven to work when they come in for a taste test.