Sharks?!

[fairytalelover]

I fell like Rachel from friends when lokking at her first sonogram, because I can't see it

LOL!! neither could I! That is funny about Rachel.

 

[HooKooDooKu]

Why is there protection and netting for the kids, family and teen area but not for the adults area? Are we expendable??

Well the employee's must be expendable as well, as the employee beach is next to the adult beach.

As for a real answer, I'm sure it has something to do with economics and the "return" on our investment.

The more you try to protect, the more it's going to cost. Then there's the "return" on the investment. They spent money to build a sea wall and close off the lagoon with nets in an area where hundreds of people will be in the water. But the adult beach seams to never have more than about few score of people in the water in a much wider area (relative to exposure to the ocean). In other words, it would cost a lot more to protect the adult beach, but there wouldn't be very many people to protect.

 

[fairytalelover]

Well the employee's must be expendable as well, as the employee beach is next to the adult beach.

As for a real answer, I'm sure it has something to do with economics and ecology.

The more you try to protect, the more it's going to cost. Then there's the "return" on the investment. They spent money to build a sea wall and close off the lagoon with nets in an area where hundreds of people will be in the water. But the adult beach seams to never have more than about few score of people in the water in a much wider area (relative to exposure to the ocean). In other words, it would cost a lot more to protect the adult beach, but there wouldn't be very many people to protect.

I think I will be hanging out with the kids at their beach now and we dont even have kids!!

 

[LissafromSJ]

Adults eat more than kids, so they must cost a heck of a lot more to take care off. Although, there is only really two more meals after Castaway Cay. Then again, you've already paid in full. Yeah, the adults are expendable. I wouldn't worry - from what I've heard, sharks are more in danger from humans that we are from them. Melissa

 

[fairytalelover]

Adults eat more than kids, so they must cost a heck of a lot more to take care off. Although, there is only really two more meals after Castaway Cay. Then again, you've already paid in full. Yeah, the adults are expendable. I wouldn't worry - from what I've heard, sharks are more in danger from humans that we are from them. Melissa

yeah tell that to those people with one leg missing that we see on Shark Week every year.

 

[musicgirl]

Last year at CC, we encountered Barry Barracuda. EHHHHHH!!!

I was the absolute first one in the water with DH and DS close behind. I was just snorkeling minding my own business when I first saw him. He was huge!!! Maybe 10-15 ft long, ok more like 5 ft. But it was huge to me. I could hardly contain myself as I motioned to DH and DS.

All of a sudden, DS runs, yes I said runs out of the water. It was the fastest I had ever seen this teen run. I went back to snorkeling and didn't see him. I didn't see him because he was swimming right underneath me. DH was trying to take a picture, but that is a whole other story.

I didn't know about him underneath me until later that day. Good thing because I might have had to "run" out myself.

When I asked DS why he left in such a hurry, he told me that it was a barracuda. I said "no way". We argued for a bit and then we asked the lifeguard.

He said, "Oh you got to see Barry Barracuda. He's probably gone for the day, he generally feeds in closer until the people come in."

We saw another barracuda on our snorkeling trip this summer at St. Thomas. Well, DH was still trying to get a picture of a barracuda. So what does he do, he follows it. I'm going,"NO, No, come back"

He finally got the picture.

 

[fairytalelover]

Barracudas are very dangerous creatures. Check this out:

http://www.aloha.com/~lifeguards/barracud.html

 

[LookOutBelow]

We were at CC just this past Friday and managed about an hour, uninterupted, at the adult beach. While wading about 75-100 yards offshore I saw several sting rays and yes, a small shark. It was only about 3-4 feet long, but it still managed to make be back up a few feet as it swam closer. Very cool, and it couldn't have cared less that I was there!

 

[fairytalelover]

Is it possibel to see the sharks from shore or do we have to be out in the water a bit?

 

[Honu]

Barracudas can be dangerous, but the one at CC has been there forever and hasn't bothered anyone. Don't touch or feed the fish and they won't bother you.

People are not a food source for sharks. Only a few species are brave enough to actually even come anywhere near us. Human bodies produce electric currents that sharks feel and do not like. Besides that we look really big and we don't taste good. Too many bones.

The nice thing about that white sand and clear blue water is that you can easily see them. If one shows up and you are scared, just calmly swim away and get out of the water. I've been completely awestruck by each and every shark I've encountered while diving and I've yet to feel scared or threatened by any of them. They get really do get a bad rap.

 

[fairytalelover]

Barracudas can be dangerous, but the one at CC has been there forever and hasn't bothered anyone. Don't touch or feed the fish and they won't bother you.

People are not a food source for sharks. Only a few species are brave enough to actually even come anywhere near us. Human bodies produce electric currents that sharks feel and do not like. Besides that we look really big and we don't taste good. Too many bones.

The nice thing about that white sand and clear blue water is that you can easily see them. If one shows up and you are scared, just calmly swim away and get out of the water. I've been completely awestruck by each and every shark I've encountered while diving and I've yet to feel scared or threatened by any of them. They get really do get a bad rap.

have you ever seen one from shore or only when you have been in the water? I would like to see one just not while I am in the water.

 

[Honu]

If they are big enough (dolphin size) you could see them from shore. You probably would not see the little ones until you are right up on them. It's mostly nurse sharks in that area. They have teeth like velcro they use to clamp down on their food and hold it until it dies. They are pretty docile. If one did attack, you'd get scratched up and you'd probably have to bring it out of the water with you to get it pried off. You'd have all your parts though.

 

[mist_e_rose2002]

color me weird, but I would love to see a shark. That would be soooo perfect. The only sharks I've seen are the ones at the per shop in the pond area.

 

[ryan840]

i love sharks, hope to be brave enough to find one some day

 

[becobscot]

We snorkeled all along the Florida Keys last summer and I wish I had a dime for every barracuda we saw. Sometimes there were 10-12 of them just hanging out together. They will creep you out but they rarely attack humans and only when visibility is poor. As for the sharks, on that same trip my 6yo DS and I were lucky enough to see a good sized nurse shark. On a snorkeling excursion off Nassau(with Stuart Cove) they lower a bait box to attract the reef sharks and you can snorkel above them. Our whole family did this and it was very thrilling. Again, most of the sharks you see snorkeling in the Caribbean won't hurt you. And you'll have a cool story to tell your friends.

 

[fairytalelover]

Again, most of the sharks you see snorkeling in the Caribbean won't hurt you. And you'll have a cool story to tell your friends.

"Most"?? That's not very comforting

 

[becobscot]

Sorry I could not say ALL because you should never make broad generalizations! I am the biggest chicken in the world though. So if I did it,you can too.

 

[Honu]

You really do not need to fear being attacked by sharks close to shore. Tiger and Bull sharks, which are the most likely to bite, tend to stick to deeper water. Bites do happen though. Everyone that enters the ocean needs to do so with respect. You need to watch for tides, sharps edges, things that sting, things that bite (even little fish bite) but most of all you need to know what your physical limitations are in the water. It's a wonderful show going on under there that shouldn't be missed. Remember though that we are visitors there and a no touch, no feed, no take policy needs to be observed not only to keep our oceans beautiful, but also to keep yourself safe.

 

[fairytalelover]

Actually shark statistics say that most shark attacks happen in about 3 feet of water. (Learned during Shark Week on the Discovery Channel)

 

[LissafromSJ]

Well, there you have it. That did it for me. Now I'm DEFINITELY not going in the Jacuzzi onboard! Melissa