The FCS x Sharkbanz POD is the stealthiest, most convenient shark repellent product designed specifically for surfing. The precision engineering and craftsmanship of FCS meets the scientific expertise of Sharkbanz to enable surfers everywhere to reduce the risk.

Sharkbanz products are the embodiment of almost two decades worth of peer-reviewed scientific research, including independent government testing, on the use of magnetic technology as an active and effective shark deterrent.

• Patented Magnetic Shark & Stingray Deterrent Technology

• Active Deterrent: No Batteries, No Charging - Always ON   

• Performance-Based Design and Premium Materials for Enhanced Comfort, Including Low-Profile Neoprene Padding and Molded Velcro.

• Strap to Any Leash Cuff. Stash in Boardshorts or a Wetsuit Key Pocket.

• Universal Fit: Ages 5+

• Depth Rating: 100m/330ft

• Weight: Lightweight, 2 oz.

• Magnetically Shielded Box (Included) for Safe Storage

• TSA and Airline Travel-Friendly

• 1 FCS x Sharkbanz POD. Powered by Sharkbanz Patented Shark Deterrent Technology designed specifically for surfers.

• 1 FCS Neoprene Pouch. Use it to strap your POD to any surf leash cuff.

• 1 Magnetically-Shielded Safe Storage Case. This unique storage case (pictured above), safely protects all of your electronics from your POD so you can store it anywhere and easily use for travel.

• Instructions for Care, Use, and Shark Safety Tips.

• Surfing
• Windsurfing, Kitesurfing, Foiling / E-Foiling, Paddle Boarding, Body Boarding -
• Any Oean Sport Where a Leash is Used.

For additional deterrent field coverage, use multiple PODs with friends in the water and/or use our 'Sharkbanz 2' wearable on your wrist.

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Use other Sharkbanz products for the following:

• Scuba Diving, Freediving, Snorkeling, Open Water Swimming, and Beach Recreation - Use our Sharkbanz 2
• Boating, Sailing, SUP, Kayak, Jet Ski - Use our Sharkbanz 2
• Marine Construction, Professional Underwater Operations, Lifeguard, Military Operations, USCG - use our Sharkbanz 2
• Fishing, Spearfishing, and Wade Fishing - Use our Zeppelin

Conditions of Use: All Sharkbanz users should be aware that sharks are wild animals and unpredictable. Our patented technology has been extensively tested, researched, and proven as an effective shark deterrent, but Sharkbanz have not been tested on all species of sharks. Sharkbanz can reduce the risk of shark interactions, but there is no 100% guarantee that interactions will not take place. There should never be any attempt to entice sharks to interact with humans, with or without Sharkbanz. Any human activity in the water near sharks must always be considered as possessing a considerable degree of risk which is assumed solely by the wearer. 

Sharkbanz are a defense against the most common type of dangerous shark interaction: ‘hit and run’ attacks/bites. These are investigative, unprovoked incidents. Much like other safety devices, such as a bike lights, Sharkbanz can reduce the risk - they do not eliminate the risk altogether. 

User acknowledges that Sharkbanz are a deterrent to shark interactions and that there is NO GUARANTEE of zero shark interactions. User assumes all risk. User holds FCS, Mano LLC (Sharkbanz) and all its subsidiaries, affiliates and partners, harmless from all claims of injury or damage of any kind, be it personal or property.

The FCS x Sharkbanz POD is designed specifically for surfing and integrates seamlessly with any leash. While just as effective as our staple product, Sharkbanz 2, the FCS x Sharkbanz POD is offered at a more competitive price point because of its surf-specific usage. The POD’s features make it an excellent choice for surf enthusiasts who prioritize cost-effectiveness and discrete use of a shark deterrent while surfing.

Sharkbanz 2 offers a wider range of applications with its premium silicone band, allowing you to wear it on your ankle or wrist, extending usability to various water sports and activities beyond surfing. The versatility, added convenience, and material costs justify the higher price tag.

No. 

Sharkbanz emit a magnetic field that quickly drops off, so sharks cannot sense it from far away. Once sharks enter this magnetic field range, they can be deterred, as Sharkbanz has shown to over-stimulate their electroreception. As you note, based on the laws of magnetics, this magnetic field created by Sharkbanz drops off at the inverse cube of the distance from the source - this means at a distance of 10 feet and beyond the field is not detectable by even the most sensitive laboratory equipment. 

Sharks will not be attracted into the magnetic field.

Don't worry, your Sharkbanz is not "leaking" or defective. Quite the opposite. 

Sharkbanz' powerful magnetic technology will attract tiny ferritic (iron) particles commonly found in the ocean. You may observe these minute particles sticking to your Sharkbanz after an ocean swim (oftentimes appearing like a dark soft substance). Do not be concerned! Your Sharkbanz is not leaking, nor is its effectiveness reduced.

The patented shark deterrent technology behind Sharkbanz
products has been extensively researched and tested on a wide variety of shark species, including juvenile Tiger Sharks (up to 9 ft). Positive deterrent results were exhibited by juvenile Tiger Sharks during testing. Adult Tiger Sharks simply were not present during these specific tests. Like other predatory shark species, Tiger Sharks rely on electroreception, and Sharkbanz products have been shown to create avoidance behavior in Tiger Sharks and help Sharkbanz users reduce the risk.

Since 2015, we have received several unsolicited testimonials from Sharkbanz customers who have deterred larger Tiger Sharks in Hawaii, Australia, and Florida. Several examples are noted below, and others like the encounter story from surfers Greg, Clyde and Joe (Oahu, HI) can be found on our Reviews page.

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Kiteboarder James C. wrote us on 10/02/2022: 

“I've had my Sharkbanz for 5 years and use it multiple times per week. I love it and think it already saved my legs and maybe my life once. I was kiting and was in the water when a Tiger Shark came at me, but then turned at the last moment and just hit me with its tail.”

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Surfer and shark attack survivor, Jabez Reitman of Ballina, Australia encountered a large Tiger Shark while wearing Sharkbanz in February, 2015. He is also featured in our Reviews section:

"After my attack, I did a lot of research into the different products on the market and found Sharkbanz to be the most trustworthy. It wasn't until I came into contact with another shark months later that I was able to test the product first-hand. Last week, I was surfing near Byron Bay when a [4m tiger] shark began circling me. It was incredible to see how fast the [tiger] shark swam away as soon as it came within the magnetic field. I was glad that the band worked but still pretty shaken up so I paddled in to shore."

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The following encounter story comes from Sue A. of Oahu (HI) and was received on 6/15/2020:

"A group of friends and myself were doing our usual water jogging in Kailua bay. I spotted what appeared to be a log in the water about 10 to 12 ft from us. As it got closer, I could see clearly that it was a Tiger Shark. The shark must have sensed the magnet, shuddered, and abruptly turned, and swam away from us. There were other sightings and bump encounters for a few weeks before our encounter. Happy to discover my Sharkbanz working! I am a believer!"

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Nicky C. from Florida shared her story with us via email on 6/21/2017, which is also featured on our Reviews page under the "Shark Encounter" section.

"Thank you, Sharkbanz! The Tiger Shark veered away, and I swam safely to shore! While swimming at Stuart Beach (FL), I was quite far out wearing my fins and enjoying body surfing waves off the sand bar. At first, I didn't hear the lifeguard's whistle to clear all the swimmers from the water. So when I did look to shore, the beach goers were lined up along the shoreline and the lifeguard was waving his hands to come in. I was the only one still in the ocean. The water was crystal clear that day, and they could all watch the Tiger Shark (4-5 feet long) swimming back and forth parallel to the shore, but closer in than I was. As I'm swimming to shore, the shark turns towards me and follows me, getting closer and closer. When he was within about 6 feet of me, the lifeguard noticed he veered away [which he later told me]. While the shark stayed in the beach area, it never came near me again. THE SHARKBANZ WORKED WELL!"

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Lastly, Sharkbanz customer Gary W. shared a story with us involving a Tiger shark in Kauai (HI) that bit his friend (who was not wearing Sharkbanz) while the two were surfing together - from 10/10/2017.

"Last night here on Kaua’i, I was involved in a shark attack incident. I was wearing a Sharkbanz and my friend wasn’t. He was attacked, but I wasn’t. There really isn’t any hard evidence that I was spared because of the magnet, but it’s an interesting and compelling point. 

We were surfing sunset time [at Davidson’s], and the water had already turned black so we couldn’t see anything underneath. We were about 40’ apart, and I heard a noise and looked over. Then I saw my friend’s board “tombstoning” in the shark’s mouth. Its pec fin, tail, and dorsal fin were breaking the water as it thrashed with the board. There was no provoking to my knowledge as we were just sitting there waiting for waves. 

My friend was frantically back-stroking and kicking the shark to get away. 

[With my Sharkbanz on], I paddled straight to him, and as I got there, the shark let go of the board. My friend pulled it back to him by the leash, turned, and was gone on a wave. I watched the shark erratically swim a few circles around me where the incident happened, and the next wave came I was out too … high tide, getting dark so unknown species, but estimate about 10’ Tiger based on the bite size and type."

Much like other safety devices, such as a bike lights, Sharkbanz reduce the risk - they do not eliminate the risk altogether. This principle applies to all common predatory sharks, Great Whites included. Customers in Australia, South Africa, California, Cape Cod, Rhode Island, and Oregon have used our products to deter investigative Great Whites. You can read these unsolicited accounts on our Reviews page. 

Great Whites rely heavily on their electroreception when swimming in open water, and Sharkbanz could effectively deter an investigating Great White. However, it's important to note that Great Whites are unique in that they are the only shark that acts as an ambush predator, attacking from a long distance at high speed. There is no effective way to prevent this type of ambush attack when it occurs.

From a testing standpoint, Sharkbanz are the result of over a decade’s worth of peer-reviewed scientific research on the use of magnetic technology as an active and effective shark deterrent. This compilation of research evidences that permanent magnets project detectable magnetic fields underwater that produce sufficient magnetic fields to elicit avoidance in a range of species including: White Sharks (C. Carcharias). 

Two of our Great White deterrent customer encounters include:

Michael Skogg, Seaside, OR:

"I had a Great White encounter while paddle surfing the cove [...]. After a cleanup set, I was swimming back to my board when a dorsal fin broke between my board and me. It was a big, dark fin and coming at me hard. It got within five or six feet and thrashed really hard - then suddenly the shark made a violent hard left and bolted out of the area. I wore a Sharkbanz on my right wrist and left ankle. Thank God."

Scott Fegette, Carpinteria, CA:

"I got my Sharkbanz 2-3 years ago when Great White sightings picked up off my local break near Santa Barbara. On July 4, I was swimming next to my SUP when a 8-10 ft White did a pass on the other side of my board. I was trying to get back on my board and out of the water when it circled back on my side. Just as I thought it was gonna either bump me off or take a chomp (maybe neither but I was pretty shook), I reflexively kicked out my foot with my Sharkbanz on, and the White did a quick 90 degree turn and swam away fast like in your videos! I was stoked as hell but got ashore fast. Needless to say, I always wear it now."

No - the POD is not designed to be worn on the wrist or the ankle using the velcro pouch. The (included) FCS velcro pouch is engineered to fit securely to any leash cuff, and the POD can also be stashed in any boardshort pocket or wetsuit key pocket. 

If you want more versatility and the ability to wear a Sharkbanz deterrent on your wrist and/or ankle opposite your leash, then please select our core product, the 'Sharkbanz 2' wearable, which is designed for ocean athletes, divers, beachgoers, wade fishermen, and marine professionals. The soft silicon band and stainless steel clasp are designed with premium materials and are durable and secure. 

We stand behind the quality and workmanship of our products, which you'll experience as soon as you open and put on your 'Sharkbanz 2'. Nonetheless, the ocean is the world's most powerful environment and issues significant and frequent levels of pressure, tension, and saltwater forces. Therefore, we recommend you replace your 'Sharkbanz 2' product every four (4) years to ensure top-level quality, comfort, and performance.

The ‘Sharkbanz 2’ product is automatically protected from defects resulting from faulty workmanship or materials for a period of three (3) years from the date of purchase.

Please note that Sharkbanz should not be exposed to heat over 150°F (70°C), nor at any point should the core chassis be physically damaged or altered. If this occurs, the deterrent technology's effectiveness could be reduced and/or negatively impacted.

If you ever encounter any potential issues or concerns about your Sharkbanz, you can always write us at support@sharkbanz.com and we will help.

Sharkbanz deterrent technology also has the ability to deter stingrays, which helps beachgoers, wade fishermen, surfers, and divers reduce the risk of a painful incident. 

Our technology will not repel all marine life or other sea creatures like turtles, dolphines, etc.. The reason Sharkbanz can repel sharks as well as other elasmobranch species such as stingrays is the presence of electroreceptors in these species, which detect the magnetic field produced by our technology. 

You will still be able to see and encounter non-shark species while wearing Sharkbanz in order to reduce the risk and enjoy greater peace of mind. If you fish and use our Zeppelin product to protect your catch, this device will not deter any target fish species.