If a shark is swimming directly toward you in 2026, the most important rule is do not panic and do not splash. Thrashing around makes you look like a wounded fish, which triggers the shark's predatory instinct. Instead, you should maintain eye contact; sharks are ambush predators and are less likely to strike if they know they are being watched. Try to stay vertical in the water rather than horizontal; looking "upright" makes you appear like a larger, more formidable organism rather than a seal. If the shark gets within arm's reach, do not reach out to pet it; instead, use a "stiff arm" to gently but firmly redirect it by pushing on its snout or the top of its head. This move, often used by professional divers, subtly guides the shark away from your body. If the shark actually attacks, aim for the eyes or the gills, which are its most sensitive points. Most 2026 shark encounters are merely "investigatory bumps"—the shark is just trying to figure out what you are. Slowly and calmly back away toward your boat or the shore, keeping the shark in your sight until you are completely out of the water.