Has anyone ever come up close with a shark or barracuda?

[Carrie P]

The reason I ask this is because in the news today they mentioned in Long beach Island New Jersey "The jersey shore" that a young guy was "bitten" by a Young great white shark..... That is pretty darn scarry to me. I'll be in wildwood crest in 3 weeks which is not far away. We saw sand sharks being caught on the beach last year .. To me a shark is a shark.

Just thought it made an interesting topic... Recently this past week I believe was the 30 year anniversary of JAWS.....

So... Have any of you ever had any close encounters with a shark or barracuda while on vacation??????????

[sweet angel]

No close encounters for me, and the kid bitten on LBI is from my town, but hey, when you're on your way back from the Crest, can you pick me up some chocolate nut fudge from Laura's Fudge shop? Thanks. :)

[Rosieo]

When we were snorkling in Hawaii we came across a few sharks. We were told that they don't bother anyone. Still...a shark is a shark is a shark

[christineann]

Saw a shark way below us while snorkeling in Molikini off of Maui - dozens of folks floating on top of the water (bait!), and it paid no attention to us.

 

We saw several barracudas while snorkeling in Chankanaab, and they swam close to us but didn't bother us.

[ROWSE]

In January, did an excursion off of Key West. I saw two sharks. They excited and scared me a little. I tried to get a picture, but only caught the head of one. They did not seem to notice all the snorkelers. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

It was the best snorkeling we've experienced. I'm comparing it to areas in

Hawaii and other caribbean excursions.

The next time we are trying Cabo San Lucas.

[Carrie P]

Absolutely! Only problem is I can't guarantee the box will be full upon arrival! I love choc. fudge..... While having a piece on the boardwalk I almost got run over by the tram car... I was paying no attention to "watch the tram car please"... too busy with the fudge. Had to be there.....

 

 

 

No close encounters for me, and the kid bitten on LBI is from my town, but hey, when you're on your way back from the Crest, can you pick me up some chocolate nut fudge from Laura's Fudge shop? Thanks. :)

[Carrie P]

Wow... some of your excursions/encounters sound amazing but scarry at the same time... I'm not that brave... I love reading the responses to this thread.. Seems like it'll be a fun one with good reading....Hope you all enjoy it.

[DJ TOM]

I have seen Barracudas on the other side of the fence and they (barracudas) were watching people swim with the Dolphins at Chaakanaab. Of course I was swimming with the Dolphins at Dolphin Discovery so I was not scared, and was glad they were on the other side of the fence.

[Carrie P]

I wonder what that was like for those swimming with the dolphins? Did they notice the barracudas? YIKES... Didn't think of that.

I have seen Barracudas on the other side of the fence and they (barracudas) were watching people swim with the Dolphins at Chaakanaab. Of course I was swimming with the Dolphins at Dolphin Discovery so I was not scared, and was glad they were on the other side of the fence.

[Sheffie]

We did swim w/ the nurse sharks in Belize. They are like vacuum cleaners. Swam off when we got in the water.

 

When snorkeling in Cozumel on our first cruise we saw a group of baracuda, but they didn't come close to us.

 

When snorkeling at Princess's private beach, I was using a can of Cheeze Whiz to bait the fish to come to me. It worked well . . . too well. Just an FYI, a can of Cheeze Whiz can also be used to poke at baracuda to drive them off!!! :eek: (Just a small on, but a baracuda just the same.)

 

Michelle

[baabtx]

Sharks by nature are opportunity feeders - they will usually only attack and eat dying or weaker prey. Sometimes when they get in the warmer shallow waters close to shore, they can mistake humans for some of the prey which has brought them close to shore. On my last dive in St. Maarten, I looked to my right and about 10 inches away was a 2 foot Barracuda - it kinda freaked me out, but I know if I don't irritate it, it won't bother me. The same is true for most sharks found in the waters of the Caribbean and other coastal areas. I did a controlled shark dive in St. Maarten 2 years ago and was amazed and their beauty and grace - you just have to know your limitations - it truly taught me a great deal about them. I've also encountered them on other dives and never had a problem.

[Wennfred]

The best advice for the Cuda is to not wear any Chrome or shinny silver items, they will go after that, not a good idea.

 

As for the shark, well you know, Blood will piss them off.:confused:

[NAHA]

We saw a barracuda, about 40", while snorkeling at Coco Cay once. It just sat there and watched us, didn't come close.

[DD]

Ok, that LBI story really freaks me out. We vacationed there for 35 years. In the last few years, we've started going to Cape May, but still....I'll be in Cape May this weekend and you've given me something to think about. It's not that far down the coast.

 

Barracuda -- no problem provided you do not provoke them with flashy jewelry or sequins on your bathing suit. This is NOT the time to wear the bling. In fact, when I dive or snorkel, I do not wear any jewelry. It's well known that they are attracted to things that "glint". In fact, some high-end watch manufacturers actually tout their products as non-glinting for divers.

I've swam with them many times. They're somewhat curious. They seem to hang around and check you out. Only once was I scared out of the water by a barracuda. It was in Cozumel and I swear he was like 4 or 5 feet long. He just wouldn't leave me alone, so I decided that he was there first and I gave him his space.

 

Sharks -- there are so many different kinds of sharks and the majority pose absolutely no threat to humans or at least no more threat than any other fish of their size. I've swam with reef sharks numerous times. I've been circled by them. No sweat. I've also swam with sand sharks (actually pretty common on the Jersey shore) and nurse sharks both in the USVI and Belize. The reef sharks were in Tahiti. At one point, we counted 39 sharks circling us. They pose no danger provided you don't provoke them or enter the water with a big gaping wound. All of the above mentioned sharks are not considered dangerous to man. In fact, very few sharks are agressive.

 

A great white shark, however, is a completely different ball game. No way would I get in the water with a great white. And, if there was a small baby, then you know there's a momma somewhere. That's completely freaky. Do you have a link to the news story? If so, please post it!

 

I do know to never swim at dusk or dawn as that is when sharks feed. Also, do not swim alone. You are less likely to be mistaken for food if you are in a group of people.

 

Other sharks that I would not consider swimming anywhere near include bull sharks and, I think, tiger.

[mandm33]

Absolutely! Only problem is I can't guarantee the box will be full upon arrival! I love choc. fudge..... While having a piece on the boardwalk I almost got run over by the tram car... I was paying no attention to "watch the tram car please"... too busy with the fudge. Had to be there.....

 

 

WATCH the tram car, PUH-LEASE!!!!!

 

Ahh, the childhood memories!!

 

Took my wife there for her first time a couple of years ago. Every now and then, (usually after a bottle -or two- of wine), she'll say those words, and I just about crack up.

 

I know, that was off topic....but, anyway, I do remember one time several years ago on our annual Wildwood vacation that people weren't allowed in the ocean for a couple of days due to shark sitings. I think pool sharks are some of the most dangerous animals out there. :)

[Host Jacquelyn]

I saw barraccudas a couple of times... once in St Thomas (Sapphire Beach), once in Bermuda and once in Aruba. The first time I was pretty far out and swam like mad to get back to shore... of course, the barraccuda could swim faster than me, if it wanted to. I was told by a diver buddy of mine that there are no known accounts of any human being attacked by a barraccuda. I wonder whether that's true.

[DD]

I saw barraccudas a couple of times... once in St Thomas (Sapphire Beach), once in Bermuda and once in Aruba. The first time I was pretty far out and swam like mad to get back to shore... of course, the barraccuda could swim faster than me, if it wanted to. I was told by a diver buddy of mine that there are no known accounts of any human being attacked by a barraccuda. I wonder whether that's true.

 

No, I don't believe that's true. My cousin is an avid diver. A few years ago she was on a dive and there was a guy with a brand new huge shiny belt buckle. I gather that it was a buckle on his weight belt, but I'm not positive. The dive master told him repeatedly not to wear it on the dive but he insisted. The guy was also diving with an underwater camera with a large flash. This guy was my cousin's dive buddy.

 

In the middle of the dive, the idiot kneeled on the ocean floor, leaned back a little and took a picture. My cousin said that all she saw was a flash and then an immediate sand swirl. She said that the sand clouded up the water and made visibility very poor. The sand swirl was caused by the barracudas attacking the guy. They all went towards the belt buckle.

 

She said that they got him back on board and he had a huge gaping wound in his stomach with his intestines coming out of him. My cousin is a nurse. She and the dive master basically "scooped" (her word, not mine) his intestines back into him and tried to control the bleeding until they could get him back to shore. They radioed ahead and he was rushed to a hospital. He lived!

 

My cousin is a grown woman who has been a diver for probably 30 years. I have no reason to doubt her story, even though it completely freaks me out. I never used to dive with jewelry except my wedding ring (just the band, not the diamond). Ever since she told me that, I won't even wear the band.

[jbond]

Swimming with the sharks and barracuda is a popular excursion in Tahiti. We did it in Moorea and Bora Bora. It's intimidating, exciting, but appears to be quite safe. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. You can see my photos at http://community.webshots.com/photo/75905019/75905495zKzDuF Page 055 are sharks in Moorea, 058 is Jojo, a very friendly, but large barracuda and page 077 are sharks in Bora Bora.

[Carrie P]

Hi

 

I don't have a link to the story but it was on fox five news @ 10pm last night again. I'm sure if you go on to abc.com or nbc or cbs they'd have something. Even N.J. News.

Last nights story said surf city N.J. and in the morning (different station) said it was LBI.... Either way they showed the young guy with his wound right above the foot, required 60 stitches to close the wound... OUCH.

Ok, that LBI story really freaks me out. We vacationed there for 35 years. In the last few years, we've started going to Cape May, but still....I'll be in Cape May this weekend and you've given me something to think about. It's not that far down the coast.

 

Barracuda -- no problem provided you do not provoke them with flashy jewelry or sequins on your bathing suit. This is NOT the time to wear the bling. In fact, when I dive or snorkel, I do not wear any jewelry. It's well known that they are attracted to things that "glint". In fact, some high-end watch manufacturers actually tout their products as non-glinting for divers.

I've swam with them many times. They're somewhat curious. They seem to hang around and check you out. Only once was I scared out of the water by a barracuda. It was in Cozumel and I swear he was like 4 or 5 feet long. He just wouldn't leave me alone, so I decided that he was there first and I gave him his space.

 

Sharks -- there are so many different kinds of sharks and the majority pose absolutely no threat to humans or at least no more threat than any other fish of their size. I've swam with reef sharks numerous times. I've been circled by them. No sweat. I've also swam with sand sharks (actually pretty common on the Jersey shore) and nurse sharks both in the USVI and Belize. The reef sharks were in Tahiti. At one point, we counted 39 sharks circling us. They pose no danger provided you don't provoke them or enter the water with a big gaping wound. All of the above mentioned sharks are not considered dangerous to man. In fact, very few sharks are agressive.

 

A great white shark, however, is a completely different ball game. No way would I get in the water with a great white. And, if there was a small baby, then you know there's a momma somewhere. That's completely freaky. Do you have a link to the news story? If so, please post it!

 

I do know to never swim at dusk or dawn as that is when sharks feed. Also, do not swim alone. You are less likely to be mistaken for food if you are in a group of people.

 

Other sharks that I would not consider swimming anywhere near include bull sharks and, I think, tiger.

[Carrie P]

Your pictures are awesome.....

Swimming with the sharks and barracuda is a popular excursion in Tahiti. We did it in Moorea and Bora Bora. It's intimidating, exciting, but appears to be quite safe. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. You can see my photos at http://community.webshots.com/photo/75905019/75905495zKzDuF Page 055 are sharks in Moorea, 058 is Jojo, a very friendly, but large barracuda and page 077 are sharks in Bora Bora.

[DD]

I don't know how to post a link, but here's a cut & paste of a news article

address:

 

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-nj--surferbitten0608jun08,0,5958275.story?coll=ny-lacrosse-standings

 

If it doesn't work, I just googled shark and surf city. It was the first listing that came up. For some reason, it says, "Long Island" in the heading but as you read the article, you'll see it is about Long Beach Island.

 

Surf City -- even worse!!!!! That's where we always rented a house. Too close to home....

 

The one redeeming thing in the article is that it says "a great white OR a sandbar shark." I'm not sure what a sandbar shark is. I'm guessing it's another name for a sand shark. It sounds like basically it bit and then realized the guy was not food and let go. It doesn't sound like an unprovoked outright attack although it's still creepy.

 

Just on a side note, I realize that from my post count I look like a brand newbie, but I'm not. My post count was much much higher before the boards were updated/changed a year or so ago. At that time, I lost my post count. Once the board was switched, I was working like a maniac and going back to school so I wasn't on the board too frequently. It wasn't until recently that I started posting again. So, I'm a newbie to the newly updated board but not to Cruise Critic.

[sweet angel]

Wouldn't a Great White bite require a lot more than 50-60 stitches?

 

Here's the story from today's paper...

http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050609/NEWS02/506090550/1070

[cruiseguy456]

During our last vist to Cozumel in FEB 2004 at Chaakanaab I was up close and personal with a baracuda. Darn no camera! The click might have upset him a bit.

I was surprised that he was there just sitting (well floating) there. An unforgetable experience.

[RiverRev]

My son is a guard on LBI and we live in the same town as the "victim". Here are his thoughts...

 

First, the bite looked more like a blue fish bite. Yes, these fish do bite and can remove toes. Most surfers watch out for schools feeding off of the surf because the fish will indiscriminately bite at small fish and take anything they can get.

 

Second, sharks are common and the guards take regular precautions. Last year, the water was cleared because of a seal (yes, we get those once in a while) swimming in the surf. Since the seal is "good eating" for sharks, bathers were called out of the water to prevent an accidental attack.

 

Third, my son sees far more dolphin than he does shark. On one training exercise two dolphins travelled as escorts of his rescue board for some time. Sharks hate dolphins and vice versa. There are good protectors in the water.

 

Finally, if you want to be safe do NOT wear a swim suit that is blue, grey, or black. These are all the colors of a shark's favorite food (the aforementioned seal). Wear bright colors - yellows, orange, or even red.

[jimbulger]

The reason I ask this is because in the news today they mentioned in Long beach Island New Jersey "The jersey shore" that a young guy was "bitten" by a Young great white shark..... That is pretty darn scarry to me. I'll be in wildwood crest in 3 weeks which is not far away. We saw sand sharks being caught on the beach last year .. To me a shark is a shark.

Just thought it made an interesting topic... Recently this past week I believe was the 30 year anniversary of JAWS.....

So... Have any of you ever had any close encounters with a shark or barracuda while on vacation??????????

 

on my honeymoon cruise on the monarch(back when it did the s. CARIB) we snorkled in barbados and saw a barracudda

the snorkleing guide threw bait into the water which the barracuda grabed quickly...I initially protested this action until the guide said if i feed him bait he wont be hungry for you. My protest stopped pretty fast

 

 

on the voyager in 2003 I snorkled in grand cayman and was 10-15 feet from a nurse shark