Sharks?!

[fairytalelover]

Ok, I have a question in regards to sharks? Just wondering if anyone has every come across a shark while snorkeling or swimming at Castaway Cay or Nassau. How safe is it in the water? This is coming from a person who has a water/shark phobia

 

[missmulan]

there was a thread re: shark sighting at CC couple of months ago. you might want to search this thread keyword sharks.

and there are signs postings & warning of sharks, jellyfish, barracuda, etc..on CC.

 

[fairytalelover]

Wow! Really?? I just may skip the water sports! UGH!

 

[fairytalelover]

I did a search and cant seem to find any threads about shark sightings at Castaway Cay.

Anybody here have any such experiences??

 

[missmulan]

Sorry about that...I couldn't find it either. But if I remembered correctly, there were small shark sightings in the adult area of the beach. The nettings had broke and there were small sharks in the water. This was around December/January (???).

 

[RKB]

I thought that there was some type of netting up around the swim areas at Castaway Cay that would keep out any large critters. Does anyone know about this?

 

[fkfad]

There is "fencing" around the beaches at CC... We were snorkeling there last week (2/15), and ran into several large jellyfish... We were unsure whether or not they were the stinging kind, so, we got out of the water...

 

[rejobako]

Even if there were no netting, your risk of being attacked by a shark while swimming off a Caribbean beach is miniscule. Bees, wasps, and snakes each account for far more deaths per year, and your risk of being struck by lightning in a given year is roughly 30 times the risk of being attacked by a shark.

If you want to take precautions, don't wear shiny jewelry in the water, don't go in if you're bleeding, and don't go in if there's any bait fishing happening nearby. (Although as has been noted, there is netting around the swimming areas at CC that should keep out any larger predators.)

(On a personal note, one of the most exhilarating moments of my life was while being investigated by a curious shark while diving in the Keys . . . but that shark was friendly compared to the barracuda on the next morning's dive. Sharks are scary, but they seem more curious than aggressive. Barracudas, on the other hand, are truly malevolent looking.)

Of course, if you should take all these precautions and a Tiger Shark chomps your leg off at the knee . . . . never mind.

 

[meandmad]

Very well said, Rejobako! I encountered a shark while snorkeling at Molokini Crater off the coast of Maui. He was WAY down at the bottom and I was WAY up at the top -- it was SO exciting.

Rejobako, better amend a disclaimer on your posting. hee hee

 

[jlowejd5]

But they all had Australian accents, and were mumbling something about "friends, not food". Very creepy.

 

[HollyH]

In June we did the Seahorse Catamaran Snorkel Adventure while in CC and my DH & I saw a barracuda while snorkeling. The majority of the excursioners jumped back into the catamaran but my DH & I stayed a reasonable distance, didn't try to approach it and had no problems. Got lots of pictures. It stayed for about 10-15 minutes in the area before moving on. I agree with rejobako, they are truly malevolent looking!

 

[HooKooDooKu]

Ok, I have a question in regards to sharks? Just wondering if anyone has every come across a shark while snorkeling or swimming at Castaway Cay or Nassau. How safe is it in the water? This is coming from a person who has a water/shark phobia

While not common, I came across this fella while snorkelling off the ADULT beach (unlike the sheltered lagoon between the ship and family beaches). Shark Image, look for outline on left side of image. I was about 100 yards off shore, he was about 10 yards away, looked to be about 6 ft long. Disappeared into the background of the waters in about 10 seconds. I was also relative alone (DW was about 10 yards away looking in another direction and never saw the shark except for this picture). If you are a part of a crowd such that you will encounter if you go on an excursion, I doubt there is much of a chance that you'll encounter a shark.

As for how safe? These reef sharks know that we are not food. They will leave you alone. While that can't be said with 100% certainty, as others will tell you, you're much more likely to be killed in an accident getting to CC than you are of getting injured (much less killed) by a shark.

There isn't even much you have to do in the way of keeping your self safe other than following the buddy system (even if you are a part of a group). And the buddy system is really more important to keep you safe in general than to keep you safe from criters in the water. Again, for example, you are more likely to either accidently swallow some sea water and start to gag, choke, or just get sea sick and get sick while your in the water. If you're in water in over your head (which is usually the case in snorkelling situations), you COULD find your self in deep trouble regardless of how good a swimmer you are. Of course all these things are most likely NOT going to happen, but by using the buddy system, you're likely to be safe (in the long run) even if the "worst case scenario" happens.

As an example, I consider myself to be a VERY strong swimmer. I lived in swimming pools during the summer growing up. When I go snorkelling at CC, it doesn't worry me to snorkel out as far as the orange floats you see off the adult beach (and they are a ways out there in about 8 foot of water). But we quickly abandoned our last attempt to snorkel off the adult beach because the wave, while only 4 feet high, were enough that DW and I couldn't keep our eyes on each other.

 

[jrabbit]

I believe that the safety net "protects" the family beach / snorkeling trail only and that the adults only beach (Serenity Bay) is unobstructed open ocean.

Someone posted their picture of the shark at Castaway cay once again last week (Feb 14-18). I don't remember what the thread was called.

 

[jhorstma]

I have a feeling we're not making OP feel any better about going in the water.

If you have swimming weather (sunny, warm, calm seas) and a buddy who's swimming too then swim!!! Snorkel too if you're a good or even average swimmer (wear a life jacket and you float). I can give a six-sigma rock-solid double-dog certain guarantee that you'll come back happier than when you went (unless you forget to slather on sunscreen), if for no other reason than you'll be pleasantly tired and hungry and can pull up some beach with a little bbq and maybe a conch cooler and relax in the warm sun.

Seriously, the critters to watch out for are jellyfish, but then with so many people out there you'll probably hear about them before you go in. Guides on snorkeling adventures will keep you guys safe (dead men leave no tips).

You probably are at much greater risk driving to the airport or walking on a moving/swaying ship than by becoming Purina Shark Chow.

 

[jlowejd5]

Really. Hmmm... I remember seeing a big floaty thing 200 yards out off of Serenity Bay. I guess I assumed it was the fencing. Meh.

I might could take a shark in two feet of crystal clear water, said the big fat ninja....er, Great White Ninja...

 

[HooKooDooKu]

Sorry about that...I couldn't find it either. But if I remembered correctly, there were small shark sightings in the adult area of the beach. The nettings had broke and there were small sharks in the water. This was around December/January (???).

Just to clarify, the only part of the water around CC that is protected is the lagoon between the ship and the family beaches (snorkel lagoon, family beach, teen beach).

The rest of the island, INCLUDING THE ADULT BEACH is wide open to the ocean. In addition to seeing the 6 foot shark mentioned above, I've also been lucky enough to see an adult stingray (3-4 foot wide???).

 

[HooKooDooKu]

Really. Hmmm... I remember seeing a big floaty thing 200 yards out off of Serenity Bay. I guess I assumed it was the fencing. Meh.

I might could take a shark in two feet of crystal clear water, said the big fat ninja....er, Great White Ninja...

The only thing I've ever noticed was the orange floats, and they are basically just a floating ball anchored with a weight to the sea floor. Like I said in my post, I've swam as far out as these floats (but not much beyond them).

 

[disneygatorfan]

I saw 2 small nurse sharks in Serenity Bay during my 7 day in December.

From my post, seems these two nurse sharks are there quite a bit. They were about 3 ft big.

 

[fairytalelover]

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

 

[huey duey & luey]

While not common, I came across this fella while snorkelling off the ADULT beach (unlike the sheltered lagoon between the ship and family beaches). Shark Image, look for outline on left side of image. I was about 100 yards off shore, he was about 10 yards away, looked to be about 6 ft long. Disappeared into the background of the waters in about 10 seconds. I was also relative alone (DW was about 10 yards away looking in another direction and never saw the shark except for this picture).

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