How to Vacay and not get Eaten by Sharks

[oreocook11]

Been researching cool beaches to go for fun but also read headlines weekly about sharks attacking/eating people, even in popular Florida places.

Any beach going experts here on what are some less risky places to goto ?

 

[MuffDiver]

Been researching cool beaches to go for fun but also read headlines weekly about sharks attacking/eating people, even in popular Florida places.

Any beach going experts here on what are some less risky places to goto ?

OCEARCH Shark Tracker

OCEARCH is a data-centric organization built to help scientists collect previously unattainable data in the ocean.

www.ocearch.org

Be careful in Brazil! I was just there and saw them at several beaches I went too. I've read California, Virginia Beach, the Carolinas and parts of Florida on both sides. The site below will help you out.

I've been diving with sharks and loved it. I'm more concerned with swimming and especially surfing. However, your odds of being attacked are slim. Don't dress like bait (no shiny objects) and don't thrash around and odds are you will be fine. Being around others in the water helps your odds as well.

Frequent beach goer globally and never been attacked but have seen them in the water while I was there too. I promptly exited for the day! Swimming in the ocean off Wildwood way far from shore was definitely one of my dumber moments. Lifeguard thought my buddy and I were lunatics as he whistled frantically for us to come in! Ahhh, youthful exuberance and stupidity!

 

[bazokajoe]

Hawaii is pretty safe even tho the stats say other wise.
I've been their multiple times. Most attacks occur on surfers and kayakers fishing.
Waikiki Beach has never had a confirmed shark bite.

They just kept swimming and they left." The state Department of Land and Natural Resources said there has never been a confirmed shark bite in Waikiki waters because of the large number of people in the area.

If you go into salt water there could be sharks and even brackish water has sharks( Bull sharks).
So if it worries you that much there are many great beaches along the Great Lakes.

 

[massman]

Don’t hear about too many shark attacks in the nice beach destinations in the Carribean.

 

[jeff2]

Club Med Turkoise. Club Med got the best part of the beach because they were there first. Often voted best in the world. I remember someone from the scuba/snorkling crew saying they do not have aggressive sharks there. Also, this is only a 4 hour flight if you get a direct flight. This is an adults only resort. Beach is great, whether you like the resort or not I do not know.

 

[wigglee]

Lake Ontario is shark free!

 

[Mr Deeds]

This is ridiculous your chances of getting attacked by a shark are miniscule just don't tie a hunk of meat to yourself before you go swimming

 

[Twister]

16 people got attacked last year in Florida. A little over once a month.

 

[oreocook11]

What are your guys fav beach spots in the Caribbean? Non Spanish speaking country. I love Hawaii but the jetlag gets me sometime. Florida is too F-ed up I'd never visit that state. Hell on earth.

 

[richaceg]

Vacation in Montana.....

I regularly visit montana and it's underrated beautiful...

 

[John_Jacob]

...worried about the wrong thing...while FL is higher than other places, 'other' places are not immune from them.



US data on NUMBER OF LIGHTNING FATALITIES versus NUMBER OF SHARK BITES and NUMBER OF SHARK BITE FATALITIES

Lightning Strikes

Sharks vs. Lightning Fatalities A Comparison of Unprovoked Shark Attacks with the Number of Lightning Fatalities in Coastal United States: 1959-2010 State Number of Lightning Fatalities Number of Shark bites Number of Shark bite Fatalities Alabama 109 5 0 California 30

www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu

Summary is;
NUMBER OF LIGHTNING FATALITIES NUMBER OF SHARK BITES NUMBER OF SHARK BITE FATALITIES
TOTALS (ANNUAL AVERAGE) 1,970 (37.9) 974 (18.7) 26 (0.5)

You're worried about shark attacks when really you should be worried about being killed by lightning......

Also, the number of deaths due to 'sand holes' on the beaches are greater than deaths due to shark attacks. Don't dig holes on the beach...

Sand Holes

Source of rip current data: United States Life Saving Association. Source of shark attack data: International Shark Attack File, June 2014

www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu

Shark Attack vs. Sand Hole Collapse Fatalities
Sand Hole Collapse Fatalities Compared To Shark Attack Fatalities in the U.S.: 1990-2006
Sand Hole Collapse 16
Shark Attack 11

 

[Fugly]

There is a simple test to determine if sharks may be in the area. Take a small water sample with a teaspoon. If it tastes like salt, sharks may be in the area

 

[Fugly]

No sharks at Oshawa beach. Lots of unemployed locals. Also some Oshawa success stories rocking their mullets and ‘84 Camaros. Stench of rotting algae. Dirty old shipyard. But hey there is a French fry truck. Good times. Sorry for hijacking your thread. Shark attacks are still extremly rare but it does happen. The difference now is that it is often captured on camera like that poor Russian fella. A couple years ago a local Cuban was killed by a bull shark close to the beach where I was vacationing. Do a little research, talk to some locals and be observant. Take care and enjoy your vacation.

 

[dognutz]

How many millions of people go in the ocean every day and how many get attacked by sharks? There's your answer. However I've been to Thailand many times and don't believe there are any there.

On second thought, maybe I'm wrong.

Multiple suspected shark bites reported by New York beachgoers over Fourth of July weekend

The long Fourth of July weekend was a hot one in New York, prompting holidaymakers to head to the beach. At least five suspected shark bites ensued.

www.usatoday.com

 

[bazokajoe]

How many millions of people go in the ocean every day and how many get attacked by sharks? There's your answer. However I've been to Thailand many times and don't believe there are any there.

On second thought, maybe I'm wrong.

Multiple suspected shark bites reported by New York beachgoers over Fourth of July weekend

The long Fourth of July weekend was a hot one in New York, prompting holidaymakers to head to the beach. At least five suspected shark bites ensued.

www.usatoday.com

Oh you are definitely wrong.

 

[MuffDiver]

Here's a good article. I'm a scuba diver, so most of this is common sense to me. Your odds of being killed in a shark attacked are better than winning the 6-49, but still pretty low at 1 in 4,332,817 according to the article. I've been in many places with sharks, gone on shark feedings and observation dives, been snorkeling with them and not one bite. Granted I do have some training, but still. Real sharks are not Jaws. Yes, there are many horrifying true stories out there, but the odds of being killed are about .000025% so take normal precautions and enjoy your trip. You could be struck by lightning tomorrow, but that won't stop you from leaving home. Odds are, if you stay away from trees and electricity conductors in a lightning storm, you will be fine, like every other day of your life.

The 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 8th and 9th bullets are especially good. Never heard of the tan line one before!

https://www.smartertravel.com/shark-safety-tips/



Regarding Thailand, I did a liveaboard trip there and saw sharks, although they were the relatively harmless type. Since we were about 24 hours from land in the Andaman Sea, they probably weren't used to divers and were very skittish.

 

[bazokajoe]

Stop watching Shark Week!!

 

[Nathan 88]

I snorkel all the time in the Caribbean, and I will continue to do so, it’s very rare to even see a shark.
It’s much more dangerous to drive down the street in your car than it is to swim in the ocean.

 

[bazokajoe]

I snorkel all the time in the Caribbean, and I will continue to do so, it’s very rare to even see a shark.
It’s much more dangerous to drive down the street in your car than it is to swim in the ocean.

Or ride on the subway.

 

[Indiana]

Stay out of the ocean