Look at what my husband was swimming with!

DCphoto · Post by **DCphoto** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 9:09 pm

For some reason he was not scared

, He said it was about 6 ft long and it was at Francis Bay. He won the photo contest today between us.

We believe it was a nurse shark unless someone here knows.

Sandy

Lulu76 · Post by **Lulu76** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 1:00 am

Is there anyone who still wonders why I don't snorkel? Isn't the first rule: Don't panic? I'm going to panic if I have to swim with sharks. Yikes.

Cool picture, though, if you're brave enough to take it! Definitely a winner in my book too!

mahojim · Post by **mahojim** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 2:57 am

Awesome!

Smiles-
MJ

DCphoto · Post by **DCphoto** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 7:40 am

Lulu, You should not be afraid, nurse sharks are not dangerous, in fact, the shark wanted to get away from the snorkelers when we all went looking for it after Mel came up and screamed shark! It was quite funny, I think we scared the shark more than anything. Mel was so excited to see it and more importantly to kick my butt in getting the photo. We have a friendly competition going on this year and he got to send a cool photo to his son, who is 17 years old.
We also, got to hang out with Brenda and her husband Gary yesterday at Gallows Point,great snorkeling there as well. we made plans to go on Palm Tree charter on Thursday. Also, going with us is St. John Mike. Can't wait!
Sandy

liamsaunt · Post by **liamsaunt** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 10:58 am

Neat! Yes, that is a nurse shark.

Gromit · Post by **Gromit** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 11:30 am

Hey Sandy, be sure to say Hi to StJMike for me!!

parafins · Post by **parafins** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 11:50 am

I swam with a shark back in July of 2007 at Opperneimer/Gibney beach.I found the shark to be shy as I swam about 3 ft. above him!

Parafins

sea-nile · Post by **sea-nile** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 1:01 pm

Cool!
I was disappointed that I didn't see a shark this time. The only thing that slightly scares me is a sting ray. It must be the Steve Irwin thing...

Gromit · Post by **Gromit** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 1:03 pm

I realized last trip that I draw the "comfort line" when a creature in the water is bigger than me!

Fun to watch from a distance, but every bit of DNA in my body was screaming for me to "swim away!"

LysaC · Post by **LysaC** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 1:19 pm

ya, as much as i would like to think that i would want to see a 6ft nurse shark, i think i'd be high-tailing it outta there.

i know, deep down, that barracudas are ok but they still scare me. so many teeth. such big eyes... yikes!

ScottB · Post by **ScottB** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 2:11 pm

Lots of nurse sharks around, and they are completely harmless. We saw them at Maho, Francis, and Waterlemon. They want nothing to do with people that's for sure.

My best sighting was also at Francis, when a Lemon shark decidied to swim on by us. It was about 6 feet in length, and although a little scarier than seeing a Nurse shark, it too wanted nothing to do with us.

Most of the sharks you'll see in shallow water are not dangerous at all. Chances are extremely slim of an attack. The worst possible thing you can do is panic, and make a lot of noise and splashing. Just relax, and enjoy the sights, as they are hardly interested in humans.

Great picture...thanks!!

Gromit · Post by **Gromit** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 2:17 pm

Excellent advice Scott!

chriscartman · Post by **chriscartman** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 2:26 pm

Great photo!
Unfortunately, I didn't snorkel this trip. I'm not that comfortable in any surf that is not calm because I panic.
My greatest thrill was in Jan. when I got to see some sea turtles at Francis. Unfortunately, the pictures did not turn out all that well.

Nancy_B · Post by **Nancy_B** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 2:29 pm

Great photo! Please tell Brenda and Gary 'hi' from Nancy_B. Have a wonderful time with them on Thursday!

Pickle · Post by **Pickle** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 4:31 pm

When I snorkeled in the South Pacific, I encountered a good number of sharks there (not that I was seeking sharks, believe me) but most of them seemed uninterested in me. Except one time, as I was snorkeling I saw a lone good-sized Gray Reef Shark kind of near me. I kept snorkeling and then realized the Gray was following me, or more like "stalking" me. It kept about the same distance but was definitely curious about me and never left my sight. As soon as I got this ominous feeling from the Gray, I got out of the water (among the Reef Sharks there, the Grays seemed to be bolder than the others, to me at least). Whenever I was in the water, I kept my eyes on the surroundings - I wanted to be really aware of what was around me while snorkeling.

I have never felt like that in the waters of St. John. I feel much more relaxed. I've only seen a few Lemons (no Nurse, so far) and they all wanted nothing to do with me. Funny thing is that the lack of seeing sharks around St. John makes me wish to see at least a few. Be careful what you wish for, huh? Hope to see my first Nurse next year. I wonder where the best bet to see them is (but, of course, if I try to look for them, I never see them! There is always an "element of surprise" in the waters).

Thank you for the great photo, Sandy.

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