USVI-On-Line

Very cool, but I would have been scared crazy and probably would have drowned by husband trying to get out of the water and onto shore. Ali~

I, too, saw a shark that looked like the one in your photo in Leinster Bay. It was there right below my belly in the 4-foot-deep water over the sea grass. Though I could be wrong, I think it was a lemon shark. I recall seeing a fairly large second dorsal fin, which was not as big as the first dorsal fin but close in size, and that gave me the clue that it was a lemon. A Caribbean reef shark has a much smaller second dorsal fin as many species of sharks do. I’ve seen juvenile lemons (again, I think but could be wrong) in Maho too. One of them was injured and it appeared to be somewhat disoriented by whatever had happened. It was swimming in circles for hours in the very shallow water. Felt so bad for the shark.
I hardly ever encounter sharks in the water of St. John unlike some other places I've snorkeled. I am a great admirer of sharks. Thank you for the excellent photo, Tracy.

Lemon.

This shark thread got me wondering so I did a little poking around on the web. Here are Wikipedia links to Reef and Lemon sharks. Based Wiki, this looks like a Lemon shark, which they say is not uncommon in the Caribbean and Atlantic, and can be found in shallow water near Mangroves and reefs with seagrass.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caribbean_reef_shark

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemon_shark

I'm totally convinced. It's a lemon shark. Thanks for the great reseach and lesson on shark anatomy. Love it!!

I also posted the photo on the marine biology site that RonL listed. They are almost certain it is a lemon shark. So, fittingly, I am going to start calling it Waterlemon Shark Cay instead of just Waterlemon Cay. I think that is appropriate.

Here's how we spotted him...while we were heading back to the beach, this guy swam by heading out towards the cay, I saw him and called out to my husband and began the pursuit, he followed. He didn't even try to protect me, just followed encouraging me to get that good shot! I could have been killed. (okay, a little exaggeration!) I wonder if he recently increased my life insurance....

No worries, there are only 10 reports of unprovoked bites by Lemon sharks at this point. I think the key word here is unprovoked.

Hi Tracy
I think that if Juice had thought that you were in danger he would of protected you or ran to other side of the island 50 /50 chance . Next time grab the fin and go for a ride.

After looking at the links that ccasebolt posted, I'm going to change my diagnosis to Lemon as well

Maybe I'm strange, but I'm looking forward to seeing a shark and taking some pics. I don't know about chasing one, however!

I would have FREAKED if I saw that shark! I love snorkeling but I am a wuss when it comes to sharks.

It's all my father's fault. We used to live in Westerly, RI, near the water. My Dad liked to go pretty far our from shore and swim paralell to the coastline. Well, a couple of summers after Jaws came out, he was out there doing his thing when the lifeguard called SHARK! Sure enough, out in the water you could see a dorsal fin. Everyone came in from the water, except my Dad, who was too far out to hear the call. So, everyone was on the beach jumping up and down waving their arms, screaming at my Dad to get out of the water while he swam along obliviously. He finally caught on and came in, but it was very tramautic to this five year old. I thought for sure he was going to be fish food.

(Anti-climatic ending--they sent a boat out to investigate, and it ended up being a sunfish.)

Back on topic: excellent photo!

Hi, Tracy!

We all seem to have "goggled" and called up the same "lemon shark" articles. Glad we all concur on what kind of shark he is.

Last night, I read that part about "10 reported unprovoked attacks" and that number (being not zero) was too high for my comfort level! I still can't get over how you chased it. Guess you were just "caught up in the moment".

Too funny about your husband "encouraging" you from behind!

You got off an awesome shot! An I love how you have "renamed" Waterlemon Shark Cay.

I am hoping that he (and his friends & family) will have headed off to parts unknown by the time we return in April. - I would not be as happy as you to meet him!

You are one brave girl chickie! I wasn't sure what a Lemon looked like but I didn't think it resembled too close to a Caribbean Reef which I unknowingly snorkeled with in Maui one day. But too funny that you chased that thing down to get your picture. I would have paddled my bum right back to the shore and been right quick about it! Especially if it was one I wasn't sure of.

Nurse-A little leary but will maintain with caution
Caribbean Reef-Leary and head to shore keeping a 360 degree rotating eye all the way back to shore.
Lemon-I'm out of there quick
Jelly-I would FREAK and walk on water back to shore!

You got me beat! You go girl!!!

Hi Tracey,

Your shark tale was the last straw to cause me to delurk. Andy & I met Tracey at the Beach Bar forum gathering a few weeks ago where I admitted to lurking on this board. We looked at your excellent photo and having scuba dived in Tahiti while the divemaster fed swarming lemon sharks in 90 feet of water we both concur that you saw a lemon shark!

So from now on we will snorkle at Waterlemon Shark Cay. Two years ago we saw 2 octopi mating there - you never know what you will see. It was great meeting you and Juice, Waterguy (great trip report), Ruth, and Ron.

Tracey:
Don't want to make anyone nervous, but I am pretty sure that the picture IS of a Lemon Shark. The second Dorsal fin size is indicative. The first and second dorsal of a reef shark would be much smaller. And as pointed out, the tail is certainly not of a requiem (Nurse) shark.
That all being said, that is a pretty rare sighting for the VI's- more common in a little cooler waters.
Also, Yes they can be agressive, but generally they are not a problem unless there is spearfishing nearby.
I don't consider them one of the more agressive, and in fact envy you the sighting AND the great photo.
When we're down there over Thanksgiving I'll be looking for it.

DD

I saw a Lemon s few years ago while diving off George Dog in the BVI.

A dive operator on STX told me that he thinks the water has been a little cooler than normal for winter & that tends to bring in larger or pelagic fish.

JW

I saw this shark while snorkeling at Cinnamon Bay.






Seriously, I have only been to STJ once but I did not see any sharks and we put in many hours of snorkeling.
I have seen many in the Florida Keys and I was never that scared of them. I'd like to see one in STJ! (but a small one, not like the one above).