Yeah I have to say I don't fully understand sharks. No-one in any OWS or triathlon has been hassled or even approached by a shark. The closest encounter was a guy in the Rotto channel crossing (20km OWS) last year, he had a 4m Great White swim under him, no interest in him. A few mates who spear-fish have encounter large Great Whites and have said they are aggressive and dangerous, but paradoxically cautious and almost timid. What they've experienced is they don't like approaching multiple people and would only get close when there was one by himself and even then they would exercise great caution. One spear fisherman was followed for 10mins, every time he got close, he'd poke the shark with his gun and off it would swim. I think the GoPro footage is on youtube.

A few attacks in WA have been mistaken identity, surfers mistaken for seals, most not eaten. My colleague, Doreen Colyer was diving and she was attacked by a 6m GW, he took her leg off and spat it out. Sadly she bled to death. Some guys have been eaten however. There are some experts that say Sharks don't eat humans, which is nonsense. They might prefer seals, but if you're hungry then anything is on the menu.

So i would imagine sharks would be intimidated by large groups of swimmers, boats etc in the water and keep their distance. But you never know. They are very unpredictable.

The IMWA swim cancellation was not handled well. Shark size, type wasn't taken into consideration, no plan for chasing sharks out to sea and no plan B for changing the course closer to shore. There are lots and lots of sharks in WA, they are there all the time, we just need to accept that and swim with them. Don't cancel unless it's a ravenous 6m Great White swimming through the swim course and even then, it's probably just cruising past. Give it 30mins.