USVI-On-Line

Um, Bill?
Yea?
I think it's time to go in.
Why?
I just saw a shark swimming not sleeping.
Okay!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/billvt/7052144873/" title="shark by nayr48, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7261/7052 ... 1947ae.jpg" width="500" height="338" alt="shark"></a>

Amazing! Love the intro! Ok, where, when(time), and we need details!

Big Lamshur about 1:30 - 2PM on the way back in from Donkey Bight at about the first point from shore.

How big was it?

Oh geez! You had to do it..... Right before our trip!

Four and a half to 5 ft. ? Maybe less. Not really interested just moving.

We saw another like it about two years ago when there were two fish traps laid in the same area. He came swinging out of the murk in the deeper center part of the bay, checked the traps and circled back out.

mindehankins wrote:Oh geez! You had to do it..... Right before our trip!

Exactly!

Love it!

Haha Minde - you must attract them:)

Um, that is NOT a Nurse shark!

Minde - I see at least one almost every trip and they've never been threatening. The last one I saw was at Waterlemon and it just seemed curious more than anything. Hard to tell from the picture but it's probably a Reef shark and here's some info I found. The article went on to mention that some of the attacks by this species has been related to shark "feeding" excursions in the Bahamas. As you will see, very FEW unprovoked attacks. It also noted that they are attracted to low frequency noises that simulate a wounded fish - so if you see one just lie still and watch - that way you don't produce sounds that could possibly attract them.
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Normally shy or indifferent to the presence of divers, the Caribbean reef shark has been known to become aggressive in the presence of food and grows sufficiently large to be considered potentially dangerous.[6] As of 2008, the International Shark Attack File lists 27 attacks attributable to this species, 4 of them unprovoked, and none fatal.[13]

Uh, gee BillVT, thanks for the warning! That beach just dropped WAY DOWN on my list for next month's trip. When I saw the shark pic posted near Waterlemon a few months ago, it took me at least 2 weeks to convince myself that it was a freak event and I would be fine.

I realize that sharks rarely harm humans - it is the fear factor that will get me if I come face to face with one that is not sleeping on the bottom.

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I'm of the belief that if I don't bug them, they won't bug me! If I don't act like food (thrashing around, or lying on a surfboard) I don't think I'll be mistaken for food. Although, that said, I would still get out of the water and leave the bay to him!

LOL at Lindy! Thank you for trying to reassure me! The fact that there were ANY unprovoked attacks is unsettling. It won't keep me out of the water, but I'll be on edge.

Yea...I won't be telling my son-in-law about this, I have him just about convenced that he doesn't have to worry too much about critters in the water around St. John.

(My last comment on my own post.)

I posted this on my facebook page also. Everyone was slightly freaked out about the photo except for my cousin who lives in the Keys. Her comment, "Whimp."

Thanks Deb, remind me the next time I go snorkeling with you that you think of me as shark bait.