What Are Sharkbanz Bracelets & What Do They Do?
Wes Severson October 21st, 2024 Posted In: Articles
Everywhere you look, there are dangerous scenarios involving the ocean. An encounter with a large sea creature like a shark is one of the top reasons why people don’t try the thrilling activities associated with the ocean, such as surfing, SCUBA diving, spearfishing, and others.
But there are several companies out there trying to ease those fears by creating products that they claim are a deterrent to sharks. One of the most popular options is a shark bracelet made by the company Sharkbanz. Their products are giving ocean sports enthusiasts a lot more peace of mind while they’re out in the water. But what are Sharkbanz bracelets, and how do they work? We will start diving into the details.
What are Sharkbanz Bracelets?
A Sharkbanz bracelet is a device that looks like a wristwatch and contains a piece of magnetic technology that can apparently keep sharks from approaching people in the water. The magnetic device embedded in the Sharkbanz bracelets can interfere with a shark’s natural ability to detect the electrical fields of their prey. When this sensory mechanism is disrupted, sharks will not attack someone wearing a bracelet, at least, in theory.
How Do Sharkbanz Bracelets Work?
Sharks use their sensitivity to electric fields to hunt and navigate. Sharkbanz bracelets contain special magnets that emit a certain frequency, creating an electric field that disrupts a shark’s ability to hunt. The technology that creates the electric field does not require batteries, so the bracelets are always working when you’re in the water.
According to the company, these bracelets create an electric field that is “exponentially greater than any electric field a shark would naturally encounter. Sharkbanz bracelets do not harm sharks or any other ocean animal, but signals sharks to stay away.”
From a shark’s perspective, Sharkbanz claims the sensation they feel when they encounter someone wearing a bracelet is similar to having a bright light shined into their eyes. It’s disorienting and most often leads to sharks quickly swimming away from the sensation.
Sharkbanz Bracelet Science and Research
Several studies have shown that sharks avoid bait that has a magnetic field around it created by a Sharkbanz bracelet. However, the studies are in controlled environments and there is no way to suggest in full confidence that they will work 100% of the time in the open ocean. However, the decades of scientific research and other independent organizations are pretty consistent.
Researchers in one study published in the journal PLOS ONE exposed sharks to a variety of different scenarios, including a human arm with and without a Sharkbanz bracelet. Sharks were significantly less likely to attack the arm when it was wearing the bracelet.
Another study in 2018 targeted bull sharks in the Bahamas which included more than 1,200 encounters over three days. The researchers dropped a dummy wearing a Sharkbanz bracelet as well as the Sharkbanz Surf Leash, which contains the same magnetic technology as the bracelets, into an area loaded with hungry bull sharks. The dummy was never attacked while using the Sharkbanz products. When the products were removed, the sharks attacked the dummy every 42 seconds on average.
Numerous studies performed in different locations that targeted different types of sharks have produced similar results.
User Experiences and Feedback
There is no shortage of positive stories of people using Sharkbanz bracelets during shark encounters with users claiming that their bracelet prevented an attack. This product has several reviews that have helped make their products more popular.
A man named Ivan Trent says he was free-diving in Florida when he was aggressively approached by a bull shark that came within a few feet of his ankle, which contained a Sharkbanz bracelet. Trent says the shark quickly darted away.
Another man, Michael Skogg, says he was surfing in Oregon when he spotted the fin of a large Great White swimming toward him. Skogg says, “It got within five or six feet and thrashed really hard – then suddenly the shark made a violent hard left and bolted out of the area. I wore a Sharkbanz on my right wrist and left ankle. Thank God.”
Sharkbanz Bracelet Cautions
There’s no doubt that Sharkbanz bracelets work but they are not foolproof. Sharks are very complex and their behavior can be unpredictable. On top of that, each species of shark has differences when it comes to how it uses magnetic fields.
Despite all the research, wearing a Sharkbanz bracelet, or any other type of shark deterrent device, does not eliminate all the risks of being attacked by a shark in the ocean.
Conclusion
So, what are Sharkbanz bracelets? They are one of the most proactive approaches to ocean safety to date, especially when shark encounters appear to be increasing at beaches around the world. Despite shark deterrence not being an exact science, with each scientific study and research project, Sharkbanz bracelets are getting closer to fully understanding the predatory actions of sharks.
Can you put a price on peace of mind? If wearing a Sharkbanz bracelet makes you feel safer, then wear one! Whether you’re a surfer, swimmer, or just someone who loves the sea, understanding the risks and embracing safety measures like Sharkbanz can help you enjoy the beauty of the ocean without the looming thought of catastrophe.
