Hilton Head and Sharks?

[drise]

We're going to HH in August and of course my mother has to mention the shark bites that have happened recently at the Outer Banks and Florida. Anyone here of any at HH?

 

[RumpleMom]

I haven't heard of sharks at HHI, but that doesn't mean anything.

I do know personally that a jellyfish sting smarts. The lifeguard had vinegar in a spray bottle for the sting.

News reports have said that sharks feed at dawn and dusk, so stay out of the water at those times. Also never go in the water at night.

 

[JVL1018]

I have never seen one, but I am sure they're there.
We were there in April and a woman came up to the beach house bleeding from her foot. She was shaking and looked like she was about to pass out from the pain. She had had a run in with a stingray.
My brother and my husband helped her out (both FF)until the medics came.
The medics poured warm water over her foot(not cold like my brother was doing) and the pain lessened immediately. I was surprised the staff didn't know, but they didn't really help at all. So if you get stung by a stingray-WARM water!

 

[Sammie]

It is the ocean so yes there can be sharks. We have seen more reported cases at Vero than HHI though.

 

[com_op_2000]

Check out this thread with pictures:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2371788
Castaway Cay has sharks, for anyone that didn't know.

 

[msabol01]

Not to stir the pot, but...I was told during a dolphin excursion that alligator have been know to come up on the beaches as well. Apparently, they treat themselves to a dermabrasion with the sand...

 

[Mfgs]

We were in Hilton Head last week. Not at DVC, my mother lives there. We did not experience any shark sightings but my daughter did get a mild jelly fish sting. Sting rays are at there worst around the end of May/beginning of June, when they come into the shallow water to "look for other cute sting rays". At least this what I was told by the ER doc who treated my son's ankle when he was hooked by one during Memorial Day weekend several years ago. As far as alligators are concerned, I believe they do not go in the salt water, just the brackish fresh water lagoons that are all over the island. My mom has a lagoon in her back yard and there are several alligators in it.

 

[dizzneebabe]

Nope-no sharks! That's what I tell myself every time my DH and kids are in the water! I won't go past my knees/thighs

They did see a small shark (maybe 3 feet?) back in 2007 that kept swimming around everyone in and out of the waves. It never breached the surface...and they weren't afraid-- just thought it was cool!

 

[Dean]

http://www.carolina-beaches.com/shark-attacks.htm I would agree it's not a major risk but anytime you go into the water there are risks. There have been attacks at HH as well.

 

[chum]

There have been record lemon, hammerhead and blacktip shark catches by Hilton Head fisherman in local waters. At night in the marinas you would not believe how many shark come to feed.

http://www.islandpacket.com/2010/07/23/1316331/dentist-lands-a-toothy-record.html

Close to shore you may see some small sand shark.

 

[carolinesc7]

Stingrays and jellyfish are more common. We know several people who have been stung by both. A "trick" for avoiding a stingray is to shuffle your feet in the sand as you walk instead of stepping up and down. This way, if you brush against a stingray, it will swim away, instead of you stepping right on top of it and being stung.
Haven't heard much about sharks this summer, but last summer we were there at least 3 times when we were on the beach during shark sightings. If a lifeguard sees a shark, they will clear the water up and down the beach. Also, if a school of dolphin, or other fish that sharks feed on go by, they will also clear everyone from the water. Oh, we have also seen a whole school of stingrays go by, and they cleared the water for that, also.
Hilton Head is a great place! Enjoy!!

 

[ercrbc]

My 5yo niece got bit by a small sand shark at the Isle of Palms last week (just north of Charleston, 2hrs from HHI). I thought my SIL was joking when she told me but apparently the shark made a pretty good mark on her foot. My niece is enjoying telling people all about it now

 

[cj9200]

Sharks are in every ocean and open water in the world. The number of shark attacks world wide is very small. I am not saying they don't happen but it is an extremely rare occurrence. Nearly all sharks are more afraid of you then you are of them.

Sting Ray stings usually come from the ray being stepped on and startled. If rays are prevalent in the shallows shuffle your feet in the sand as you walk. It will give ample warning to them that something is coming and to get out of the area.

Rip tides are more of concern then sea life along the eastern seaboard.

 

[nickspace]

While we were on the HH pier crabbing someone caught a small shark while fishing. Perhaps it was a little cousin of Bruce from Finding Nemo.

 

[Who's your Mickey?]

I have a beach house in HHI. I see fishermen pulling sharks out of the surf all the time. Most of them are small, but I'm always amazed by the volume. Almost all get thrown back, so maybe it's the same group getting caught over and over, but there sure seem to be a lot of them...