Shark at Maho Bay

[liamsaunt]

John and I had the strangest experience with a shark at Maho today. When we arrived we noticed a large nurse shark cruising the shallows. When we went to snorkel it was long gone. However, when we went to exit the water on the opposite side of the beach post snorkel, it was back. The shark was between us and the beach but I was not worried because it was a nurse shark. It swam in between me and John and then started following me! It came in to about three feet of water before heading off. Just strange behavior for a nurse shark. It was very disconcerting to see this huge shark head following me, nurse shark or no! John and I agree that it was a 6-7 foot shark. When we went back in the water later we found other, smaller nurse sharks out at the point and they were not at all interested in us which is what I am used to. We did not do anything to provoke it either.

[cmw5682]

I'm fairly sure I would pass out and die

[b-as-u-r]

Pass out and die---me too!

[Muhaha]

Wow, that is quite an encounter. Where did you see the sharks? Was it the point between Maho and Little Maho?

[JT]

Hey, Pia,this is another good reason not to wear brilliant white bathing suits!

[Nancie-Pa]

Yikes! I love seeing the underwater critters, but that would freak me out!

[greyhoundmom]

Probably just curious?

[Tracy in WI]

Do you think the larger shark was the mom of the smaller ones you saw later? Maybe protective behavior?? Pretty scary (but did you get any pictures?)

[Muhaha]

I don't think sharks are protective. In fact, I think they tend to eat their young. I could be wrong as all I know about the subject came from "Shark Week".

[liamsaunt]

it was in really shallow water. I did not take any photos, I was swimming away, but John got two...bad photos,I don't feel like photoshopping but here they are. The head. Note the sharksuckers:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/5426274195/" title="giant nurse shark head by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5098/542 ... 399de2.jpg" width="500" height="397" alt="giant nurse shark head"></a>

the body:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/5426878738/" title="giant nurse shark by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5296/542 ... 15db8a.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="giant nurse shark"></a>

it was just a nurse shark, but I still wanted to get out of its way.

[kgolden]

You are very brave in my book. I too would have hyperventilated into my snorkel and passed out.

[Ondine]

Wow, that's big, and Maho, my favorite, I would have passed out for sure....I had thought it was always wise to assume that even a nurse shark, while extremely unlikely, could turn on a person, so good to keep a distance....does anyone know if this is true about nurse sharks or are they 100% docile?

[mahojim]

WOW, and HOLY MOLY!!!
I would have loved to have seen that sort of creature.
Not really sure if it would freak me out, or not, to witness that...guess you don't know 'til it happens...?
Hope you're enjoying your last minute adventure, thanks for the photos!
Looks like your winter getaway is as exciting as it is relaxing...
Smiles-
MJ

[Kentuckygirl]

Yikes! I don't think I would have made it to shore with that following me.

[Barb Y]

Add me to the list of those who passed out I am glad she just visited you, maybe she heard you were on a last minute trip and needed some excitement. Hope you are having a blast and thawing out nicely. Enjoy!