Can playing dead help save me from a shark attack?

By: Cristen Conger

Sharks usually follow three styles of attack: hit-and-run, sneak attack and bump-and-bite. See more shark pictures.
Cousteau Society/Getty Images

Let's say you're camping in the woods and wake up to find a bear at your campsite. Unless the bear acts aggressively, dropping to your knees and playing dead can cause it to lose interest in you and amble on.

What if a similar situation happened in the ocean? While doggy paddling around, you spy a shark nearby. Do you go limp and hope for the best? To answer that question, let's examine how sharks approach and attack humans.


Shark Image Gallery

Unlike popular beliefs about sharks as vicious man-eaters, the infamous fish usually make contact with humans out of curiosity rather than predation [source: Parker]. For instance, if you're thrashing around in the water or have reflective clothing or jewelry on, a shark may mistake you for a fellow fish or seal. Fueled by this inquisitiveness, sharks often perform hit-and-runs, which means they take a bite -- rarely lethal -- and swim away [source: Florida Museum of Natural History]. This happens particularly in shallower depths.

The real danger comes with sneak attacks and bump-and-bites. You won't have any warning signs for a shark sneak attack, hence the name [source: Florida Museum of Natural History]. With bump-and-bites, which often occur in deeper waters, sharks circle and run into you before going in for a bite.

When you notice a shark heading your way, it's in your best interest not to play dead. Instead, get those arms and legs pumping and try to swim away as quickly and quietly as you can before it takes a nibble.

If you're alone in the water, playing dead isn't going to help because sharks prefer to go for more defenseless prey to conserve energy. If one bites, it's time to fight. Hit a shark in the nose, eyes and gills to stun it and scare it away. Since blood will attract more sharks, find dry land as a fast as possible to reduce the chance of repeat attacks.

In one specific survival situation, playing dead is your only viable option. We'll talk about that on the next page.


Ways to Survive a Shark Attack: When Playing Dead Can Keep You Alive

Sharks may be attracted to boats or people in the water.
Sharks may be attracted to boats or people in the water.
Brian J. Skerry/National Geographic/Getty Images

On July 30, 1945, during World War II, the U.S.S. Indianapolis sank in the Philippine Sea near Guam. Nearly 900 sailors were left stranded in the water for four days without help. Soon after the sinking, sharks began to attack many of the men. When rescue arrived, only 316 people remained alive, although it isn't clear how many of those victims died from shark attacks.

In rare situations like this one, playing dead could work to your advantage. If sharks are in a feeding frenzy around you, they may ignore your fresh meat and continue biting at others. It may sound inhuman not to try to fight off a swarm of sharks attacking dozens of people around you in the water, but it may be your only hope for survival.


Sharks have a unique sense called electroreception. In rescue scenarios, sharks will continue to go after a wounded person rather than the fresh meat of the rescuer because it is physiologically attracted to blood. Electroreception allows sharks to detect minute changes in the electricity conducted through salt water. Adding blood to salt water alters the surrounding electricity, setting off the sharks' electroreception, which draws it back to the wounded victim.

Thrashing around in the water is also known to attract sharks. If you float calmly while surrounded by flailing, splashing people, sharks may ignore you and go for the more obvious targets. In addition, stay alert to the warning signs of an impending chomp. A hunched back, lowered pectoral fins and zigzagging motion are red flags that you look like a tasty piece of meat [source: Burgess].

Of course, if you have a chance to escape water, do so as fast as you can. And if a shark bites you, hit it back on its nose, gills or eyes.

For related information about sharks and safety, visit the links on the next page.


Lots More Information

Related HowStuffWorks Articles

More Great Links


  • Burgess, George H. "How to Avoid Sharks Attacks." Florida Museum of Natural History Ichthyology Department. (June 12, 2008)
  • Burgess, George H. "How, When, Where Sharks Attack." Florida Museum of Natural History Ichthyology Department. (June 12, 2008)
  • Carey, Bjorn. "The Science of Shark Attacks and How to Avoid Them." LiveScience. July 5, 2005. (June 12, 2008)