Kayaker Watches a Seal Get Launched From the Water By a Strong Shark Mere Feet Away

Have you ever had a close call with a shark? In this explosive video, we see a seal get repeatedly thrown into the air by a juvenile great white shark. The New Zealand native making the recording, Greg Potter, remarks about the incredible hunt. As the pair move closer to his kayak, the seal nearly jumps right onto it with him! The shark rams into the kayak several times, causing Potter to take evasive action. The astonished Potter escaped from this close call with a great white shark with his life. He also left the scene with an unbelievable video you can view below!

Watch Greg Potter’s Close Call With a Shark Below!

What to Do If a Shark Is Nearby?

Many of us humans enjoy swimming, surfing, and other activities in the ocean. However, what’s the best thing to do if you encounter a shark? Roughly 70 shark attacks occur annually in the U.S. alone. So, how do you avoid a close call with a shark? Shark Stewards, an organization dedicated to saving sharks, remarks about ways to avoid shark attacks. Other organizations publish their own lists, as well. Though we can’t explain all the ways in one go, here’s a list of some things you can do to stay safe in the water.

Before Encountering a Shark:

• Don’t swim at dusk and dawn. This is when sharks are actively hunting and is the most common time for shark attacks and close calls.
• Don’t swim if you’re injured or bleeding. It’s true that sharks can sense blood in the water up to about a quarter of a mile away. If you’re a woman menstruating (on your period) or if you’ve recently been injured or had surgery – do not get in the water!
• Stay with your group. Sharks are more likely to attack an individual than a group.
• Don’t wear jewelry. Light reflections off your jewelry can be mistaken for fish scales by sharks.
• Don’t splash around. Refrain from heavy splashing or allowing pets in the water. Splashing can signal to a shark that a prey item is in distress. That means an easy meal!
• Avoid areas for fishing. These areas are common hangouts for sharks. Also, if you see seabirds diving and hunting in the area, get out of the water. Sharks often aren’t far from the feeding frenzy.

If There’s a Shark in the Water with You:

• Don’t panic. The number one mistake people make when encountering a shark is panicking. Stay calm and control the situation. Most sharks aren’t interested in eating you, they are just curious.
• Be ready to push the shark away. If you find yourself in the water with a shark, be prepared to act should it get close. Shark expert Ocean Ramsey recommends pushing the shark away from you in a gentle but firm motion. To do this, place your hands out in front of you. Then meet the top of the shark’s head about the nose area and direct its motion to either side of your body. This close call with a shark will hopefully end well. That is with you alive and the shark continuing about its day.
• Get out of the water calmly. If you or someone else sees a shark and alerts you to its presence, calmly make your way to shore. Do not swim if sharks have been sighted in the area recently or if Red Flags are posted.
• If you are bitten by a shark, try to stay calm. Sharks often take exploration bites of things they don’t understand within their environment. Try to remain calm and make your way to shore as quickly as you can without splashing. Your best hope is to avoid another bite and get to safety.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Sergey Uryadnikov/Shutterstock.com