Skip to main content

Watch this funny Air Force video that says screaming at sharks scares them away

What should you do during a shark attack? Ignore the advice in this video, probably

Have you ever wondered what to do if you encounter a shark while swimming in the ocean? This old Air Force training video that recently went viral on Reddit has some pretty wild suggestions for what to do in that exact scenario. The clip really speaks for itself, but to learn more about the video and what you actually should do during a shark attack, keep reading below.

Recommended Videos

Training for a shark attack in the 1960s

This nearly 60-year-old Air Force training video is hilarious perfection from start to finish. The clip begins with a dire warning read in a classic 1960s newscaster voice. “This shark and his relatives are long-established enemies of man,” says the video’s narrator. “He is a wicked, unpredictable opponent.”

Throughout the video, the narrator shares some less-than-scientific advice on what to do if you encounter a shark. The advice includes measures such as screaming into the water, blowing bubbles toward the shark, and ripping up paper to drop into the ocean.

You can view the 90-second video on Reddit. Or, for even more fun, check out the full 11-minute version on the National Archives website.

Could any of this advice actually save your life?

At first glance, it’s easy to dismiss this video as a relic of a long past decade (albeit a hilarious one). But then you may start to wonder, would any of this actually work during a shark encounter? Could this video one day save your life?

Unsurprisingly, most of the information shared in the training video doesn’t hold up against today’s scientific knowledge of sharks. Shouting into the ocean, blowing bubbles, slapping the water, and throwing paper scraps into the sea will not scare away a shark. If anything, these actions may be more interesting than scary to a shark. Sharks are naturally curious and highly cautious; they’ll investigate the occurrence if they don’t think it’s a threat. If nothing else, the methods in the video may temporarily distract a shark—but they likely won’t save your life.

Shark swimming underwater at an aquarium
Image used with permission by copyright holder

What to actually do if you encounter a shark

Shark attacks are incredibly rare; in 2021, there were only 73 unprovoked and 39 provoked shark bites confirmed worldwide.
But in case you do find yourself in shark-infested waters, here’s what experts actually recommend:

  • Don’t panic or splash around, as this could pique the shark’s curiosity.
  • Maintain eye contact with the shark.
  • If the shark seems ready to attack, try to make yourself appear larger.
  • If the shark seems to be just passing by, try to curl into a ball and make yourself as small as possible.
  • Don’t play dead; punch, kick, and hit sensitive spots like the gills or nose.
  • If possible, back away slowly into shallow waters, making as little movement in the water as possible.

Sharks are a very common fear—even for 1960s Air Force pilots. In most cases, you’ll never encounter a shark attack out in the wild. But if you do, absolutely do not listen to the advice in this 1960s Air Force training video.

Shannon Cooper
Former Freelance writer
Shannon Cooper has written about everything from pet care and travel to finance and plumbing in her seven years as a writer…
Don’t ruin your cigars: here’s how to properly season a new humidor
Seasoning secrets every cigar lover could use
faceless man presenting a cigar humidor with cigars inside with gloved hands

If you're a newcomer to the world of cigars or just bought a brand-new humidor, you'll need to season it. And no, I'm not saying to add salt and pepper to it. If you've never heard of it, you might ask, "What is seasoning for a humidor?"

Don't think you need to flavor the box or anything — seasoning is really about getting the wood inside your humidor so as not to rob your cigars of precious moisture. Easy to understand, and getting it done is relatively straightforward as well. The trick is figuring out the "why," and we'll get into that in a bit. But let's first discuss seasoning a humidor.

Read more
The NBA’s ultimate celebration tool: The victory cigar
A look at the players and coaches who smoke to celebrate
Jordan smoking a cigar image on a bag

Sports are synonymous with celebration. After winning the biggest trophy of their lives, athletes want to indulge in the payoff that comes with seeing their dreams realized. Teams go into the locker room, where a waterfall of champagne hits them in the eyes, and swimming goggles seem to be a requirement, lest you walk around on the best night of your life half blind. While drinking is often the activity of choice after winning a championship, the NBA has an alternative symbol of greatness that other sports don't use nearly enough: the victory cigar.

Basketball is a team game, but it's also an individual canvas for solo superstardom. After winning an NBA championship, the coaches and players who sit atop the throne have long smoked a cigar in the locker room, during the parade, or even on the bench before the clock has hit zero. There's nothing quite like a good stogie to signify the ultimate win over the rest of the league, but how did the victory cigar get so ingrained in NBA championship celebrations? We want to take a walk down memory lane and look at some of the historical moments and people who made the cigar what it is within the NBA today.
Red Auerbach's victory cigar on the bench
Red Auerbach: The Story Behind the Victory Cigar + His Disdain of NBA Officials - Red on Roundball

Read more
The best medical shows of all time to binge now
From ER to The Pitt, these are the best medical shows ever made
Noah Wyle in the Pitt

Throughout TV's long history, the medical drama has occupied a somewhat unique place in the landscape. Medical shows are often some of the most reliable on TV precisely because there's so much drama built in to working in a hospital.

Personally, I've found the medical drama to be deeply comforting for years, even if I have no desire to be a doctor myself. Understanding the stress of people in the healthcare profession is fascinating in and of itself.

Read more