According to CNN, an Australian company has developed an anti-shark device to protect surfers and divers from being attacked.
Great white sharks are attracted to warm currents along Australia's southern coastline. And they're a constant concern for divers who spend up to 10 hours a day in the water hunting for scallops and abalone--So divers have started using a new, protective electronic device called Shark Shield while they work--Here's the gist:
When a shark comes in to attack, it automatically closes its eyes as a way of protecting itself. Since the shark can't see, it relies on a tiny sensor in its nose to pick up the electrical current of its prey, tracking its movement--But the Shark Shield senses when the shark is about to attack and sends out a much stronger pulse of electricity. This causes discomfort to the shark, so it leaves the area.
The inventors say the device doesn't affect any other marine life and has no harmful effects on the shark or the diver. It works by attacking the shark's nervous system.
The device puts the shark into a spasm, and it can't breathe. The inventors call it "hitting the wall." To escape, it has to swim away.
The Shark Shield can repel a shark up to 26 feet away. It was first developed more than a decade ago in South Africa, but was only recently designed to commercial standards.
It's also proving popular with surfers. The main housing unit   which weighs about a pound - is worn on the thigh, and the antenna on the ankle.
Sounds like a good idea if you want to avoid being shark bait! If you're interested in learning more, check out the website Shark Shield .com