Few topics create more fear of sharks while surfing.
For some people, the fear is so strong it stops them surfing altogether. For others, it’s always there in the background, quietly influencing where they surf, when they surf and how much they enjoy being in the ocean.
The interesting thing is that shark fear isn’t always logical.
I spent a year travelling and kitesurfing around the world before learning to surf. I surfed in Portugal, Morocco, France and Spain without ever thinking much about sharks.
Then one day I paddled out at Noosa.
The waves were fun, the sun was shining and the point looked like something from a postcard. Yet as I jumped off the rocks and paddled into the lineup, I became completely convinced I was about to be attacked by a shark. I was literally crying, my mate still brings it up to this day.
Looking back, it seems irrational.
But in that moment, it felt real.
I remember sitting outside feeling overwhelmed by fear. Then I took a few breaths and started paying attention to what was actually happening around me.
The sparkling water.
The smiling faces in the lineup.
The beauty of the place.
I stayed.
I caught waves.
And I was rewarded.
That experience taught me something important.
Fear isn’t always telling us the truth.
Is Fear Of Sharks Rational?
Yes.
Sharks exist.
Shark attacks happen.
Ignoring that reality doesn’t help anyone.
At the same time, fear isn’t necessarily a signal to stop doing something.
Fear is information.
The question is how you choose to respond to it.
Many surfers are happy to drive hundreds of kilometres to a surf break without thinking twice about the risks of being on the road. Yet the thought of a shark can create far more anxiety despite the statistical likelihood being much lower.
This doesn’t mean shark fear is irrational.
It simply means our brains aren’t always great at assessing risk objectively.
In many cases, shark fear is really a broader confidence issue. Learning how to build trust in yourself and the ocean is something I’ll explore further in my article on ocean confidence.
What Are Surfers Really Afraid Of?
After years of coaching surfers, I’ve noticed that many people aren’t actually scared of sharks.
They’re scared of uncertainty.
Murky water.
Deep water.
Not being able to see what’s below them.
Being alone.
Being vulnerable.
The shark becomes a symbol for the unknown.
I still notice this when freediving.
Sitting on top of the water feels completely natural to me. Dropping into deeper water where I can’t see the bottom can sometimes trigger a very different response.
The environment hasn’t necessarily changed.
My perception of it has.
Understanding this distinction can be incredibly helpful.
Sometimes the fear isn’t about what’s in the water.
It’s about not knowing what’s in the water.
When Shark Fear Returned
One thing I’ve learned is that confidence isn’t a destination.
Looking back, I thought overcoming my fear at Noosa meant I had solved the problem for good. But years later I realised confidence doesn’t work that way.
It’s something you continue developing as you put yourself in new situations.
Years after working through a lot of my shark fear while surfing, I started shooting surf photography in the water.
Suddenly I was spending long periods floating alone with a camera, often focusing completely on the surfers around me rather than my own surfing.
To my surprise, some of those old thoughts started showing up again.
Not because anything had changed.
But because I was seeing the ocean from a completely different perspective.
The fear wasn’t as strong as it had been at Noosa, but it reminded me of an important lesson:
Fear doesn’t mean you’re going backwards.
Sometimes it simply means you’re growing into a new version of yourself.
Every time I’ve entered a new environment — surfing bigger waves, freediving deeper water or shooting surf photography — I’ve had to learn how to trust myself again.
The goal isn’t to become fearless.
The goal is to keep showing up anyway.
Why Shark Fear Seems Worse Today
Social media has changed the way we think about sharks.
Twenty years ago, a shark sighting was often something a few local surfers heard about.
Today, drone footage, news articles and viral videos can spread around the world within hours.
Many surfers are consuming a constant stream of shark content without even realising it.
The human brain pays attention to dramatic events.
The more shark videos we watch, the more common shark encounters can start to feel.
This is a good example of how our thoughts can shape our perception of risk, which is one reason I wrote Why Negative Thoughts Get Worse While Surfing.
This doesn’t mean you should ignore shark information.
It simply means being aware of what you’re feeding your mind.
Personally, I intentionally limit the content I consume.
My social media feeds are largely filled with positive ocean content, wildlife, travel and surfing. That’s not about denial. It’s about being intentional with where I place my attention.
Awareness Versus Fear
One of the most interesting things I’ve noticed about fear is how inconsistent it can be.
I’ve surfed in Margaret River with huge bait balls of Australian salmon moving underneath me. Looking back, it was probably one of the situations where sharks were more likely to be present, yet I wasn’t scared at all.
Why?
Because I wasn’t focused on fear.
I was focused on surfing.
I’ve also seen sharks cruising through crystal-clear water at Redgate in Western Australia and felt more excitement than fear.
Yet I’ve sat outside at Noosa on a beautiful sunny day feeling convinced I was about to be attacked.
Nothing had really changed except my perception of risk.
One of the biggest lessons surfing has taught me is the difference between awareness and fear.
Awareness is useful.
Fear can be useful too.
Panic rarely is.
Awareness looks like:
- Understanding local conditions.
- Knowing whether bull sharks are common in the area.
- Being cautious around river mouths after heavy rain.
- Paying attention to local advice.
- Surfing with friends when appropriate.
Fear looks like:
- Imagining worst-case scenarios constantly.
- Avoiding the ocean entirely.
- Letting anxiety dictate every decision.
The goal isn’t to eliminate fear.
The goal is to develop awareness without becoming trapped by it.
The challenge is learning how to acknowledge fear without allowing it to make every decision for you, which is something I discuss in How To Stop Pulling Back On Waves.
Learning To Trust Your Intuition
One thing I often hear from surfers is:
“What if I have a bad feeling?”
I think it’s important to separate anxiety from intuition.
Anxiety is often loud, repetitive and based on imagined scenarios.
Many fears become stronger when we attach ourselves to outcomes and imagined futures rather than staying present. I explore this further in Surfing and the Ego.
Intuition is usually quieter.
It simply notices something feels off.
I think of it like walking down a dark alley at 2am.
If something feels genuinely wrong, most people wouldn’t ignore that feeling and keep walking.
The ocean can be similar.
Sometimes conditions change.
Maybe there are unusual amounts of bait fish in the water.
Maybe local surfers are leaving.
Maybe something simply feels different.
Listening to your intuition is not weakness.
It’s awareness.
The challenge is making sure every nervous thought isn’t mistaken for intuition.
The more time you spend in the ocean, the easier it becomes to tell the difference.
That doesn’t mean ignoring risk.
I’ve paddled across the Gold Coast Seaway more times than I can remember to reach The Other Side. Every time the trawlers come through, there is a moment where you think:
“Just keep paddling.”
It’s not fear.
It’s awareness.
You’re acknowledging the environment you’re in and making a conscious decision to continue.
To me, that’s very different from allowing fear to take over completely.
Practical Ways To Reduce Shark Anxiety
If shark fear is stopping you from enjoying your surfing, there are several practical things that can help.
Learn About Your Local Break
Knowledge often reduces fear.
Understanding local conditions, common marine life and seasonal patterns can help replace uncertainty with awareness.
Surf With Friends
Many surfers feel more confident sharing the lineup with others.
This doesn’t eliminate risk, but it can make the experience feel less intimidating.
Avoid High-Risk Situations
Common recommendations include:
- Avoiding river mouths after heavy rain.
- Being cautious around large schools of bait fish.
- Avoiding areas with recent confirmed shark activity.
- Following local advice and warnings.
Focus On What Is Actually Happening
When fear starts building, bring your attention back to the present moment.
What can you see?
What can you hear?
What is actually happening right now?
This simple shift can stop the mind from spiralling into imagined scenarios.
4 Steps To Overcome Shark Fear While Surfing
If shark fear is affecting your surfing, start here.
1. Focus On Facts Not Scenarios
Fear loves creating stories.
Bring your attention back to what is actually happening rather than what might happen.
2. Build Ocean Confidence Gradually
You don’t need to force yourself into situations that feel overwhelming.
Spend more time in the ocean.
Snorkel.
Body surf.
Surf smaller days.
Confidence grows through exposure.
3. Learn To Calm Your Nervous System
Fear often feels stronger when your nervous system is activated.
A few slow breaths can completely change your perception of a situation.
4. Decide What Type Of Surfer You Want To Be
At some point every surfer has to answer a simple question:
Do you want to be controlled by shark fear?
Or do you want to learn how to surf despite it?
The goal isn’t to eliminate fear.
The goal is to stop fear making every decision for you.
How Surf Apnea Helped Me Build Ocean Confidence
One of the biggest shifts in my surfing confidence came from learning breath control.
Not because it removed shark fear.
But because it changed my relationship with fear.
Many surfers automatically tense up when they become anxious.
Breathing becomes shallow.
Thoughts speed up.
The nervous system shifts into survival mode.
Learning breath control taught me how to stay calmer when fear appeared.
I realised that fear wasn’t something I had to immediately obey.
It was simply information.
If fear around wipeouts, hold-downs or ocean confidence is affecting your surfing, learning more about Surf Apnea Training for Surfers may help you develop a calmer relationship with uncertainty in the ocean.
Do Shark Deterrents Work?
Many surfers ask whether products such as Shark Eyes or Sharkbanz can help reduce risk.
The reality is that no shark deterrent offers a guarantee.
However, many surfers choose to use them as part of a broader risk-management approach.
Shark Eyes
Shark Eyes are visual shark deterrent stickers designed to create the appearance of eyes on the underside of your surfboard.
The theory is that predators are less likely to approach when they feel observed.
Many surfers like Shark Eyes because they are simple, inexpensive and don’t interfere with surfing performance.
Sharkbanz
Sharkbanz use magnetic technology designed to affect a shark’s electroreceptors.
Many surfers in areas with higher shark activity choose to wear them as an additional layer of protection.
Personally, if I were surfing regularly in locations such as Western Australia, New South Wales or South Africa, I would seriously consider using Sharkbanz alongside other sensible precautions.
Neither product should replace common sense, local knowledge or ocean awareness.
Think of them as one part of a larger approach to managing risk.
Can You Ever Completely Eliminate Shark Fear?
Probably not.
And that’s okay.
Fear serves a purpose.
The goal isn’t to become fearless.
The goal is to prevent fear from making every decision for you.
The surfers who seem most comfortable in the ocean aren’t necessarily the ones without fear.
They’re the ones who have learned how to coexist with uncertainty.
Because uncertainty is part of surfing.
It’s part of the ocean.
And it’s part of life.
Final Thoughts
Years later, I still remember sitting outside at Noosa convinced I was about to be attacked by a shark.
Nothing changed except my attention.
I took a few breaths.
I looked around.
I noticed the sparkling water, the smiling faces in the lineup and the beauty of where I was.
I stayed.
I caught waves.
And I was rewarded.
Sometimes courage isn’t the absence of fear.
It’s choosing not to let fear make every decision for you.
Related Reading
- How To Stop Pulling Back On Waves
- Why Negative Thoughts Get Worse While Surfing
- Surfing and the Ego
- Surf Apnea Training for Surfers
- How To Surf Bigger Waves With Confidence
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it normal to be scared of sharks while surfing?
Absolutely. Many surfers experience shark fear at some point, especially when surfing alone, in deeper water or in unfamiliar locations.
How can I stop thinking about sharks while surfing?
Focus on what is actually happening around you rather than imagined scenarios. Building ocean confidence, improving your knowledge and practising calm breathing techniques can help significantly.
Are sharks attracted to surfers?
Research suggests surfers can sometimes resemble natural prey from below, but shark encounters remain extremely rare compared to the number of people entering the ocean each year.
Should I surf at dawn or dusk?
Many recommendations suggest avoiding dawn and dusk due to reduced visibility. However, many surfers choose to surf during these times. Understanding local conditions and making informed decisions is important.
Do Shark Eyes and Sharkbanz work?
Neither product guarantees protection. Many surfers use them as part of a broader approach to reducing risk and increasing peace of mind.