I am from TN so take my words with a grain of salt if you want. However, i have been coming to Destin 6 or 7 times a year since for the last 25 years. i snorkel and fish almost every day i am there, weather permitting. I have been as far as 1/2 mile off the beach just snorkeling around. Yes, i have seen sharks. No monsters but a shark is a shark. Now i am coming back down there in July for a week and will probably spend 15 -20 hours in the water with my snorkel on. I may get bit by a shark, or i may not. Only God knows, but from my past expirences, i am willing to bet against getting bit. I would not give asecond thought about getting in the ocean or keeping my kids from getting in.
Sharks are there every day!!! every day!!! I just think they are as curious as we are. Use some common sense and i think everything will be OK.
In fact last year i had a 4-5 footer swim within 10 feet of me in waist deep water. he never gave me a second look. One lady was screaming at me to get out while i was calling for my 10 year old to get in the water to check him out!
Great learning expirence for him and me. Just respect them. sure i am not goign to hang out with a 10 footer long but stay calm and he will most likely do the same.
And not every shark is a bull shark and not every bull shark is aggressive!
I agree with you, fishheadspin. But it can be a little intimidating in the water with a big shark. And you are right, not every bull shark or great white, for that matter, just attacks anything that moves.
I have learned from personal experience to discount much of what I learned about nature from the common cliches you often hear. Even some people who are somewhat experienced with snakes tell me how 'aggressive' moccasin are, and that's when I stop listening to them as intently. I've seen differently in hundreds and hudreds of encounters. Then I see two Eastern Diamondback since moving here and find the same thing. People told me how aggressive they were, yet the two I saw were two of the most docile snakes I'd ever encountered.
I saw some footage of someone swimming with a Great White shark a few years ago and it stood in direct contrast to everything I'd known before. Then again, the footage we all grew up seeing of Great White coming up to cages and biting, seemingly wanting to eat or bite anything in its path, is what I so often saw. Those same sahrks also had chum in the water etc.
So I agree with you about probably having no fear of a shark actually attacking. And my son, like me, wanted to get into the water and experience it for himself. But, as parents know, its one thing to worry about yourself and quite another to have a little loved one to worry about.
If he hadn't passed out today we would be out there again. Hopefully tomorrow we can get out and try to see some rays also. He wants to get a good sighting of them to add to his list.
Btw, I sure enjoy, as always, the responses I get from people here. A guy I met said that while hiking the AT trail he met some incredible people, like minded. I find some interesting people tend to read and respond to my threads here. Soon, perhaps, I'll have video to share, too.
