I don't like going out very far anymore. When I was a kid I was fearless about it. Two kids in Oak Island were bit by a shark in separate incidents today. Thursday a girl a few beaches down was attacked by a shark, as well. They cleared the water this afternoon but will reopen it tomorrow. That's the beach we spent the past week at! Makes me very nervous about going in again....
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That's been alllll over my facebook tonight
so sad. I was just there yesterday. And no, I never go in far, if at all. I don't like when stuff brushes up against me. I prefer to lay on the the beach and then go to a pool!
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Uh, yeah. That beach is only like 15 miles away from the one we usually go to. I *really* don't like not being able to see the bottom.
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I'm always a little nervous about swimming in the ocean, especially when I can't see through the water. That's one of the things I love about the Caribbean and the clear blue water - I can see my feet even when I'm waist deep!
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Yes! The ocean freaks me right out, it's one of my biggest fears! I love the beach though!
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I don't like to swim in the ocean. I'll wade to about my thighs, but no more. I don't want to stumble upon something that's going to defend itself!
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I'm not that scared as long as the water isn't too deep!
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I don't like swimming in the ocean at all in the northeast or california. It's too cold and murky, with crabs that bite your toes!
Hawaii and Florida are different stories. Beautiful, clear water, and warm. No matter what, though, I'm always close to shore.
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I love swimming in the ocean. But there isn't much for sharks in the oceans where I've swam.
@mediagirl: All those shark attacks are scary and I'd be leary of swimming there.
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Very scared! I can't go in past mid-thigh and even that freaks me out a little bit. Its just so big and powerful and there are so many living things. I honestly don't get how people AREN'T scared of it!
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I didn't used to be but I'm finding out I don't like it in my "old age" haha. I went to Mexico a few years ago and almost stepped on a sea urchin. Then a few years later we snorkeled on our honeymoon and there were TONS of jellies which our guide didn't talk about prior to our swim so here we are just paddling along and we are bombarded. I spent the whole snorkeling session dodging them with my heart racing like crazy and near the end we saw a huge sting ray. I was sooo ready to get out of that water (hello! Steve Irwin). Don't think I'm built for ocean swimming besides leg deep or less with a drink.
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Oh and one of my most favorite things is shark documentaries, sooo there's that too. I like to watch on tv but not live.
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I don't swim in it. Just put my legs in it. A sweet little girl on a field trip just got pulled under and swept away by an undertow a couple weeks ago. That terrifies me, with my son.
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I used to be fearless, but sadly, I've become a big chicken in my old age. I compete in sprint triathlons, and will do a short (1/2 mile - 1 mile) ocean swim as part of a race, but it makes me nervous. I reassure myself with the fact that during a race, a shark would have a lot of people to choose from, so my odds are good
I uses to swim similar distances in the ocean for exercise/fun with friends while on vacation, but I haven't done it lately and don't really want to. My husband loves to surf and when we were first dating, I was really excited about learning. I couldn't wait to go back to the beach so I could continue to improve. However, after one really bad wipeout and after seeing photos of sharks in the area where we surf, I am super scared. I actually started crying once when DH was really pushing me to go surfing. I hope I can get over my fear becuse I really love the water and would love to get better at surfing.
I don't mind swimming, surfing, or scuba diving in tropical waters. I always joke that if a shark is going to eat me, I want to see him coming!
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@travellingbee: That is so sad! I am going to make my daughters wear life jackets when wading or playing in the surf until they are older and super strong swimmers... It will stress me out too much otherwise !
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Nope! But then again, I'm a SCUBA diver and have done dives with numerous sharks around multiple times.
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I dont do it often....The beaches around here aren't great for swiming anyway (freezing!) But I will swim in the Caribbean! I've gone twice and each time gone swimming and snorkeling in areas where it's very deep. But it's different when the water is so warm and clear!
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In Hawaii, the water is so warm and clear that I will go really far (plus, snorkeling is awesome!)
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I have in the past when I lived on the east coast and went down to the NJ shore. I would go in upto my chest.
The stories I've heard about shark attacks do freak me out. Has there been any attacks in NJ?
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I watched Jaws at 3. I'm petrified of the ocean.
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Melbourne has a bay, so no problem here
When we go to the back beaches which face out to the ocean it can get a little scary though - big waves more so than sharks.
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My husband almost drowned from the undertow in Lake Michigan about 4 years ago so any big waves freak both of us out now
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I have some fears, but I used to scuba dive (pre-kids!) so I will definitely do it!
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Nope. I love snorkeling and swimming out. The beach we go to locally tends to have jellyfish and that makes me a little nervous but not enough to keep me out of the water. And I love going on snorkeling trips and then jumping off the boat in the middle of the ocean!
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I've always lived in Florida, and spent most of my teens and early 20's surfing regularly, so no fear here. I could spend the entire day floating down the beach on my back. It is my happy place.
I always find it interesting how many people I meet from out of state that won't get in because of shark fears. Rip tides are so much more dangerous to non-beach people.
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Nope!
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When I was a kid, I had no hang-ups about swimming in the ocean! But now I really, really hate not being able to see the bottom. Mysterious water just freaks me out. I might go in as far as my knees. Maayyybe.
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Yeah, I am a little scared of the ocean, but I think that's a good thing! I love it, but I definitely am careful! When I worked park service in Hawaii there were certain beaches we just weren't allowed to swim in, and sure enough people were always getting rescued by helicopter.
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Because of sharks, no. I am very careful about only going out on calm days though.
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I don't like big rough waves. They freak me out and it's not enjoyable, even though I never get that far from shore that I worry I couldn't swim out of them. It's just not fun for me- DH loves it.
I'm not so afraid of sharks. I don't go out very deep. There have been a number of shark doings at some of the beaches we go to but they are following seals that come closer to shore. The seals are still much further out than I go, and if you see deals, stay far away and you should be fine.
We tried surfing once on vacation. Again DH loved it. I wanted to but I was not very good at all and got tired of it. Luckily I'm better suited for the same beaches that are good for kids.
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Don't live near an ocean, but when we travel, I have no problem going in the ocean. We snorkel and we DH wants to get scuba-certified.
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Sharks don't keep me out of the ocean unless I know they're there. I don't get in when I see them or when I see huge schools of baitfish because I don't fancy myself chum (and I don't wear yellow or a seal costume, ahem, surfers in wetsuits!), but I think things like rip currents and rocks on the bottom are more likely hazards.
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Nope. Unless I can see the bottom and there are no waves. I almost drowned in Hawaii.
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The ocean doesn't scare me, but I typically don't "swim". I might get in up to my knees, or sit down in shallow water. When we were in the Caribbean we did do a lot of swimming/snorkeling off boats in the ocean and I didn't think twice.
I don't really worry about sharks because I don't go too far out and I don't like the big waves, especially with DS. When we go to the Cape we stay away from the ocean side beaches which occasionally have shark and have huge waves. I like the bay side better.
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Doesn't scare me even a little bit. But I've grown up spending every summer at the beach.
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The local officials in the area I mentioned in the post have given some suggestions on safe swimming. See #5:
1. Pay attention to fish swimming patterns. If fish dart away, predators may be near.
2. Avoid fishing boats and anglers. Bait in the water can draw sharks.
3. Don't swim after heavy rains or in water that is dirty or murky.
4. Steer clear of dolphins and seabirds, which can be prey for sharks.
5. People with open sores, or women who are menstruating, should not go in the water.
6. Swim on sunny, clear days, and always swim with a buddy.Read more at http://www.wral.com/two-teens-injured-in-separate-shark-attacks-on-oak-island/14711125/#bxZh7c4b58PL86Di.99
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a little because the ocean is so powerful, but i am a certified scuba diver and even got to snorkel in a shark tank at the aquarium with a bunch of sharks in it.... so i guess not too much!
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Love the ocean and love swimming in it. It does make me nervous sometimes. I'd add to that list not to swim around dusk or dawn
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@mediagirl: Yes, I'm a total scaredy cat! Being in Canada, (in the middle of) obviously not a lot of oceans to swim in, but when I travel I don't swim really (but I will snorkel... at least I can see that way! I've never seen a shark!). I moreso wade. I don't even like swimming in the lakes here! Lol.
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Nope, it's never scared me.
so sad. I was just there yesterday. And no, I never go in far, if at all. I don't like when stuff brushes up against me. I prefer to lay on the the beach and then go to a pool!
I uses to swim similar distances in the ocean for exercise/fun with friends while on vacation, but I haven't done it lately and don't really want to. Subscribe to our newsletter
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