Sharks at Castaway Cay?

[MC0810]

OP, im sorry about your fear of sharks, I get were your coming from.
BUT if your going to swim anywhere in the ocean Castaway Cay is going to be the SAFEST beach you can be at since they have the nets.

 

[fairytalelover]

I see you're from California. If you've been swimming in the ocean in California you have nothing to worry about at CC.

I have been in the ocean in my life. Nothing mre than a couple of feet at the most. But no I don't swim in the ocean at all. I saw Jaws when I was a young kid in the movie theater when the movie first came out in the 70s and I have had the phobia of water since then. I don't even like lakes and rivers. I just stay in the pool. I'm actually fascinated by sharks and love watching documentaries about sharks. I love to learn about them. But the funny thing is that when I was young I heard that if you have a phobia you should learn about it since the facts are never as scary as the fear. But the more I learn about sharks the more fear I have gained. In this instance the facts were scarier than the original fear I watch shark week every year and just get more scared

 

[sissy_ib]

I have been in the ocean in my life. Nothing mre than a couple of feet at the most. But no I don't swim in the ocean at all. I saw Jaws when I was a young kid in the movie theater when the movie first came out in the 70s and I have had the phobia of water since then. I don't even like lakes and rivers. I just stay in the pool. I'm actually fascinated by sharks and love watching documentaries about sharks. I love to learn about them. But the funny thing is that when I was young I heard that if you have a phobia you should learn about it since the facts are never as scary as the fear. But the more I learn about sharks the more fear I have gained. In this instance the facts were scarier than the original fear I watch shark week every year and just get more scared

Sorry, I think my last comment came off a little insensitive. I totally understand a fear.
The best part about CC is you can completely enjoy yourself with out getting in the water. There is a splash area on the island. Plus if you little one wants to swim the ships pool will probably be pretty empty.

 

[ilovetexas]

My daughter (15) won't set foot in the ocean. She's not afraid of water, she's on swim team. She's afraid of sharks. I tried to talk her into snorkeling with me in the Bahamas; there's an excursion (not ship sponsored) where you go to three different stops and the last one is where you are snorkeling over sharks. I had hoped that if she saw me do it and not get eaten that she would start to get over her fear....not so much. She was having no part of that excursion!


She says her brothers (12 and 13) keep watching Shark Week and scaring her. I told her to quit watching it with them.


Never fear, there are a lot of things you can do on your vacation that don't involve getting in the ocean. Have fun!

 

[com_op_2000]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2371788
It is originally from 2010 but has pictures of sharks and other sea life taken at CC. It also has my encounter with a Black Tip Shark at CC-SB beach.

 

[pjacobi]

I won't be going in more than my ankles. I'm deathly afraid of sharks

That's deep enough for jellyfish, which cause more deaths than sharks!


-Paul

 

[Magix]

OP - I can totally relate to that JAWS fear! My parents took me to see it when we were on vacation in a nice, seaside town (much like the one in the movie, but on the Pacific) when it first came out. I was 7. I screamed and cried in abject terror, but they did not remove me from the theater. I've had an irrational fear ever since then (I'm 43 now). But, I LOVE the movie. Go figure.

I'd be a bit worried about CC, myself. Haven't been yet, but I've already wondered how well I'd deal with swimming there. I did that snorkelling thing at Typhoon Lagoon, and I knew it had little sharks in it. I'll tell you, I was breathing pretty hard through that snorkle and I wasted no time getting across to the other side. I did it, though. I think at cc, I'd go for a swim, but I'd be darting my eyes around looking for those giant fins!!

Back in 2005, I spent a week crewing aboard a tall ship. We were in port and I was assigned to help with putting a new coat of paint on the bow of the boat. To do that, I had to hang off the side of the bow, over the water, in my climbing harness. I was extremely hesitant to do it. The crew kept telling me, "Trust your harness, it won't break." I couldn't tell them that my REAL fear was that I'd be hanging over the side of the boat, like a stinkin' hors d'oeuvre for JAWS, who would undoubtedly come up out of the murky harbor water and eat me in one gulp! I got the paint job done, but I was secretly freaked out the whole time!

 

[KCmama]

I had been wondering the same thing. Freaks me out. I'll just walk on the edge!

 

[jcemom]

I don't like rivers, lakes, or the ocean, lol. I lived in Orlando for years, and we went to the beach every weekend. I never liked going into the water past my knees. A woman I worked with told me how her dad would fly his small plane, and see sharks all around people not far from shore. Eek! Then, one weekend we went to the beach and it was covered in jellyfish! So, after that, I didn't even like going in as deep as my knees. About the most I am comfortable with is ankle-deep now, and I really don't even like that, LOL. DD wants to snorkle on our upcoming cruise. I'm not sure I can even bring myself to get into the water, let alone look at the stuff I'm in there WITH.

I like to look at fish, and other sea creatures, at the aquarium. I do not want to swim with them.

 

[Makayna]

Personally, all this shark talk, and seeing all of the amazing pictures of sharks, barracuda, and other sea life at CC on those other shark threads is making me SOOOOOOO eager to go experience it for myself!

For the most part, if you don't bother them, they won't bother you.
(the exception to that rule is jelly fish, which I DO have a fear of, but not enough to keep me out of the water... just enough that if I see one, I'm veeeeeery cautious! )

 

[ilovetexas]

A woman I worked with told me how her dad would fly his small plane, and see sharks all around people not far from shore. Eek!

I like to look at fish, and other sea creatures, at the aquarium. I do not want to swim with them.

I remember seeing an ariel video shot several years ago off the coast of FL. People in the water, swimming, playing and having a good time and there were sharks everywhere around them. I guess the water just wasn't clear enough for them to see them.

I found this just now. It's several years old but I guess this is what happens when the water is clear....we realize we are in their territory, not the other way around.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7335074...clear-out-south-florida-beaches/#.T2eOanhqNSU

 

[AKMOUSE]

I won't be going in more than my ankles. I'm deathly afraid of sharks

I am definately with you - we have gone on several vacations and I am only ankle or waist deep (as long as I can see the bottom) because of the fear of sharks.
We just got back from the double dip and I felt 100% safe. We snorkled all over the place and lounged on rafts - waaaaaay out there.
Maybe ignorance is bliss, because I would get that 'what if' then I was like 'NAH!!'

Seeing the netting made me feel secure.

 

[fairytalelover]

OP - I can totally relate to that JAWS fear! My parents took me to see it when we were on vacation in a nice, seaside town (much like the one in the movie, but on the Pacific) when it first came out. I was 7. I screamed and cried in abject terror, but they did not remove me from the theater. I've had an irrational fear ever since then (I'm 43 now). But, I LOVE the movie. Go figure.

I'd be a bit worried about CC, myself. Haven't been yet, but I've already wondered how well I'd deal with swimming there. I did that snorkelling thing at Typhoon Lagoon, and I knew it had little sharks in it. I'll tell you, I was breathing pretty hard through that snorkle and I wasted no time getting across to the other side. I did it, though. I think at cc, I'd go for a swim, but I'd be darting my eyes around looking for those giant fins!!

Back in 2005, I spent a week crewing aboard a tall ship. We were in port and I was assigned to help with putting a new coat of paint on the bow of the boat. To do that, I had to hang off the side of the bow, over the water, in my climbing harness. I was extremely hesitant to do it. The crew kept telling me, "Trust your harness, it won't break." I couldn't tell them that my REAL fear was that I'd be hanging over the side of the boat, like a stinkin' hors d'oeuvre for JAWS, who would undoubtedly come up out of the murky harbor water and eat me in one gulp! I got the paint job done, but I was secretly freaked out the whole time!

We have a lot in common. I was 6 years old when my parents took me to see Jaws ( I'm 42 now). And it's one f my favorite movies now although it created an insane phobia for me

 

[Evi]

I don't know much about migratory paths and such when it comes to sharks but I will tell you they do have great whites in the Caribbean as well as west indies and yucatan peninsula. They are warm water creatures by nature. Now how secure the nets are in Castaway cay I don't know. I do assume Disney wants to create as safe an environment as possible. But you know its nature not much you can do but be concious of your environment. For what its worth your not on the beach for sunup or sunset so you should be good. I know I'm a bit weary of the ocean after going parasailing and seeing all that was in the water including a few sharks. But you have to respect the ocean. Remember when you go swimming to use coral safe sunscreen..

 

[disneyholic family]

Barry the barracuda:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIPEU-mwfNE (with people talking)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMTgjMmtmSA (with creepy music)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OR_8pStpW9U (snorkeler following barry)


Shark:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huEdjOLo3_c

 

[MND]

I won't be going in more than my ankles. I'm deathly afraid of sharks

You should be fine then. Sharks, rarely come onto the beach!

Mike

 

[luvslikepi]

I was once terrified of open water until I went on a snorkeling excursion and fell absolutely in love, even with barracuda in the water. The plain and simple fact is, as many people have stated, most of these creatures will probably stay a good distance away from you. The sharks at CC, from the videos I've seen, are small and non-aggressive species (for the most part). Remember any animal can become aggressive - even domestic cats and dogs - if they feel threatened. If a shark gets too close for your comfort give it a good bop on the nose and it should swim away. If you're worried about sting rays wear a pair of water shoes and "shuffle" your feet on the sand floor that way you can't step on them.

When I Googled Castaway Cay sharks and looked at the "news" section no articles came up so I'm pretty sure you will be safe.

You're more likely to die or get injured in a car accident then have something serious happen to you in the waters. Just remember that and take a chance to overcome some of your phobias.

 

[Capt_BJ]

side story

When dd was about 10 we lived in Miami and had a pool, and dd had a mask and snorkel and was quite comfortable with them. She had heard mom and dad talk about diving, and seen our pictures and videos and begged to go snorkeling 'for real'. So dad and dd set off for a Key Largo snorkeling adventure.

We arrived on the reef on a beautiful day and got in the water with no problems and paddled around for about 10 minutes seeing some little tropical fish.

And then . . . . .

And THEN . . . .

dd noticed a 'cuda who was probably about 3 foot but with standard water magnification appear 220 foot long to her.

dad tried to calm but there was only one second before her fins produced a larger rooster tail then a 1000 hp outboard and she walked on water until back on the boat! She did NOT get back in the water that day, and for years following if wading and saw a fish - a 1 inch fish - FLEW out of the water.

Now you might call me a bad dad and assume that's the end of the story.

Here we are last month

diving "DiveQuest" and she's applied for a fellowship doing underwater biological research in Roatan . . .

She no longers fears these creatures - she respects them as we all should - but knows to just give them their space and all will be fine (99.9% of the time....)

 

[Zandy595]

I remember seeing an ariel video shot several years ago off the coast of FL. People in the water, swimming, playing and having a good time and there were sharks everywhere around them. I guess the water just wasn't clear enough for them to see them.

I found this just now. It's several years old but I guess this is what happens when the water is clear....we realize we are in their territory, not the other way around.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7335074...clear-out-south-florida-beaches/#.T2eOanhqNSU

They're always showing that on the news down here. The traffic helicopters fly over the ocean and take video of sharks. Happens a lot in the summertime.

 

[michigan829]

I guess I just always assumed that Castaway Cay was roped off so that sharks couldn't get in. There goes that theory!