Spearfishing Scuba Diving, Kayaking, Snorkelling & Swimming
SharkShield FREEDOM 7
The SharkShield FREEDOM7 is a compact, versatile and light weight personal shark deterrent system which allows you to explore and enjoy the oceans without fear. It's designed for all water sports including swimming, spear fishing, body boarding and snorkelling and is the preferred product for scuba divers.
The SharkShield FREEDOM7 is fitted to the ankle region with the supplied neoprene and Velcro pouch.
The unit incorporates a velcro pouch, that is attached to the ankle region and 2.2m flexible mesh antenna. Once the antenna is submerged in salt water the electrodes emit the protective field.
The FREEDOM7 antenna has been designed to cause minimum of water resistance and drag on the user.
SharkShield's unique wave form elliptical field only affects free swimming sharks and to a minor degree rays and skates. The field generated by the SharkShield is detected by the shark through its sensory receptors known as Ampullae of Lorenzini, situated on the snout of all predatory sharks. The unique and unfamiliar pulsing sensation emitted by the SharkShield does not replicate that given off by a fish and does not attract sharks to an area. SharkShield allows you to hunt, photograph or just swim with all other marine animals roaming freely in their ocean settings.
CONTENTS
The SharkShield FREEDOM7 is a compact, versatile and light weight personal shark deterrent system. It is the preferred product for scuba divers. It's designed for all water sports.
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Contents include:
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Shark Shield unit (with enclosed battery);
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2.2m antenna;
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Velcro pouch;
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Universal Charger (will suit any voltage or frequency).
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Exclusion Zone:
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3-5m Radius from centre of antenna
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In water weight (Complete):
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69 grams (2.4oz)
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Unit Operating Time:
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6-7 hours
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FURTHER INFORMATION
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Dry Weight (Complete):
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950 grams (2.09lb)
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Weight (unit only):
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335 grams (11.8 oz)
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Maximum Operating Depth:
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45 meters (148 feet)
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Dimensions of Main Unit (without Antenna):
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80mm L x 140mm W x 35mm H (3.15” x 5.51” x 1.5”)
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Operating Temperature:
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Between 12o – 40 o Celsius (53.6 o F – 104 o F) Lower temperatures will reduce the operating time.
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Battery pack life:
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Nominal 300 charges
Testimonials
Pieter Zietsman
Testimonial: I have been spearfishing for the past 30 years in some of the most dangerous seas where great white sharks are prolific and spearfishermen are constantly on the edge especially in areas such as Mossel Bay and Struisbaai. I have been face to face with more than 30 great whites and had some close shaves, but can vouch for the effectiveness of the Freedom 7. I have had more than 4 direct encounters with great whites whilst wearing the unit and can say without any doubt that it works. The shark is normally very edgy when he/she comes in on a diver wearing the Freedom 7, but it is clear that when the shark hit the field at a 5-6m distance it is strongly repelled and turn on the spot – not always nice, but a securing site!
Adam Farrow, Abalone Diver & Spearfisher
Lodi, California
I own a Shark Shield & it has prevented at least one attack on me by a great white shark.
I dive for abalone and spear fish for halibut in an area that is infested with great white sharks. The Marine surveyors have most of them tagged and say there are 3 to 5 in the immediate area where I dive at any given time. While diving for abalone I had a great white shark come straight in on me, he was 7 feet away from me when he made a hard left turn when he entered the protected area. I kept diving while this was happening. The people in the boat saw the shark and kept me informed on his progress…
It works, trust me.
Justin Baker, Spearfisher
Fort Pierce, Florida, United States
Used my Shark Shield a few days ago for the first time honestly not by virtue at first but circumstance… I shot a nice mutton snapper at 60 feet with only about 25 feet visibility and right before I hit the surface a bull shark showed up and decided my fish looked like a good snack… Despite my best efforts I lost the fish and now had shark on the brain. I went back to the boat and put the Shark Shield on. Immediately I felt more comfortable diving in the murk and didn’t lose another fish while still seeing a few more sharks. And just to answer a few questions before they are asked, yes I got shocked/no it wasn’t that bad and it was definitely far less of a pain in the butt to dive with than I expected!
Stoked on this device!
Benefits
The world’s only scientifically proven and independently tested electrical shark deterrent
Mandated safety equipment in industries such as Abalone Diving, used by the US & Australian Navies
Use extensively by commercial divers in shark infested waters
Very popular amongst spearfishermen when diving in sharky waters
Comfortable, lightweight with an easy to wear neropene velcro pouch
Lithium rechargeable battery, over 300 charge cycles
Longlife battery, lasts up to 6 hours
Depth rated to 50 meters (164 feet)
3 Reasons why the Freedom 7 is Effective
The Power of One
You’re out alone. Floating on the waves or diving beneath the surface. It’s just you and the elements. There’s no time to fear what’s out there swimming with you. With FREEDOM7 you know you’re safe from sharks. You have the power to dive or fish in peace.
- Some of the world’s leading oceanographic scientists have worked on developing the Shark Shield range.
- The Shield has become the safety device chosen by professional divers in the US and Australian Navies and has become mandated equipment in the Australian Professional Abalone Diving Industry.
- The unique pulsing current emitted by the FREEDOM7 does not replicate that of fish and therefore will therefore not attract sharks to the area.
On The Edge
You’re a thrill seeker. You choose the ocean for your adventures because you want to see more, experience more and catch more than you ever thought possible. The Shark Shield will enable you to go to the edge. Both within yourself and out there in the deep blue without fear of the powerful rulers of the deep.
- The rechargeable lithium ion battery pack provides up to seven hours of usage. That’s a full day out diving or paddling on only one charge!
- Dive up to 50m (148 feet) with the Shield attached to your ankle, snorkel or scuba tank.
- The Shark Shield is the world’s only scientifically proven and independently tested electronic shark deterrent system available on the market today, with over twenty years of world-class research.
Knowledge is Power
When you’re out there chasing shoals or paddling over swells you want all the knowledge you can get. Your safety depends on it. The more you know about the ocean playground you love, the better equipped you are. Empower yourself with the FREEDOM7.
- Sharks have tiny gel filled sacs in their snouts called ‘Ampullae of Lorenzini’. The Shield creates an electrical field that causes these snout sensors to spasm uncomfortably.
- The Shark Shield repels all predatory shark species. These include Great Whites, Tigers, Zambezi (Bull), Mako, Oceanic, Grey Nurse, Hammerhead sharks.
- If you make contact with the antennae you might experience mild stimulation but you cannot be electrocuted. (See our FAQ’s for more info.)
Download The Freedom 7 User manual
Technology
Sharkshield Beach Safety
Beach safety in South Africa is always high on the priority list for local coastal authorities to protect swimmers and other ocean users. Such an initiative has come for the Fish Hoek Life Saving Club active at Fish Hoek Bay in Cape Town where many deadly shark attacks have taken place in recent years. They have installed more than 25 Freedom 7 units suspended from anchored buoys over a distance of a 100m. This protective barrier was put up twice a week during training of young life savers and also gave added protection for bathers during those times. Recently new sharkshield technology is being tested to install a continuous band of an electrical pulse that could be installed permanently.
The photos indicates some of the units being charged as well as of the beach on a lifesaving training day also an amateur drone photo of a shark just behind the surf line in very shallow waters. Fish Hook is one of the sites where permanent Shark Spotters are employed during summer months and on the beach photo the white flag can be seeing indication a safe beach.
