If you are in Florida and looking to explore the beaches for a nice day out, you should steer clear of New Smyrna. With over 300 incidents on record to date, this infamous Florida beach has been named the Shark Bite Capital of the World.
This coastal spot, which earned a bad reputation for the overwhelming number of shark-related accidents, is situated south of Daytona Beach in Florida.
New Smyrna is the home to a variety of sharks, including spinners, bulls, and blacktips. The incidents increase from April through October. However, fortunately, most of these incidents don’t really result in heavy injuries, and only minor bruises and scrapes.
While many local people are well aware of this shark-infested beach, it could be dangerous for tourists. The beach has at least 17 miles of pristine sandy shores, and it’s also a hot spot for surfers. At the same time, it’s also a massive attraction for water enthusiasts and beachgoers.
This beach, which is situated about 20 minutes south of Daytona Beach along the central Atlantic coastline of Florida, continues to become a fan-favorite despite it’s bad reputation. The beautiful beach, despite being a shark-infested spot, attract all kind of people from thrill-seekers to sun-wroshippers.
“I’ve lived in Florida almost 40 years, and this is still my favorite beach for so many reasons,” said a longtime Floridian, who expressed his affection for the beach on TripAdvisor.
New Smyrna Beach is the Shark Bite Capital of the world… can you imagine why??? pic.twitter.com/Ao3EcNPkzV
— YP (@YoungPageviews) March 18, 2020
The person added, “Even though the last few years it’s gotten more crowded particularly on the weekends. There are so many amazing places to eat and little shops to explore. The wildlife is cool to see. There are parts of the beach you can drive on and a part you can’t which is nice when you have little kids with you.”
“Lots of condos to rent to stay longer than the day, which we like to do when we aren’t boating at Disappearing Island.” Since people are still very much interested in visiting the spot, the authorities have issued strict warnings against protecting themselves from shark bites.
It is recommended that you swim in groups, as these underwater beasts tend to target individuals who go into the water alone. In addition, it is also advised to avoid swimming in the ocean during dawn or dusk since that is the time when these creatures are most active. On top of that, poor visibility could make it more difficult for swimmers to stay warned.
Shark tourism in Florida generated $221million in 2015 🦈#OurBluePlanet w/ @oceanx pic.twitter.com/DXLCZ5Xhmp
— BBC Earth (@BBCEarth) October 30, 2018
Experts also recommend that you wear subdued clothing, as wearing bright colors in the water could attract these toothy troublemakers. Environmental signs like frenzied fish behavior or birds diving into the water could also indicate shark presence.
