[Niiinioa]

When ever a plane goes down, or bout people get into a jam, they are always in "Shark infested waters". When I'm a Sosua (long time ago). I remember some boys who passed the time by watching the swimmers and possibly sharks.

If I take a catamaran out to see, and decide to take a swim, . . . will I be in "Shark infested waters?". If I take a long swim 1/2 mile out to sea, will I be in "Shark infested waters" again.

I'm not trying to slander anything, I just want to get a handle on things, because I am the kind of dope who would take a long swim and find out the hard way the waters are "Shark infested waters".

-Lee

[Nikkkola]

link isn't working, Glow. says "no matches"

[Adeniinteme]

I am scared ****less of fish period !!! The only way i go into the "sea" is to dip my toes... i dont care how small the fish is... minnow or whatever, they're all pirahanas and sharks in my eyes !!!!

[TouccuraLar]

They like fish and seals.

Go swimming, it's safer than driving in the DR.

What a way to go anyway, better than getting bumped off a little motorcycle and run over by Caribe Tours.

[sbrthrds]

Erm............ after all the very helpful shark advice and tips............... can we remember what the OP was asking about? Will he be in 'shark-infested waters if he goes out to sea'?

Sorry Tired BOy...but while we are beating around the bush...i find TCI's post rather interesting.

I DO think TCI answered the orig question tho. Most people out in deep waters who are attacked (like the recent boat incident)...are tired and flailing and looking like tired and easy prey.

I am not sure why would want to actualy swim in deep waters a few miles of shore (being a boat guy here). Sure i have done it but it is really nothing i would seek to do recreationly.

Most shark attacks vs humans happen in the shallows (many times under 4-5 feet of water). that sometimes freaks me out when i am either wading in the water in my home town of Ipswich Massachusetts....or snorkeling around the DR.

I have seen baracudda while snorkeling...and have noticed that they just sorta hang there in the mangroves trying NOT to be noticed and leave you alone. I think TCI gave great advice not to PANIC if by any chance you DO encounter a shark. And i have also heard of punching them in the nose if you do have a fierce encounter.

Well...so far no one has said any specific area is more prone to have sharks so i feel better. and my butt will be in the water next vacation!!!

peace

jj

[Niiinioa]

But I think I swim in a flopping, weak , kind of sick manner.

Like a weak breast stroke. I guess that means they'll see an easy mark.

and if I speed up, we'll that's obviously panic so that'll be the signal to move in for the kill.

I mean I'm big, I practically float on my own, and my stroke is weak, :O ? I really think they'll see me as an easy mark.

-Lee

[EnubreBense]

Particularly true for the carribean.
Sharks in the waters in and around the caribbean that are close enough to the shorelines, are usually close to reefs. That is where they feed.
Snorkelers would probably never get attack.
But it may be different for swimmers who are swimming for long distances in the open water. A shark is a natural hunter. Eventho it is curious, it is cautious, having that naturally instilled fear of humans. A swimmer who get attach is one who is weaken or struggling, hence becoming a targeted prey....and when a swimmer is attached, he wouldn't be killed as humans are not sharks regular feed.
In situations where raft and yola people crossing the open water and for whatever reason the boat capsize, this is what happen. people start to struggle while swimming...most of them end up drowning, and probably eaten but different fishes but not shark. In zones where there are seals, swimmers
and surfers can be mistaken.
A situation happened last year in TCI where 4 policemen were in a 21feet boat that had been shippwreck and the 2 that tried to swim ashore for help got attached, while the two that remain stayput remain safe, eventho they were surrounded by sharks and spot thier behaviors that they put on while in the attached mode.
A diver would know when a shark is in its atached mode. They sort of have to psych up themselves. That is why sometimes they would come and check u out, particularly if they are the smaller sharks. The bigger ones have more confidence. When they shark come to check you out you can swear that it is your last day. Then all of a sudden they would turn away.
A scuba diver sometimes sees this behavior but for the most part the shark are more afraid of them. Just imagine for a bit you are shark, and see those
big eyes from the googles, tank on your bank and realising air bubble, wouldn't you be afraid? Freedivers that are fishing is a totally different story. They are fishing where their catch up in distress and brings about shark, and when they are spearing fishes, blood is in the water....talk about excitement. Usually when the sharks start to come around, then it is time to learn because they are starting to mark their territory. Sooner or later it wouldn't be 1 or 2 sharks anymore, but you will start to see many more. A smart fishmen/divers know that.

[krasniyluch]

Hate to break it to ya, but I would say the ocean as a whole would be a body of "shark infested water"... can't really control 'em!

[Averti$ingGuru]

I swim almost every day along one of the Sosua beaches. Never seen or heard anything about sharks here.
Better watch out for small boats and jetskis. It´s probably easier to get run over by them, than to spot a shark.
I´ve had some encounters with jellyfish though, which caused a lot of red itchy spots on my skin for a few days. But nothing to worry about either.

[CathBraun]

I don't particularly know much on this subject but when i visited the DR for the first time and went scuba-diving i asked the same question out of curiosity.

The diving instructor said that he can dive 3/4 times a week and not see a shark for 18 months - and even then we aren't talking about aggressive ones.

Again i am no expert on the subject but that info made me feel better !

[WaydayTew]

Take a look at this link to see other info on sharks in the DR.
http://www.dr1.com/forums/search.php?searchid=206363


Glow

[bunkalapa]

About 10 years ago a German plane crashed off Sousa. There were no survivors and the sharks got to the bodies. So there are sharks, but I don't know how far out they are.

[sbrthrds]

i would be interested in knowing more about the shark population as well...as i spend A LOT of time in the water. are there specific areas that are prone to large shark populations in the DR?

[EnubreBense]

let's suppose you are in the water, when you see a shark coming in. You spotted the fin coming in to shore, then all the folks started screaming, shark shark!
what you don't want to do is panic. You want to keep your eyes on him, and not have to wonder where is that shark, while finding your way to shore. If you are facing the shark, they wouldn't come to near you, eventho you maybe afraid. I Knew a fisherman who survive an attached by fighting a shark. If you are face with this situation, don't give up. IF you can try to hit the shark on the nose...the most sensitive spot on the body of the shark. The next thing you can do is to put sands, which would be difficult ofcourse, in the gills of the shark. This makes them upset, but they will try to get away from you because this affect them greatly and annoy them intensely. I know this because growing up as a kids we used to trouble the younger sand sharks on the banks so we experimented with them, but that was in shallow waters. On the banks there would be sharks that come to the mangrove to give birth, and the younger ones stay them to survive the open water while feeding on the shedbar (silver like fish often on the banks and close the beach) and other fishes in the mangroves. These sharked everything we spotted them, we made sport of them....running behing them and trying to tease them. We did this to grow strong leg muscles as kids, or so we thought...so exercise trying to run is 2-3 feet water. We often tried to run the sharks aground on the shallow parts of the bank, and this would be when they would get more aggressive because they feel cornered....and they maybe times you would need to defend yourself. I think we are responsible for some of the shark attachs because we ****ed off alot of sharks growing up. And I know that nurse sharks will alway remember us because when we were around we never let them sleep.
Don't **** off a barcuda either, they can be swift policemen wanting a piece of you throat and don't disrupt a murray because they will try to grab you in thier holes with them

[QRhnNSg9]

Swim in a group. Sharks usually attack lone individuals.

Avoid the water at night, dawn, or dusk. Okay, I know many people like to night dive. Just keep in mind that sharks are most predatory at night.

Don't go in the water if you're bleeding. Sharks can smell and taste blood, and trace it back to its source.

Don't wear shiny jewelry. It looks like shiny fish scales to a shark.

Don't splash a lot. This just attracts sharks.

If you see a shark in the water, don't go in and don't try to touch a shark if you see 0ne! Enough said.

[lLianneForbess]

About 10 years ago a German plane crashed off Sousa. There were no survivors and the sharks got to the bodies. So there are sharks, but I don't know how far out they are.

If I recall correctly that aircraft came down about 5 miles offshore.

[Heaneisismich]

According to published statistics for the year 2000, there were 79 shark attacks reported worldwide, of these 10 were fatalities. In another report, drowning deaths worldwide were to reported to be around 140,000, of which around 60 percent were alcohol related. Maybe the sign should read "drunken tourist infested waters".

Mirador

[QRhnNSg9]

According to published statistics for the year 2000, there were 79 shark attacks reported worldwide, of these 10 were fatalities.
Mirador

It's the sharks that really have to be wary - Over 100 million of them worldwide were attacked and killed by people in 2001.

[Averti$ingGuru]

...as humans are not sharks regular feed.

I love this. Surely this is right, as humans are not supposed to be in the water. Girrafes probably neither are sharks regular feed, but do you think, that if you through one in there and one shark takes a bite to try, they will let go, and go look for sth else?

[sbrthrds]

thanks TCI...that was a lot of correct information. It is also a truth (i believe) that sharks tend to feed at dawn and dusk) at least that is when one is at risk while in shallow waters.

Well..this never has stopped me from going in the water. I grew up on boats (was nearly born on one) up in New England. SO when I am in the DR i dont just like to sit there on the beach...i am nearly ALWAYS in the water.