Australia's largest newspaper, The Sydney Morning Herald, has published a major feature story highlighting the growing adoption of Sharkbanz products among ocean users across New South Wales and beyond — and the powerful, real-world encounters that are driving it.
The article, written by reporter Daniel Lo Surdo and published on March 21, 2026, centers on surfer Alex Preston's remarkable near-miss with a suspected bull shark at Dee Why Beach in Sydney. Preston was surfing solo in the early morning when beach camera footage captured a bull shark aggressively swimming at his legs as he turned to catch a wave. He didn't even realize the shark had charged him until a friend tipped him off about what the camera captured.
Preston was wearing the FCS x Sharkbanz POD on his ankle at the time. He credited the device — which he compared to wearing a bike helmet — with helping keep the shark at bay during the encounter.
“It had a crack at my legs … it was quite a banal interaction until I saw the video and got the full picture of it. I had my Sharkbanz on my foot, and I assume it must have kept the shark at bay.” - Alex Preston
Video Credit: Dee Why Public Surf Cam
We're grateful to Alex sharing his story, and we're humbled to serve him and all the other Sharkbanz users who’ve prevented an attack while wearing our products.
A Growing Movement Across Australia
Alex's experience isn't isolated. The Herald feature also profiles several other ocean users who have made Sharkbanz products part of their essential water gear:
Holly Cummins, a surfer on the NSW South Coast, now wears two Sharkbanz bands every time she enters the water. She had her own close call with a two-meter bull shark at Killalea Regional Park, where a surf companion witnessed the shark come up behind her board before thrashing and disappearing.
“It would have been a very different outcome had I not been wearing the band.” - Holly Cummins
Nick Rendall, who runs an underwater boat cleaning and maintenance business in Sydney Harbour, told the Herald that he and his employees wear Sharkbanz "religiously." Working in murky, low-visibility water — conditions known to attract sharks — Rendall sees the bands as essential safety equipment. He emphasized that combining deterrent technology with knowledge of shark behavior can make a meaningful difference in reducing risk.
“The science behind it makes sense, and then also knowing, I’ve got protection. It definitely provides a nice peace of mind.” - Nick Rendall
These are the kinds of unsolicited, real-world testimonials that reinforce why we do what we do. Hearing directly from customers who feel safer, more confident, and more informed in the water is the highest compliment we can receive.
Scientific Validation
The article also features an important voice from the scientific community. Professor Dewei Chu from the University of New South Wales offered positive validation of the technology, explaining that the devices work by disrupting a shark's navigation, and expressed a preference for this approach over traditional shark nets — which were responsible for the deaths of more than 200 marine animals during the 2024–25 summer season alone.
Professor Chu's perspective aligns with what we've always believed: science-backed, non-harmful deterrent technology represents the future of shark safety. When you can reduce risk for people without killing marine life, everyone wins. Coexistence is the way.
Bull Sharks and the Science Behind the POD
The Herald report notes that research indicates Sharkbanz technology is most effective against bull sharks — the species suspected to be behind a concerning cluster of incidents along the NSW coast in recent months. Testing has shown sharks displaying avoidance behavior at a range of approximately 0.5 to 2 metres from the device, with results from Western Australia's Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development confirming that sharks abruptly change course when near the magnetic field.
This matters. Bull sharks are among the most frequently encountered species in the shallow, warm, often murky waters where surfers, swimmers, and divers spend their time. Our patented magnetic technology targets the shark's electroreception system — the ampullae of Lorenzini — creating an intense, uncomfortable sensation that causes avoidance behavior without causing the animal any harm.
Responsible Messaging, Always
As our co-founder Nathan Garrison noted in the article, understanding what's driving additional shark activity and knowing how to avoid high-risk areas is critically important alongside any deterrent solution. These are safety devices, and they can't eliminate risk altogether. That's a message we'll never stop reinforcing.
Sharkbanz products are one layer in a smart ocean safety approach — not a silver bullet. We encourage every ocean user to stay informed, understand local conditions, heed warnings, and make smart decisions about when, where, and how they enter the water.
A Milestone for the Brand
Being featured prominently in Australia's most widely read newspaper is a meaningful moment for Sharkbanz. Although our team is based in the U.S., we've considered Australia near and dear to us since 2015, when we traveled to Victoria for the launch of the original product. Since then, we’ve built great friendships and business relationships with many in the swimming, surfing, fishing, and diving communities. As anyone who has spent time there knows, Australia is home to some of the world's most passionate and knowledgeable watermen and women.
To Alex, Holly, Nick, and every customer who trusts Sharkbanz in the water: thank you. Your stories inspire us to keep pushing forward — for better science, better products, and a safer ocean for everyone.
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Read the full Sydney Morning Herald article here. Instagram post here.
Learn more about how Sharkbanz technology works at sharkbanz.com/pages/how-it-works.
Photo Credits: Sydney Morning Herald, Jessica Hromas
