Nope, that’s not a house arrest anklet — it’s the world’s first acoustic shark repeller

By Drew Prindle August 20, 2014

shark week 2015 discovery ratings — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Good news for all you surfers, bodyboarders, divers, and partakers in all other forms of aquatic activity: there’s a new shark repellent system on the rise that could potentially save you from becoming lunch for Jaws. It’s called SharkStopper, and while it’s definitely not the first invention of it’s kind, it’s noteworthy for the unique way that it fends off your finned friends

Unlike previous shark-repellent systems that rely on electricity, magnets, chemicals, and even special wetsuit patterns that make you look unappetizing, SharkStopper uses nothing more than specially-constructed sound waves to keep sharks at a safe distance.

“The sounds emitted by SharkStopper emulate the sounds of killer whales in conjunction with our patented frequency overlay,” the project’s Kickstarter page reads. So, presumably, since killer whales are their main predators, sharks will quickly swim in the opposite direction as soon as they hear the sound. The device has been reportedly been tested in a number of different locations with a wide variety of different sharks, and in every test, the SharkStopper was observed to consistently repel sharks between 5-20 yards (4.5-18m) away — even when sharks were first lured in with blood and bait.

Related: When a great white shark attacks an underwater camera, guess who wins?

The apparatus itself comes in the form of a bracelet designed to be worn around the ankle. With the help of some embedded sensors, it will automatically switch on and begin emitting the shark-repelling frequency as soon as its submerged. In other words, you don’t have to manually flip it on or off — just strap it to your ankle and it’ll do its thing. The only downside is that it bears a striking resemblance to a tracking bracelet — but then again, being mistaken for a felon still a hell of a lot better than being eaten alive in the ocean.

SharkStopper isn’t quite available for purchase just yet, but it’s creators have recently taken to Kickstarter to help raise funds for a full-scale production run. If you back the project now, you can lock down a SharkStopper bracelet for about $275 — a small price to pay for the peace of mind that comes with knowing you won’t end up as fish food.

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Former Digital Trends Contributor

Drew Prindle is an award-winning writer, editor, and storyteller who currently serves as Senior Features Editor for Digital…

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