Sharks are unpredictable but most attacks happen when a shark mistakes a human for a seal or other source of food. What attracts sharks?

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Sharks rely on highly sensitive senses to locate prey, and the strongest cues they use are chemical signals in the water and the movement of water itself. Odors, like the scent of blood or amino acids from wounded prey, travel through the water and can be detected by their keen sense of smell, guiding them toward the source even when visibility is poor. At the same time, vibrations from movement—flapping fins, struggling prey, or other disturbances—create water ripples that the shark’s lateral line can pick up, helping them zero in on the direction of the disturbance. These two cues together make odors and vibrations the most reliable attractants for sharks. Bright colors, sudden splashes, or loud noises might catch a shark’s attention, but they don’t provide the same consistent signals that indicate a potential meal.