Ocean swimmers and scuba divers, are you scared of shark attacks?

[cantdrv55]

We’re going snorkeling in 3 weeks. My son really wants to go so I have to take him. I’m scared as hell of encountering sharks. Have been since I saw Jaws as a kid. About twenty years ago while snorkeling, a sea turtle snuck up on me and that freaked me out. You guys who swim in the ocean, are you concerned about sharks? Or do you think the likelihood of encountering one is extremely slim?

[Bill Douglas]

You'll be fine.

Two things. don't go into the sea if you are cut and bleeding (coral scratches included) and they say don't pat dogs before going in.

[Scott Douglas]

I'd say it all depends on where you're snorkeling. I wouldn't do it near a sea lion rookery.
For that matter, I'd be more worried about the pollutants in the water, at least around here, than the sharks, of which there have been a few sightings in recent months.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by cantdrv55

We’re going snorkeling in 3 weeks. My son really wants to go so I have to take him. I’m scared as hell of encountering sharks. Have been since I saw Jaws as a kid. About twenty years ago while snorkeling, a sea turtle snuck up on me and that freaked me out. You guys who swim in the ocean, are you concerned about sharks? Or do you think the likelihood of encountering one is extremely slim?

Lots and lots of folks see sharks. Sharks rarely attack. Even sharks that are curious and come close rarely attack.

Just don't give them a funny look, and watch what pronoun you use to refer to them and you'll be fine

I guess this isn't the place to start posting undersea videos.

One more note, don't use your fingers to feed a moray eel hot dogs. And that one isn't in green, LOL! Don't tug on supermans cape. Don't spit into the wind, and don't pull the mask off the old lone ranger.

[GH85Carrera]

Oklahoma has been not had a shark in several million years! I feel pretty safe.

[Seahawk]

My first inclination was to write the below:

Snorkeling is the aquatic version of, "I'll just put it a little way in"...

I know, snark, not shark, central...so I deleted it.

To borrow a turn of phrase from the airline industry, you are more likely to get hurt driving to the snorkel that you are snorkeling. I know that doesn't help, but the world wide numbers are easy to digest, as are Florida's:

https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/shark-attacks/yearly-worldwide-summary/

Now, that said, a little concern is good. This should help:

[Shaun @ Tru6]

When I was flying out to SF 1-2 times a month I would go down to Half Moon Bay and surf.

One day I was sitting on the board and the water was particularly murky. I looked down and I couldn't see much past my knee. In that moment I had a very real vision of a shark coming up from below and chomping off my leg. Studied that for a few moments and then a wave came.

[Eric Hahl]

I'm more afraid of these little guys...

[fastfredracing]

It used to never bother me, until I saw a fisherman reel in a shark bigger than I was . When he released it , it came darting right towards my wife and I .
It seemed like it covered 100 yards in a few seconds . I was in chest deep water and just stood there ready to soil myself . It was a cool experience .
I think about that all the time .
I worked with a kid who had a nice scar on his ankle from a shark bite . He was a surfer from Ca.
Plus, a guy from here in Pittsburgh went missing in the OBX a few years back while we were there . He went out swimming at night, shark bait . I think they found his body the next morning .
I cant help thinking about it when Im in the ocean .. Funny, I never worry much about it here in Pa.

[ramonesfreak]

After seeing a bull shark (key west) eat my 150lb tarpon in 2 bites while people were jet skiing and parasailing all around us, no never again would I snorkel or swim in the ocean. I’ve also watched way too many kayak ocean fishing videos with shark encounters. No thanks

[Seahawk]

I grew up in California and was a very average surfer but a very good surf kayaker, have been for over 50 (gasp) years.

I never gave sharks and other “players “ much thought until I started flying helicopters all over the world.

Flight school in Florida, tours in San Diego, etc, then flights over clear waters in the Pacific.

We are not alone.

BTW, the data on when, where, time of year this happens is charted like the NYSE.

[Deschodt]

I was certified in norcal and we never dived the area between north of Monterey and south of Ft Bragg, especially during seal birth season (if there' s such a thing, maybe they were pulling my leg, but either way it seemed annoying to drive so far when the ocean was right there)
Even then, down in a kelp forest with a seal playfully biting my fin, or acting lik e atorpedo with airbrakes right to my face (very cool) my thought always was like "Cool, nice, now F-off before you attract a shark" ;-)

As a teen I once fell off my windsurf pretty much nose to nose with the biggest shark I ever saw (mediterranean), close enough to touch it, I think they said later it was a pilgrim shark but googling it, seems like "Basking shark". Harmless but huge bleeping mouth. I violated the laws of physics that day and ejected out of the water back onto my board like aquaman. Worried? In general no, but aware and respectful. I also would not go dive with sharks for fun. Being bitten / drowned by a prehistoric species is not a good way to go.

[ramonesfreak]

Another thing….I was once snorkeling in key largo. When we got back on the boat the guide asked us if we saw the huge hammerhead. We had not. That was the last time I snorkeled - 22 years ago

Hammerheads would not be my most feared shark but still

Oh and I worked with a guy who’s cousin was “eaten” by a shark while on vacation in Fla. no body.

[Racerbvd]

They don't bother me, I have been bumped and like I am sure Baz has when surfing.




[img]http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads26/IMG_20160628_1915251685047228

[Shaun @ Tru6]

[cantdrv55]

Mothereffer!

[sc_rufctr]

"... are you scared of shark attacks? " - In short no but I never turn my back to the ocean and never go deeper than my nipples. I still surf but not so much lately.

Yes that sounds paranoid but "we" have some of the largest Great White sharks in the world close to Adelaide.

"In 1974, footage of live sharks used in the 1975 American film, Jaws was filmed at Dangerous Reef by Ron Taylor."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dangerous_Reef

Note the red marker. That's "Dangerous Reef" so if your ever in Adelaide don't forget to bring your swimming trunks...

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Spent my childhood snorkeling in the Bahamas, most of the time on my own, or on weekends with a friend, never once saw a shark

Also spent a summer working as a snorkeling instructor in Mexico, did dozens of snorkelling trips in Sea of Cortez with guests, never once saw a shark

You'll be fine but just in case are you confident you can swim faster than your son?

I'd be more worried about getting sun burn than being attacked by a shark

[ramonesfreak]

The thing that really disturbed me was not seeing the shark eat my tarpon like a french fry. When I was fighting my tarpon I was standing on the bow looking down when I saw what looked like a submarine. The size of it! When I saw it, it made my hairs stand up. I was speechless. Thinking about it now, almost 12 years to the very day gives me goose bumps….the experience of this, it’s silent presence, was life changing for me

And tarpon are damn fast and strong. The speed and dexterity of the shark was unreal. It took it a second to get my tarpon. No splashing or chasing. The charter captain actually thought my tarpon was closer to 200 lbs based on site and how long it took to get it to the boat….45 minutes…nothing left but some scales glittering in the sun.

Now if it’s any consolation when was the last time you heard of anyone in key west getting attacked? I can’t recall….and sharks are everywhere there and so are people doing their water sports

Not sure where you are going but you might get better advice if you said where you are going

[ramonesfreak]

And bring Alby Mangels with you for protection!

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

"... are you scared of shark attacks? " - In short no but I never turn my back to the ocean and never go deeper than my nipples. I still surf but not so much lately.

Yes that sounds paranoid but "we" have some of the largest Great White sharks in the world close to Adelaide.

"In 1974, footage of live sharks used in the 1975 American film, Jaws was filmed at Dangerous Reef by Ron Taylor."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dangerous_Reef

Note the red marker. That's "Dangerous Reef" so if your ever in Adelaide don't forget to bring your swimming trunks...