Shark bite Capital of the World

[AA3JY]

…scuba dived across the inlet at night in order to complete a night navigational dive in swift current requirement and have surfed just north of the jetty .. little did I know back then that this was a ‘Sharky’ area until I saw a big fin coming at me while on my board..

https://www.thesharkoff.com/amp/new-smyrna-beach

[landsend]

Black tip reef sharks. Not bad. Probably mistaken bites on humans. We must taste pretty bad to these guys. keep on surfing...

[GordMay]

Data, released by the International Shark Attack File (ISAF), on Monday [Jan 24/22], suggests that once again, Florida ranked No. 1, in unprovoked shark bites in 2021.

The annual report released by the Gainesville-based organization revealed:
73: Unprovoked shark bites worldwide
47: Unprovoked shark bites in U.S. waters (ranked 1st)
28: Unprovoked shark bites in Florida (ranked 1st)
17: Unprovoked shark bites in Volusia County (ranked 1st) *
51%: Surfing, activity when bit by a shark (ranked 1st)
11: Fatalities worldwide, 9 unprovoked

[1a] “Quick Guide to the 2021 ISAF annual report by Tyler Bowling Jan 24, 2022"
➥ https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/sh...annual-report/

[1b] “The ISAF 2021 shark attack report”
➥ https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/sh...dwide-summary/

The International Shark Attack File [ISAF] ~ The Florida Museum
➥ https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/shark-attacks/


See also:

Global Shark Attack File [GASF] ~ Shark Research Institute
➥ https://www.sharkattackfile.net/index.htm

* Volusia County includes:
Daytona Beach
Daytona Beach Shores
DeLand
New Smyrna Beach
Orange City
Ormond Beach
Ponce Inlet
Port Orange
Deltona
DeBary

[Gary Mc]

I have dove a fair bit with sharks around Florida, Bahamas, Mexico, Oz etc. I always felt, that for most species at least, if they can see you clearly they are not a danger. I think that Bulls in particular move along the surf line in zero viz and it they bump into something they take a bite to see what it is.
If I saw a Tiger, Great White, etc. I would be way less comfortable!

[Networker]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Data, released by the International Shark Attack File (ISAF), on Monday [Jan 24/22], suggests that once again, Florida ranked No. 1, in unprovoked shark bites in 2021.

The annual report released by the Gainesville-based organization revealed:
73: Unprovoked shark bites worldwide
47: Unprovoked shark bites in U.S. waters (ranked 1st)
28: Unprovoked shark bites in Florida (ranked 1st)
17: Unprovoked shark bites in Volusia County (ranked 1st) *
51%: Surfing, activity when bit by a shark (ranked 1st)
11: Fatalities worldwide, 9 unprovoked

[1a] “Quick Guide to the 2021 ISAF annual report by Tyler Bowling Jan 24, 2022"
➥ https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/sh...annual-report/

[1b] “The ISAF 2021 shark attack report”
➥ https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/sh...dwide-summary/

The International Shark Attack File [ISAF] ~ The Florida Museum
➥ https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/shark-attacks/


See also:

Global Shark Attack File [GASF] ~ Shark Research Institute
➥ https://www.sharkattackfile.net/index.htm

* Volusia County includes:
Daytona Beach
Daytona Beach Shores
DeLand
New Smyrna Beach
Orange City
Ormond Beach
Ponce Inlet
Port Orange
Deltona
DeBary

I wonder what a provoked shark bite is and who goes looking to provoke sharks to get bit?

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Networker

I wonder what a provoked shark bite is and who goes looking to provoke sharks to get bit?

The report begins:

“Unprovoked bites” are defined as incidents in which a bite on a live human occurs in the shark’s natural habitat with no human provocation of the shark.
“Provoked bites” occur when a human initiates interaction with a shark in some way. These include instances when divers are bitten after harassing or trying to touch sharks, bites on spearfishers, bites on people attempting to feed sharks, bites occurring while unhooking or removing a shark from a fishing net and so forth.

[Snore]

Originally Posted by GordMay

You might read the report, which begins:

Come to FLA—- if the sharks don’t get ya the lightning will!

[cr180]

We keep our boat in New Smyrna Beach and from there cruise Florida East coast and Abaco and Exuma Bahamas. We routinely see sharks where ever there is current. What is unique about New Smyrna is that the geometry of the beach and jetty at the Ponce Inlet results in waves favorable to surfers. So the current at the inlet attracts the sharks and the waves attract the surfers.

[Be Free]

I used to surf that area (Bethune) in my somewhat misspent youth many decades ago. I had a large shark rub against my leg while I was waiting for a good set out past the last sandbar. It took off a patch of skin but fortunately did not decide to take a taste.

[gamayun]

It's good to see a healthy shark population. I grew up on the west coast of Florida near Sarasota and then near Tallahassee in the Panhandle. If people knew how close their kiddies were swimming near sharks, there'd be a lot fewer tourists. I think the reason there are more shark bites on the east coast than the west coast is because there are more surfing opportunities. Dangling toes look like fish, right? Anyway, I was always more concerned about the gators in the dark water rivers than about the sharks. Except bull sharks when I was diving. They would often come out of nowhere looking like a freight engine coming out of the fog.

[Dave_S]

Here's a product that's got my interest and I am pretty sure I'll buy. I'm often alone in waters that seem like it's a bit sharky and the wetsuit appears to be capable of minimising the cutting damage from a shark attack.

One thing I did notice is that the shark seemed to me to become more aggressive when it couldn't cut through the suit material so there may be more structural damage to your body from a big shark and it may continue to attack? This is consistent thinking because the strongest bite pressure was registered when it was trying to bite through the suit not during tests without the suit.

Not perfect but looks good to me. I've asked about UV protection which is my only concern.

https://youtu.be/4R0a9C-A7sk