USVI-On-Line

On our last trip (Late June 2005) we saw three sharks:

One near the cay at Cinnamon that everyone was saying was a nurse shark, but I am positive it was not a nurse shark. It actually came back around for another look at us - didn't particularly like that one.

One swimming along the bottom coming from Francis going into Maho - definitely a nurse shark.

One "sleeping" under a large rock overhang at Gibney/Oppenheimer. We were probably about 5 feet from it when we realized it was there. It never moved and was still there when we returned to go back to shore. Pretty sure it was a nurse shark as well but supposedly reef sharks also "sleep" on the bottom.

Our first trip 5 years ago, someone in our party saw one kinda close to shore at waterlemon between the point that everyone snorkels off of and the cay, but we didn't see it.

So last time was pretty exciting as far as sharks went - I thought it was odd that we saw so many and hadn't seen any our other two visits.

nothintolose

Sea-Nile, now that is an awesome photo YOU took! Can you imagine??? Made me laugh!

That's the same type shark I saw over at Francis. My wife & I were enjoying being surrounded by silversides & several huge Tarpon, and I had those Lemon sharks swim right on by within 4-5 feet of me. They weren't anymore interested in me as any fish we see. They were just doing their thing, and completely harmless.

Unfortunately, between the movie Jaws, and the media, most are paranoid about sharks. Keep in mind folks that you have a MUCH better chance at winning the lottery than you do getting attacked by a shark.

We were lucky enough to experience sharks at Maho, Francis, and Solomon, and also on a snorkel charter. Most were nurse sharks, but the Lemons were at Francis. Just enjoy them, they really are harmless. I was more afraid of the driving!!