How to avoid getting attacked by a shark after deadly Australia incident
Written by Cara McKenna on 27th November 2025
A woman was killed and man seriously injured after being attacked by a shark while swimming in Australian waters.
The incident happened 300km north of Sydney, leaving other tourists looking for ways to protect themselves.
The public have been told to keep clear of the waters at beaches in the vicinity, as this is the fifth fatal shark attack this year with the most recent one being less than three months ago.
How to protect yourself against a shark attack
Shark attack prevention devices are useful for tourists within the country, as well as Australian citizens; there are many options that could be beneficial in preventing shark attacks, increasing the safety of the individual using them.
Personal deterrents only protect the individual with the deterrent, leaving everyone else at risk, these devices include magnetic wristbands and electronic devices such as the Ocean Guardian.
These work by overstimulating the shark’s electroreceptors creating more powerful electrical fields.
How to protect others from a shark attack
Larger scale options include acoustic repellents and physical barriers.
Acoustic repellents create an unpleasant sensory experience for sharks using specific sounds or electrical fields to trigger avoidance behaviour.
Physical barriers provide a direct separation between humans and sharks, offering a more reliable method of exclusion.
Electronic devices are often cited as more effective, though they are bulkier; while magnetic devices are passive and battery-free, studies have shown they have mixed effectiveness.
Physical barriers are highly effective at blocking human and shark interaction as the access is physically blocked; acoustic repellents have mixed effectiveness as what sounds repel one species may attract or be ignored by another, as well as sharks being able to habituate to constant noises over time, reducing long-term effectiveness.
An app called “Dorsal” allows people to report or receive notifications of a shark sighting, alerting the public.
