“Today, I did a test with my SharkBanz worn around my ankle while swimming for 15 minutes offshore in Huntington Beach, California around 3 pm on a calm, overcast Monday afternoon,” said Steven Munatones.
The SharkBanz product is a shark deterrent tool that utilizes magnetic technology to create an effective shark deterrent that is always on and requires no batteries and no charging. It is basically a big magnet.
What does this mean? “I guess there are a plethora of unseen microscopic iron filings that ocean swimmers and surfers swim through every single time they get in the Pacific Ocean in this area,” guessed Munatones. “It is probably best not to swallow any water.”
Educator Ken Finn of the Exploratorium, a museum of science, technology, and arts in San Francisco, gives insight why this iron – magnetic mineral magnetite – may be found in Southern California ocean waters as well as Ocean Beach in San Francisco:
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.
