Sharks!!!!!!??

[HooKooDooKu]

I know its probably not the same as snorkeling but its a taste.

Not really.

The only glass bottom boat tour I've done was in Nassau, but it was such a huge disappointment that my DW who was initially afraid to go snorkelling did just that on our next cruise.

sherr,
Don't worry about your DDs snorkelling at CC. Even if there were any sharks in the water, they would likely avoid the crowd of an entire tour in the water. The only thing that is needed is for them to follow the buddy system like I mentioned. And in this case, I mean the six year old being a buddy for your husband as well. Like I said, its possible for anyone to get into trouble snorkelling. But with the crowd of a tour group around, if DH should get into any trouble, DD only has to be able to call for help. And I think you should plan on going snorkelling too. Even if you have never been before, I'd suggest buying a snorkell and jumping into a swimming pool to get used to it. I think the main reason many people fear water is the fact they don't know what's down there. That's what's so great about snorkelling. You get to see what is down there, and you;'ll quickly learn there is nothing to fear.

 

[Hercules10]

For those who are worried, DON'T. If memory serves me correct, there are more people who get hit by lightening then there are shark attacks.

Avoiding being sun burnt should be a more of a concern, because once you're out there and paddling around, you won't want to come in.

Just go and enjoy and don't worry.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

6-7ft long????
I'm only 5'2!

*passing out at desk*

 

[Princess49]

Bibbidy- you are CRACKING ME UP!!! I am sitting here laughing out loud at the thought of you passing out at your desk... mainly because I felt a bit faint myself!! My bf & I are not big ocean people, we prefer the safety of a pool- mainly because we live on Long Island in NY- & compared to the waters down in the carribean the ocean here looks BLACK- besides the fact that it's never really warm! But we did go to St. Pete's Beach a few years ago (cried the whole time because I'd rather be in WDW!) But the water there was exactly the color "sea Green" like you see in a crayola box of crayons! We went in but then saw the sign about doing "the sting ray hop" during a few months that was enough for us... I don't know if we'll feel differently when we're at CC-(we've never really been in the ocean & been able to see the ground through the water) or maybe worse because you can see all of the fish swimming by your feet- I'd be too nervous we would spend our time trying not to step on stuff than looking at it!
I feel silly saying this because no one else has... but why in the name of all things holy would disney net one area & not another?!?!- it's as if it's ok for the sharks to be near couples, but not families... I was excited about the adult only beach - but now I'm thinking the sound of screaming children might be better than the sound of screaming adults!!! I know I'm being dramatic- but it is a really scary thought! I truly belive Disney should be able to control these things... along with the weather & Mickey Mouse shaped clouds! Well, we'll see I guess!

 

[RickW]

Originally posted by Hercules10
For those who are worried, DON'T. If memory serves me correct, there are more people who get hit by lightening then there are shark attacks.

Avoiding being sun burnt should be a more of a concern, because once you're out there and paddling around, you won't want to come in.

Just go and enjoy and don't worry.

This is pretty much what I was going to say. Consider this (I did a bit of research):

Average Number of people (in the World) killed by sharks each year:
3-10

Average Number of people (in the *US*) who die of Skin Cancer each year:
About 10,000

The moral of the story:
If you want to protect yourself at the beach: WEAR SUNSCREEN and don't worry about the sharks.

References:
http://www.aad.org/SkinCancerNews/FactSheet_AK.html
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Sharks/Statistics/2002attacksummary.htm

 

[mark & sandra]

Hello Princess49 from another Long Islander. Having grown up about 2 blocks from the ocean I know what you mean by the water being black and cold, at least you can't see anything in the water. As for swimming in the adult area there is only one thing to remember. You don't have to be faster then the shark, just faster then the people near you!! BTW we leave in 15 hours for our first Disney cruise.

 

[HooKooDooKu]

but why in the name of all things holy would disney net one area & not another?!?!-

It partially has to do with the shape of the island.

On the side of the island that contains the family beach, is located in what is already something of an alcove. Disney built a sea wall to protect the family beach from sea contitions (so even if there are high waves at sea, the children still have some safe water to play in). So all they had to do was put up a relatively short net from the edge of this sea wall back to the island to practically totaly enclose the family beach area.

The adult beach is located on a different side of the island (I don't know for sure, but we are talking something like the family beach is on the west side of the island where the ship docks, the adult beach is on the north side). This adult side of the island has a relatively strait coast line that is wide-open to the ocean. It looks like it would be very cost prohibative to build sea walls and install nets for a section of the beach that has no children and where adults mostly just sun-bath, wading around in the water, or floating on a raft near the shore. The water is generally so shallow that you have to get about 30 yards from shore before the water is really deep enough to swim in. Because the adult side of the island includes not only the adult beach but the employee beach as well, Disney would need more than a mile on nets to enclose the entire area.

 

[Princess49]

ok, I see what you're saying...still I think we may explore & hop back on board to go swimming in the pools... hopefully no sharks, baracudas, sea urchins or the like are there!!!! oh & Rick.... good point, it puts in in perspective... but with my luck I'll be one of the 3 - 10 people to be lunch!!!