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Magnets may be a great new addition to a surfboard, because, as you can see from this video, sharks violently swim away from the magnetic field.
Not just any magnet will do, however.
Neodymium magnets are far more powerful, and would definitely be my magnet of choice for this application.
As you can see from the video, the sharks will not respond to a weak magnetic field, but they will unquestionably be repelled by a stronger neodymium magnet. Wired May 15, 2007
This effect was discovered when researchers handling powerful rare-earth magnets dropped one next to a shark research tank in 2005. The lemon sharks and nurse sharks in the tank darted to the opposite wall.
After investigating the phenomenon, they theorized that the magnets overload the sharks' ampullae of Lorenzini, which are small vesicles and pores around the head of the shark that form part of a sensory network.
One important tip if you want to use a magnet for this purpose when out in the ocean: encase it in some type of plastic enclosure so that the salt water will not damage the magnet over time and cause it to oxidize (rust).
At one time, I used neodymium magnets in my practice and was able to find a good source for them if you are interested (Bunting Magnets, 847/593-2060), but you can also easily find a source closer to you through Google.
Sure seems to me like the PERFECT swimming buddy when you are out in shark-infested waters. I can assure you that next winter when I head out to Maui I will most certainly be carrying this in my pocket.
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