? lurking in my mind....sharks

[PartiesNBalloons]

Hi all,

We're just a few weeks out from our July 20th Western cruise and the question my kids, 14 & 12, keep asking is, "Are there sharks???" They are absolutely terrified about snokeling, thinking that they will come upon a shark or a shark will come upon them. The places we are thinking about snorkeling are a Chankanaab Park, one of the wrecks off 7-mile beach and CC. We're also doing the Stingray City tour. So, does anyone out there know how many shark attacks or shark sighting there are for these areas?

I've tried to do this research on my own because I didn't want to start a 'scare' thread and make others fearful also but I cannot find anything on the net about it.

thanks,

 

[abitjaded]

In all our years of snorkeling and diving, Hawaii, Mexico and Carribean, I have never seen a shark, my husband saw one, a nurse shark (no threat). There are specific places that specialize in shark dives, not my cup of tea. Hopefully folks will have specific info about your sites. Just remind your kids that a heck of a lot more PEOPLE eat sharks, than sharks eat people. Often attacks take place because the human looks like food (surfers on boards, wet suits, fins-look like seals, sharks favorite fare; or cut on coral and bleeding, or dangling nets of bleeding fish or bait). Most of the places you may be will have lots of people with faces in the water, safety in numbers, plus the tour operators are certainly not going to plop you somewhere where sharks frequent. Once you kids get in the water and see the wonders, they will forget about scary things. (This from a person who grew up in Colorado and freaked the first time a fish went by my leg in a lake.)

Carla

 

[JJRide]

Below is a quote from "The Magical Disney Cruise Guide - Your Unofficial Guide to Having a Magical Voyage Aboard the Ships of the Disney Cruise Line"

"A net called a “marine life protection barrier” encloses the lagoon to allow smaller fish to enter, while deterring large sea creatures if you know what we mean. "
and
"Be cautious when you are near a Barracuda. Though you are on a Disney cruise, not everything is perfectly controlled. Barracuda have been seen at Castaway Cay and are quite the attraction, one even having a name. But these fish are not animatronic, tame or trained. They are dangerous and have razor-sharp rows of teeth that can quicly slice through flesh. They are attracted to glimmering metal. So if you have jewelry on and spot one, you should move away. A better idea would be to leave the jewelry aboard, in your safe."

Enjoy your trip

 

[prymsu]

go to Dave's website www.dcltribute.com and click on Dave's external links if i am remembering right. There are a couple of links about sharks, and how to reduce your risk of attack.

hope this helps.

 

[northsouth]

What I have heard, from "experts", is the most danger is in murky water (mostly because the sharks can't see as well), and a lot of Caribbean places have crystal clear water, so the danger is lessened. Just what I've heard.

 

[PartiesNBalloons]

Thanks everyone. I'll talk with my kids and hopefully ease their minds. I do need to make sure that my DD does not wear any jewelry, especially ankle braclets.