Surfer Shanan Worrall reaches out to fellow riders by sharing story and eye catching shark deterrent

His experiences with sharks left him with PTSD, but surfer Shanan Worrall has overcome his fear and created an innovative shark deterrent.

A SURFER who has battled his own demons from shark attacks has shared his story and an initiative to help Gold Coasters after last week’s fatal event.

Big wave surfer Shanan Worrall wants to pass on his knowledge and experience to all those affected by the tragic death last week of Miami real estate agent Nick Slater.

Shanan Worrall with his Shark Eye product from @sharkeyesdeterrent Instagram.

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“I feel for everyone involved, I can’t imagine how devastating it is for the family, but also something like this has a far further effect on the community,” Mr Worrall said.

Mr Worrall is a Western Australian-based surfer who loves water activities. However numerous encounters with sharks left him with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and anxiety.

Sharks Eyes product from @sharkeyesdeterrent Instagram.

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Working as an abalone diver until 2013, Mr Worrall had to perform lifesaving CPR on a close friend and another friend was killed.

The events left him unable to enter the place he once loved but after educating himself about the animal he has been able to enjoy the ocean again.

Using his experience with sharks and techniques from abalone divers and fisherman, he came up with a product known as Shark Eyes.

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The product is large eyes that can be placed on surfboards, a notion abalone divers use on their wetsuits or masks, to mimic human eyes to deter sharks.

It’s a concept that has scientific backing on studies analysing eyespots and mimicry being used in nature as a defence mechanism.

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“There’s research that shows sharks use the element of surprise when attacking, particularly from below, so the eyes help change the shark’s behaviour by making them think they’ve been spotted.

“I’m not saying it’s a silver bullet solution. If you get in the car you put your seatbelt on, it doesn’t mean car crashes don’t happen though.”

Kingscliff big wave surfer Justin Holland with the Shark Eyes product on his surfboard.

Kingscliff big wave surfer Justin Holland said Shark Eyes gave him extra peace of mind when in the water.

“I feel like it’s another piece of protection in the water for the price of a cup of coffee,” Holland said.

“The founders have put a lot of time and passion into the project and they’re Western Australian watermen, big wave surfers and abalone divers who regularly interact with sharks.

“Once I heard the concept and theory behind them, I started putting them on my boards.”