Please Register / Login to take part in discussions about the Virgin Islands.
iam not sure what kind of response this will bring but i need to know. last week i was snorkeling at honeymoon beach at st. john when i had my first shark encounter. i was watching some fish activity on the bottom approximately ten to fifteen ft deep when i turned around to make sure it was clear around me. and iam questing around thirty ft away there it was, dark in color and about five to six ft long. i know what a nurse shark looks like and this was not one! i knew even though i was not far from shore i had no chance of getting away from this stunning creature. i was alittle in shock but was not afraid and was taken in by its grace and beauty. it swam by then headed back into the deep. i watched to see if it would circle around which it didnt. i swam away but not far from that area and maybe not better judgement decided i wanted to possibly see more. but it was gone, now my question is i had no time to yell shark or even want to when i first spotted it. but what should i have done when it was gone? should i have started telling people on the beach? there was no lifeguards i wouldnt wanted to start a panic but i would never want anything to happen to someone either. please advise so people out there maybe able to respond in a proper way, thanks..............
More than likely most people who snorkel realize that the possibility of seeing a shark is quite possible. I was there a few weeks ago. I saw a nurse and two lemon's. I have heard from others than people have been seeing more sharks. Not sure why? Maybe this is a good sign. It could be a sign that the waters are getting healthier. Or maybe just the other. I don't think I would of yelled shark, some may panic and flap around like a helpless fish. Which you know would not have helped your situation. I think if it would of "checked you out more" than i would have more cause for concern. I agree with you they are graceful creatures. After all we are in their "territory" so I guess we should expect to see them from time to time. Lucky us for being blessed for seeing them!! 🙂
😛 Oh hey how far out were you and what area were you in at honeymoon? I am nosey
The sharks here aren't people eaters so no need to panic, period.
sorry it took so long to get back to respond. i was positioned about thirty to no more than id say forty feet from the beach. if facing the beach where the beach ends near the house, i was just left where the coral starts to end. in a sandy area right before the grassy area begins, hope this helps.
The sharks here aren't people eaters so no need to panic, period.
That makes me feel better 😀
When was the last time someone was bitten by a shark? '71, I think? Absolutely NO WORRIES here.
and what the heck... if the sharks were people eaters you would make the paper
it would not like be sitting at home and dying for no apparent reason with a small obit
you would be a headliner and go out on the front page 😀 *-) 😀
When was the last time someone was bitten by a shark? '71, I think? Absolutely NO WORRIES here.
I guess that's pretty much an accurate statement, unless the bites are on a 37 year cycle. In that case, we're due...........bottom line, it's WAY too dangerous to schedule your vacatin in the Virgins any time soon. Please make other arrangements for other parts of the world..........................well, it was worth a shot.
Can't WAIT for July!!!!:-):-);)
-Bert
Caribbean shark attack info here:
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/statistics/GAttack/Caribbean.htm
The "most wanted list"...
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/statistics/species2.htm
That is 136 fatal attacks since 1580. You have much better odds winning the Powerball lottery.
Things that really WILL hurt you in the water: urchins, coral, various cnidarians, the fins of your fellow snorkelers... 😉
East....been trying to win that powerball with the office and after 110 tickets, nothing, not even the powerball number. You make me feel alot safer 🙂
Ah, but when you do win, I get a little crumb, right? 😉
Just FYI...
I was on STJ last week (don't remember the exact beach) and someone snorkeling nearby said they just had seen a baby shark.
Justin
We saw a bunch of stingrays at Trunk Bay 2 weeks ago, they were somewhat friendly, they would swim up next to shore where we were snorkeling. Not sure if they were looking for food, I'm not even sure what a stingray eats. I know that they are not sharks, but it was neat to see some larger sealife snorkeling, so long as I am at a reasonable distance. Never had a fear of stingrays until I heard the news of Steve Irwins deadly encounter.
Molly
And until the girl riding in the boat in florida the other day. scary!
scooby
