Sharks at Vero? (Inspired by Shark Bite @ Hilton Head)

[MrsNick]

Has anyone ever heard of a shark bite or shark attack at the beach at Disney's Vero Beach Resort?

Thanks.

 

[floridafam]

I think there was an attack on a young boy many years ago.

I'll try and find something on google.

We have seen sharks just North of the resort a couple of times.

I still don't let my kids go very far into the water. I just can't.

 

[floridafam]

www.cnn.com/US/9811/23/shark.attack/index.html

 

[MrsNick]

Thanks for the link.

Yikes, I hope July isn't considered a migratory time where the bait fish are close to shore!

 

[sean-1966]

When I was young I was told "if it's warm and it's salt water there's sharks". I still remember that.

 

[JimMIA]

When I was young I was told "if it's warm and it's salt water there's sharks". I still remember that.

Or cold. It's an ocean thing -- they live there.

Basic facts of Florida life:

1. We have roughly 18 million people who live here full time.
2. We have more than 85 million visitors each year (my pocketbook thanks each and every one of you!)
3. We have approximately 1350 miles of coastline (about the distance from Miami to NYC)
4. We don't know how many sharks there are in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, but it's a bunch.
5. However many sharks there are, multiply that by 10 for barracuda, and don't even think about jellyfish and Man 'O War!
6. We have about a million alligators in Florida
7. We also have deer, black bear, Florida Panther, bobcat, coyote (yep), racoon, possum, Palmetto Bug, cockroach, and 43 species of mosquitoes in Everglades National Park alone.
8. Did I mention deer flies and horseflies?
9. Oh! And wasps, and bees, and fire ants?
10. Therefore...there are going to be encounters between those 103 million people and wildlife, and not all of them are going to go well.

My personal rule is, if you don't feel comfortable in a situation (and I don't feel comfortable if I know sharks are in a particular area)...don't go there.

 

[JerJan]

While I was staying at VB DVC last June I spent several hours watching some small nurse sharks (approx 2 to 4 feet) about six of them, schooling for something to eat. They are ALWAYS there..... we just don't ALWAYS see them! My policy is if you don't bother them...they won't bother you. As a SCUBA diver I have found that the norm is for them to swim away from humans unless they are provoked, or sick or you happen upon them at feeding time.

 

[Sammie]

Yes there have been shark attacks at Vero Beach. There is also a very strong undertow current in the area. Be sure to always head the warnings posted at the entrance to the beach.

 

[DVCconvert]

DVC VB Guests average a 50/50 ratio of surviving a swim at the beach.





KIDDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[lisareniff]

Has anyone ever heard of a shark bite or shark attack at the beach at Disney's Vero Beach Resort?

They don't serve them at the beach but might at the Green Cabin room! I always go for the planters punch myself

Please humor my small attempt at humor

Shark Bite - blue curacao, rum, coconut rum, vodka & grenadine

 

[MrsNick]

They don't serve them at the beach but might at the Green Cabin room! I always go for the planters punch myself

Please humor my small attempt at humor

I guess a little bit of the hair of the dog that bit you never hurts. I'll be sampling some of that on vacation!

 

[MrsNick]

Yes there have been shark attacks at Vero Beach. There is also a very strong undertow current in the area. Be sure to always head the warnings posted at the entrance to the beach.

Thanks for the advice. DSD is not a very strong swimmer, so DH and I will be keeping a very close eye on her.

 

[friskykitten]

JimMIA--

Don't forget to add those inspiring Love Bugs to your list!

 

[MagikMom]

When I saw the title of this thread I almost had a heart attack! We are leaving in 4 weeks for our first HH stay and my 13 year old daughter, who LOVES the ocean, is pertified to go swimming at HH because of fear of sharks. PLEASE tell me there have been no shark attacks there!

 

[MrsNick]

When I saw the title of this thread I almost had a heart attack! We are leaving in 4 weeks for our first HH stay and my 13 year old daughter, who LOVES the ocean, is pertified to go swimming at HH because of fear of sharks. PLEASE tell me there have been no shark attacks there!

Check the other thread about Shark bite at Hilton Head...

 

[JimMIA]

JimMIA--

Don't forget to add those inspiring Love Bugs to your list!

I left love bugs out because they are harmless unless you're riding a motorcycle without a helmet. If you choose to do that, wear sunglasses and try not to smile too much!

 

[diznyfanatic]

Or cold. It's an ocean thing -- they live there.

Basic facts of Florida life:

1. We have roughly 18 million people who live here full time.
2. We have more than 85 million visitors each year (my pocketbook thanks each and every one of you!)
3. We have approximately 1350 miles of coastline (about the distance from Miami to NYC)
4. We don't know how many sharks there are in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, but it's a bunch.
5. However many sharks there are, multiply that by 10 for barracuda, and don't even think about jellyfish and Man 'O War!
6. We have about a million alligators in Florida
7. We also have deer, black bear, Florida Panther, bobcat, coyote (yep), racoon, possum, Palmetto Bug, cockroach, and 43 species of mosquitoes in Everglades National Park alone.
8. Did I mention deer flies and horseflies?
9. Oh! And wasps, and bees, and fire ants?
10. Therefore...there are going to be encounters between those 103 million people and wildlife, and not all of them are going to go well.

My personal rule is, if you don't feel comfortable in a situation (and I don't feel comfortable if I know sharks are in a particular area)...don't go there.

That reminds me of a conversation we had with a CM at WDW. When we were there during Spring break, we had to first stop at Guest Relations at DTD to pick up our annual passes. While we were waiting, we struck up a conversation with one of the CM's there who said he and his family were in the process of moving back to the Midwest. He said his wife had been pretty miserable ever since they had moved to Florida, due to the heat, hurricanes, sharks, alligators, snakes and large number of bugs, lizards and sundry other wildlife, etc.

He quoted her as saying that "Florida was never meant to be inhabited by humans."

 

[LakeAriel]

Unfortunately, I will not vacation at Vero Beach for this reason. I absolutely love the ocean and to go on a vacation and NOT go in, well..why?
Vero beach is not far from Smyrna Beach which had several attacks in the past couple of years. I'll stick to the Jersey Shore. My in-laws live in Hilton Head which is loaded with gators. When the secret get out I'm sure the sharks will head north. Till then..I'll stick to Disney World for Florida fun and New Jersey for the ocean...I'm a coward!

 

[JimMIA]

Vero beach is not far from Smyrna Beach which had several attacks in the past couple of years.

Actually, it's 115 miles, or further than either the entire length of the Florida Keys, or the distance from Key West to Cuba.

I'll stick to the Jersey Shore. My in-laws live in Hilton Head which is loaded with gators. When the secret get out I'm sure the sharks will head north. Till then..I'll stick to Disney World for Florida fun and New Jersey for the ocean...I'm a coward!

That's a "pick your poison" thing. I don't like sharks either, but I'd rather chance the black-tips we have here than the Great Whites you have off the NE Atlantic coast. You may recall Jaws was not set in Florida! That was not an accident.

 

[MrsNick]

Actually, it's 115 miles, or further than either the entire length of the Florida Keys, or the distance from Key West to Cuba. That's a "pick your poison" thing. I don't like sharks either, but I'd rather chance the black-tips we have here than the Great Whites you have off the NE Atlantic coast. You may recall Jaws was not set in Florida! That was not an accident.

Jim, thanks for the multiple posts laying out the facts.