Many people make use of the ocean all year round! In Cape Town, summer is the time people flock to the beaches for the warm sun and cool ocean, and for the surfers, winter is the best time to head out and catch that perfect wave. Being bitten by a shark remains a concern for many beachgoers even though statistically, the chances are extremely low.

Of the more than 500 species of shark, only the great white, bull (Zambezi) and tiger shark, pose a significant threat to humans. All three of these species occur in waters off Africa, although in Cape Town we only deal with white sharks as bull and tiger sharks do no occur in Cape waters.

Below are some shark safety tips you can use to 'Be Shark Smart" avoid encountering a shark at the beach.