Cocoa Beach.....is there a shark risk?

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

So.....I have a 16 year old who has seen every Jaws movie ever made, and each one at least 10 times. Ditto to the shark documentaries on the Discovery Channel and on National Geographic. There's a fascination and a fear.

We live nowhere near an ocean, and plan to build in a day at Cocoa Beach to this upcoming vacation. I want to swim in the water and cross off another item on my bucket list .

DS is worried about a shark risk. I know a shark attack is "unlikely", however.....is it still a concern or something we should be wary of? Are there shark nets, or is the risk so remote that they are not necessary?

I know there are many Floridians on this board, so I'm hoping someone can either allay his fears or confirm that yes, indeed, we should be very worried!!

 

[Orlando Vic]

The risk really is minor. However, in the next county to the north (Volusia County) there is a risk at Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach. You can even check the threat in this Database of Volusia shark attacks
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/volusia/orl-shark-attack-searchpage,0,4538591.htmlstory

Don't worry about Cocoa Beach.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

The risk really is minor. However, in the next county to the north (Volusia County) there is a risk at Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach. You can even check the threat in this Database of Volusia shark attacks
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/volusia/orl-shark-attack-searchpage,0,4538591.htmlstory

Don't worry about Cocoa Beach.

After some Google research, I don't know if it has made us more afraid or less afraid .

We are used to bear encounters up here in the Great White North, but sharks? Now they can scare the bejeezus out of us.

Thanks for your reassurance, Orlando Vic!

 

[greenclan67]

After some Google research, I don't know if it has made us more afraid or less afraid .

We are used to bear encounters up here in the Great White North, but sharks? Now they can scare the bejeezus out of us.

Thanks for your reassurance, Orlando Vic!

I had to laugh when you said mentioned the bear attacks!!!! We just had our "Countryfest" weekend here, and of course who decided to visit, but a great big black bear, that could smell all of the vendors food! I to am always afraid of the shark attacks! Love the ocean, but haven't yet got myself into swimming, have waded to my knees, but that is about it!

 

[castmembermom]

I make a day trip over there every visit, and always swim in the ocean along side tons of other locals. You will be fine. Enjoy.

 

[taylor3297]

There is always a chance of a shark being in the water, but it isn't worth worrying over.

One way to reduce your risk is not to go at the time of day sharks like to feed, early in the morning and at dusk.

We go to the beach all the time and never worry about it.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I to am always afraid of the shark attacks! Love the ocean, but haven't yet got myself into swimming, have waded to my knees, but that is about it!

Phew! We are not the only ones who suffers from a wee bit of shark paranoia. I was beginning to wonder for a minute!!

I make a day trip over there every visit, and always swim in the ocean along side tons of other locals. You will be fine. Enjoy.

There is always a chance of a shark being in the water, but it isn't worth worrying over.

One way to reduce your risk is not to go at the time of day sharks like to feed, early in the morning and at dusk.

We go to the beach all the time and never worry about it.

Thank you both for the kind reassurance. Much appreciated!

 

[ckshultz]

A good friend of mine lives in Cocoa and has been to that beach all her life and has never had an issue, nor has her family. I think the major issue is the surfers and the tendency to look like food.
beachhunter.net/thingstoknow/ sharks/index.htm

 

[Dopey420]

You are more likely to get struck by lightning than bitten by a shark. Florida is the lightning strike capital of the world.

 

[mikehn]

There may be sharks in Florida, but not any great white sharks, the water in Florida is too warm for great whites.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

A good friend of mine lives in Cocoa and has been to that beach all her life and has never had an issue, nor has her family. I think the major issue is the surfers and the tendency to look like food.
beachhunter.net/thingstoknow/ sharks/index.htm

I guess its all in perspective......we looked up the number of shark attacks in Brevard County since 1882 (or something like that) and it was about 134 cases. And we thought....holy mackerel! 134! But I guess if you think of the volume of people, maybe its more like "wow! only 134!".

You are more likely to get struck by lightning than bitten by a shark. Florida is the lightning strike capital of the world.

Oh, great. Something else to fret about (just kidding).

There may be sharks in Florida, but not any great white sharks, the water in Florida is too warm for great whites.

Its not necessarily Great Whites we fear, its pretty much all of them with teeth .

Thanks to all for the great reassurance. We will make our trip to the Atlantic and dip those toes in the ocean. If we are feeling really brave, we might even swim .

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I am half expecting the elusive tag fairy to hit me on this one....something along the lines of "Has an irrational fear of sharks".......

 

[Jaco5nc]

We were in Cocoa Beach last week and had a great time!! Both of my kids had a blast boogie boarding and body surfing (they are 5 & 9). The water is very shallow very far out and there are tons of people swimming. I was born and raised in South Florida (live in NC now) and have never had a problem...enjoy your time there!!

 

[geko29]

Don't worry about it--you are more than twice as likely to be killed by a vending machine as a shark. No, really. Annual death rates of people killed by vending machines is 1 in 112 million. Likelihood of being killed by shark attack is 1 in 250 million. For comparison, you are more than 71x more likely to drown at the beach (1 in 3.5 million) than be killed by a shark. You don't see people avoiding the beach because of this far more likely (albeit still highly unlikely) possibility, so there's no reason to avoid it because of an almost infinitesimally small danger.

Just stay away from dark, murky, water, which is where they like to hunt, and you'll drop your risk to basically zero. Sharks are cowards, and prefer to sneak up on prey rather than approach them in open water.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Don't worry about it--you are more than twice as likely to be killed by a vending machine as a shark. No, really. Annual death rates of people killed by vending machines is 1 in 112 million. Likelihood of being killed by shark attack is 1 in 250 million. For comparison, you are more than 71x more likely to drown at the beach (1 in 3.5 million) than be killed by a shark. You don't see people avoiding the beach because of this far more likely (albeit still highly unlikely) possibility, so there's no reason to avoid it because of an almost infinitesimally small danger.

Just stay away from dark, murky, water, which is where they like to hunt, and you'll drop your risk to basically zero. Sharks are cowards, and prefer to sneak up on prey rather than approach them in open water.

Great statistics . Now this is the kind of stuff that will help alleviate the concerns of my teenager. Thank you!

 

[Orlando Vic]

The risk really is minor. However, in the next county to the north (Volusia County) there is a risk at Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach. You can even check the threat in this Database of Volusia shark attacks
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/volusia/orl-shark-attack-searchpage,0,4538591.htmlstory

Don't worry about Cocoa Beach.

Two more shark bites at New Smyrna Beach today.

http://www.news-journalonline.com/breakingnews/2012/09/2-bitten-by-sharks-in-new-smyrna-beach-this-weekend.html

You'll be fine at Cocoa Beach.