Vero-Ocean-> Sharks

[chrisd596]

Going to Vero Beach in a few weeks wonder if we should be overly concerned about the incidents of shark attacks in the waters. Is there an effort at Vero to watch out for sharks or do most of you swim in the pool. I know it's the ocean and we love the ocean but wondering if some of you have been to Vero and your experiences with the ocean there.
Thanks for your help!

 

[Laurajean1014]

Just came back from VB! We saw no sharks, nor was there a concenration on them. We swam passed the breakers and rented wave runners!

It was horrific, on what happened to the boy last week!
Usually, sharks do not like shallow waters, however, every once and a while they "get lost." On Long Island, they found a 5 ft shark in 20 ft water - so they closed the beach for an hour and re-directed the shark out to sea.

I am sure that waters in FLA will be monitored more carefully now that the boy was attacked!

Have a great time................L

 

[The4OfUs]

My DD (9 yrs old) saw this on the news and is frightened to go to Disney in August now. Had to show her several maps to prove that Orlando is not close enough to the ocean to worry about sharks in the lake. *sigh*

 

[SnowWitch]

We just returned from VB a few weeks ago, an older gentleman caught a hammerhead shark(3.5ft) long right on the beach. He was fishing about a .5 mile down from the swimming area.

I believe last year they had a shark attack in Melbourne, I think its just several miles up the coast from VB.

However like the poster above said shark attacks are rare. Just be safe. Don't swim early in the morning or late evenings. These are feeding times for sharks. The young boy that was attacked was attacked around 7:30 pm. Don't wear jewelry, sharks may think its a cute shiney fish scale.

 

[nickglover]

We were there in May. No sign of shraks, but one day there was a steady stream of bait fish swimming south to north, parallel to the beach. Whenever you see this, you should be more aware of the possibility of larger fish, including sharks, coming in to feed. I have never been very concerned and have always enjoyed ocean swimming, but I never swim at night.

 

[prncssjas]

We were at VB in May and saw no sharks and I hate to be paranoid but this kinda stuff really scares me! I guess the scariest part is that you never know what could happen...and we need to be really careful when we are out there. This would never stop me from going to VB because we love it there but it makes me think twice about the water. YIKES!

 

[PamOKW]

Shark attacks have happened in Vero in the past. They will post current dangers at the Disney boardwalk entrance to the beach and you can also check the lifeguard station flag (just up a bit from the resort). Use caution in the ocean at all times (not just at Vero). Especially remember the ocean is "real" and keep an eye on your children and you'll be fine.

 

[DisneyMim]

We have been there the last two Augusts. In 1999 we didn't see any sharks, but last year we did. We walked along the beach and spoke with a man who lives there. He told us it happens there, sharks are spotted all the time. Needless to say my kids would not go swimming in the ocean after seeing the sharks. To be honest I wasn't too comfy with it either. This hasn't stopped us however, we are going back next month. We live in NE and go to the beach frequently. It happens up here too. ANYWHERE you are on the ocean there are always the possibility of sharks. Just use caution. The pool in Vero is very nice, we use it instead of the ocean. My kids have already said they are not planning to go out any distance in the ocean, but as others have said sharks can come into shallow water as well. Just as an aside I was reading over my issue of Disney Magic last night and came across the article about the resurfacing of the Vero pool in September. IMHO I would be upset because Vero only has the one pool. This would definetly cause my husband and I to cancell our plans.

 

[mickey1010]

My wife and I were at VB in April 1999 and saw a shark. I was wading in waist deep water about 80' out when I noticed a bunch of people on the beach looking in my direction and pointing. I looked behind me and about another 30' out was a shark fin! Needless to say, I "calmly" made my way back to shore. I watched it until it made it's way back to the depths. It couldn't have been more than 3 or 4' in length, but it was definitely an experience!

 

[Sorcerer]

Sometimes dolphins can be easily mistaken for sharks, especially by folks unfamiliar with the ocean. It's always better to be safe than sorry, but I wouldn't be overcautious at the expense of my enjoyment. You can be just as easily bitten by a rabid raccoon on an evening walk as attacked by a shark in the ocean.

 

[mikek]

Theres probably a better chance of a transportation accident on the way to the beach. I think the news just makes it a big issue because its so rare.

I just saw an article in the local paper here that NJ is historically only second to FL for shark attacks. (of course they manipulated the statistics like people do- probably based on attacks per mile of shore line- or some other scam). And if I remember correctly it was basically due to the attack at the turn of the century when a shark went nutz and ate a bunch of people, eventually wandering into Matawan creek. (incidently the incident was supposed to be part of the basis for the JAWS series).

- just rambling- my point is if NJ is 2nd- I wouldnt sweat it too much since I dont think its happened here in probably 50 years.

 

[Richnj]

If you stand on the pier at Daytona you can see them once in a while and nobody on the beach is aware they are around. I use to dive in the ocean. You will now find me pool side. Not to scare you but there are big things in that water.

 

[PamOKW]

Not to scare anyone but in Nov. 1998 a boy was killed in shallow water at the Jaycee Beach in Vero. There have also been incidents with surfers being bitten. If there is a shark warning posted it's not to be taken lightly. On the other hand, it's not something to be excessively fearful of either.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Didn't someone make a movie about this???????

 

[CarolAnnC]

I was also well aware of the boy who was killed by a shark at Vero several years ago. I have been several times to Vero Beach and saw sharks every time I was there. If you watch from the beach and look out, you can see the fins surfacing sometimes as they swim past. As others have said, they do have signs and warnings posted about this on the beach.

That being said, I think people need to keep in mind that sharks live in the ocean and that it is not unusual. That is their home and we should just keep aware as we are enjoying the water. Personally, I stick to swimming in the pool!

 

[nickglover]

As a general rule, if you see fins surfacing occasionally, those belong to dolphins, as they go up and down. When sharks are near the surface, their fins are usually visible all the time.
I have heard of people flying over inlets, such as a popular surfing area near St. Augustine, and being amazed by the # of sharks in the water.
I have gone swimming in the Gulf many times down near Sarasota, and someone mentioned there must be a lot of sharks around because the Mote Marine Shark Institute is just north of there, and they wouldn't be located there if there was nothing to study!
It is very rare that a shark will attack a person, and usually it is by accident (mistaking a surfer on a board for a turtle or something), but it does happen. The shark that just attacked that poor boy near Pensacola was said to be unusually skinny and may have been starving.
The best thing to do is to be on the lookout and not to go in too deep, which is a good rule anyway, due to riptides, which kill a lot more people in Florida than sharks.