Has There Ever Been Sharks Spotted on Castaway Cay?

[mmouse37]

My son caught Barrie's brother on the CC fishing excursion a few years back...

This guys weighed in at about 33 lbs.!!

 

[MrsJobba1]

Hi my hubby took these photos on Serenity Bay ( my fave place)

There were lots of baracudas (sp?)

The next photo we believe is a nurse shark - sorry its not very clear but my dh was swimming back towards land as soon as he spotted it!

 

[MGM94]

I have also seen sharks out at SB. (My favorite place on the island) Both times the sharks were closer to land then I was, so I just waited for them to pass. Second time it happened I was out about waste deep and was told "hey look" so I turned around to see the top of the shark swimming by the legs of people not even knee deep in the water. We all just kept from any big sudden moves and it was fine. Yes, we did have our eye's on the look out after that. Me I worry more about sea lice as it has effected more people on the island. A little fear keeps you smart and alert.

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

I am sort of freaking out right now... has anyone seen sharks during the snorkling excursions...Shipwreak and Reef snorkling? or Fury Catamaran and snorkle?? I am terrified and in awe of sharks.. I think I would panic if I saw one if the water with me...

Are you asking about the snorkeling excursion at CC?

I've only done it once and didn't see any. But that's because we were over the reef and the water was shallow and I was always looking down. If anything I was disappointed that the fish we saw were rather small in size.

I also suspect that if a shark in the area saw a boatload of people drop into the water and start swimming in their direction that said shark would turn around and get the heck out of there.

 

[Qball]

My DH and FIL, went on the fishing excusion at CC and caught a shark!!! Have pics to prove it...it wasn't a nurse shark either...of course NOT a great white either....sorry, hope i didn't freak anyone out.

 

[bschiffler]

In November, my husband and son did the CC fishing excursion. They were right off the island and "accidently" caught a 7 foot Shark. The pictures are amazing but I felt so bad for the shark. They can't take the hook off of their mouths because it is too dangerous and they said the shark will absorb the hook? Yeah right! I still think of that poor shark out there possibly suffering! I was so suprised how close the sharks are to CC.

 

[wdhinn89]

My DH and FIL, went on the fishing excusion at CC and caught a shark!!! Have pics to prove it...it wasn't a nurse shark either...of course NOT a great white either....sorry, hope i didn't freak anyone out.

In November, my husband and son did the CC fishing excursion. They were right off the island and "accidently" caught a 7 foot Shark. The pictures are amazing but I felt so bad for the shark. They can't take the hook off of their mouths because it is too dangerous and they said the shark will absorb the hook? Yeah right! I still think of that poor shark out there possibly suffering! I was so suprised how close the sharks are to CC.

My husband did also in 2005. He was told it was a SandBar shark. It was awesome.

 

[The_Ryno]

In November, my husband and son did the CC fishing excursion. They were right off the island and "accidently" caught a 7 foot Shark. The pictures are amazing but I felt so bad for the shark. They can't take the hook off of their mouths because it is too dangerous and they said the shark will absorb the hook? Yeah right! I still think of that poor shark out there possibly suffering! I was so suprised how close the sharks are to CC.

Sharks have incredible immune systems, the hook wouldn't do anything to it. When they put radio transmitters into sharks for tracking they dont worry about using sterile equipment since their immune systems are so strong. Plus the salt water would help the hook rust out in about 2 weeks I believe.

I have done a swimming with sharks excursion in St. Thomas at Coral World, they had a few nurse sharks, some lemon sharks( 3rd or so deadliest shark), and some oceanic blacktips. It was amazing, granted I like sharks and want to study them after college.

As a general rule they will leave you alone as long as you leave them alone.

 

[Skuba2]

That's what your dive knife is for-if you've heard the old diving joke.

Barracudas are really not a problem unless your dive partner has slit your leg to get away as in the above joke.

To the OP-personally, I would rather be seeing what's under the water, than be swimming along unaware.
That's part of the thrill of diving and snorkeling. It's very cool to see creatures in their natural environment. If you have a healthy respect for that, you will be fine.

I am petrified of swimming or wading through water I can't see in. But, I love diving those same waters. LOL! It is a whole different perspective when you are down there with them as oppose to not knowing. Hanging at 100 feet on a wall is about as close as you can get to space on earth.

The stingray we saw was pretty close to shore---about 2/3 the way from the big buoys. We saw it when we were up on our chair. Grabbed the goggles and went swimming "with it"----stayed a respectful distance and just observed. It zig-zagged its way through the water eating.

Be aware, be careful, have fun!

DG

 

[La2kw]

Didn't see any sharks. We did have a stare down with Barrie this past summer. He is a good three or more feet long and was cruising out by the sunken sub in the Family Beach area.

We saw one of these at the family beach last summer, right up near shore with lots of little ones splashing around.

 

[bschiffler]

Good to know the shark isn't suffering. My husband had told me the same thing but I thought he was just trying to make me feel good.

 

[Grandma4ever]

I know most folks will think me crazy but I would love to see a shark. That is as long as I can keep my distance. I kinda like my arms and legs. I will be snokeling in September/October 08.

 

[Anjelica]

I have to agree with the one poster who stated they would rather see what's swimming around them then not knowing. I never felt safer then when I was down at the ocean bottom looking up as I could see for tens of yards away in all directions.

Don't worry and have a good vacation. I think Shark bites have been happening for years its just they are more widely reported (especially on slow news days).

 

[gummyvites]

Okay, I admit I'm a little dense here... Are barracuda dangerous to humans? I know they are tough hunters of other fish, but do they attack people?

Thanks!

K.

 

[mamawanavacation]

Thanks for all the info! Wow, I'm so suprised at all the sightings! Though I suppose I shouldn't be since it is the ocean after all. I guess just being aware is the important thing to do. I guess I'll stop heckling my husband for his paranoia, apparently it does have merrit.

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

Okay, I admit I'm a little dense here... Are barracuda dangerous to humans? I know they are tough hunters of other fish, but do they attack people?

Thanks!

K.

From Wikipedia:

Barracudas and humans
Like sharks, barracudas have long had a bad reputation as being dangerous to humans. However, unprovoked attacks on humans are extremely rare and millions of scuba divers, snorkelers and swimmers spend time with them in the water without any incidents. Barracudas have been observed following snorkelers and scuba divers across a reef, which can make one feel uncomfortable, but they are harmless unless provoked. As barracudas are also scavengers, they may mistake snorkelers for large predators and follow them to scavenge the remains of any prey left after an attack.

Being formidable hunters, they should be respected, as barracudas are perfectly capable of defending themselves against humans that harass them. Handfeeding or trying to touch them is strongly discouraged. Spearfishing around barracudas can also be quite dangerous, as they are strongly attracted by the wounded fish.

There have been isolated cases where barracudas did bite a human, but these incidents are rare and are believed to be caused by bad visibility. Barracudas will stop after the first bite as humans are not their normal food source.[


- Jennifer

 

[allshookup]

We've seen jelly fish, small barracuda & a small stingray at the family beach, but no sharks.

 

[paulasillars]

Listen to the Podcast from a couple of weeks ago where Pete talked about the tour at SeaWorld. He quoted some amazing stats, something like there are 10 fatal shark attacks worldwide every year but 100 MILLION sharks are slaughtered every year for shark fin soup.

At that rate, you'd be lucky to spot one of these rare and elusive creatures

Chances of getting killed crossing the road or in a fatal car crash are much, much higher than shark attacks.

Oh and don't forget mosquitoes, they have killed half the population that has ever lived on the planet...

 

[mmouse37]

It may have been mentioned already (I did not read every post) but DCL has a shark net at the family beach....to keep sharks out.

At the adult beach there is no net.

 

[wkrider]

Yes....when we were at Serenity Bay there was a nurse or sand shark. Very small and non threatening. Was cool to watch.