SHARKS??

[carol]

WE JUST HEARD FROM A DOMINICAN THAT WE MUST BE VERY CAREFULY WHILE SNORKLING IN THE DR BECAUSE OF THE MANY SHARKS IN THE AREA? WE HAVE NEVER READ OR HEARD THIS BEFORE? ARE THERE ALOT OF SHARKS IN THESE WATERS AND ARE ATTACKS COMMON AROUND THE DR? THEY SAID TO BE VERY CAREFUL TO ONLY GO IN AREAS WITH OTHER PEOPLE AND NOT SOME SECLUDED BEACH. CAN ANYONE VALIDATE THIS?

 

[Jodi]

I think it really depends where in the DR you're going. Sharks are very rare on the south coast, Boca Chica area (I don't know about the north coast)...My husband is a scuba diver in the South coast & I have a video of him trying to coax a nurse shark out of the coral. It was about 6 feet long but this kind of shark is very shy...nothing to worry about...He dives 6 days a week and shark sightings are very rare...I think he's only just seen one in the 2+ years I've known him. He has told me, however that sharks are more likely in the Bayahibe area because fish are more plentiful there. I don't know any stats on shark sightings or attacks.

 

[dave S.]

I have been actively diving in the D.R. for the past 6 years and have only seen some nurse sharks (big zero on the aggresive scale). I have been diving in the East (Punta Cana and Saona Island), South West (Azua, Perdenales, Barahona), and North coast from Haiti border through Puerta Plata area, and as far as Samana).

You just do not see them. Baracuda, yes. Turtles, yes. Rays, yes. Just no sharks. Now if you go in the East and head out a few miles and start chumming blood into the water, you might get to see some decent ones. But there is nothing to dive on out there...everything you want to see is relatively close to shore. Once you go out any distance in the DR you drop off hundreds and thousands of feet.

So don't worry and have a nice time.

Best, Dave S.