STATE

In a summer of sharks, these Florida beaches have seen the fewest shark bites of all time

Portrait of C. A. Bridges C. A. Bridges
USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida

Where is it safe to swim in Florida during this year's shark week(s)?

Three people were bitten by sharks off Volusia County shores in five days. One man was bitten at New Smyrna Beach on July 4, another the next day in the same area, and a 14-year-old Monday was bitten a few miles away in Ponce Inlet Monday morning, according to Volusia County Beach Safety officials.

New Smyrna Beach is the unofficial shark bite capital of the world, Volusia County is the home of more shark attacks than anywhere else in Florida, and our state sees more shark attacks than any other. The International Shark Attack File (ISAF) maintained by the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville lists 351 unprovoked shark attacks in Volusia County from 1882 to 2023. That's more than twice the next county (Brevard, with 158). Last year, half of the 16 unprovoked attacks reported in Florida happened in Volusia County.

Are other beaches safe? Well, not necessarily. Shark attacks can happen on any Florida beach.

Earlier this month two teenagers and a woman were injured in two shark attacks less than two hours apart in Walton County in the Florida Panhandle, resulting in the woman losing her lower left arm and suffering "significant trauma" to other areas of her body and one of the teens losing her hand and having to get her right leg amputated. And a man was critically injured with a severe bite to his right arm near Fernandina Beach in Nassau County a few weeks ago, authorities said.

But there are some areas where shark bites are less likely, judging from the statistics.

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Where are the safest places to swim in Florida to avoid sharks?

You're safe from sharks in landlocked areas and that eliminates 32 of Florida's 67 counties right off. That leaves 35 counties with shorelines and beaches.

Of the counties listed in the ISAF that reported shark bites, these are the lowest numbers for the last 141 years:

  • Charlotte County: 1
  • Santa Rosa County: 1
  • Walton County: 1 (Before three people were bitten on Friday, June 7)
  • Franklin County: 2
  • Gulf County: 2
  • Okaloosa County: 4
  • Manatee County: 5
  • Flagler County: 6
  • Escambia County: 7
  • Sarasota County: 7

However, that doesn't include this year's reported bites, which would bring Walton County up to 4.

The ISAF counts bites up through the previous year because each incident is researched individually, Gavin Naylor, director of the Florida Museum of Natural History’s shark research program, said in a phone call. "We need to find the context to be able to determine if it's a provoked or unprovoked bite and that can take a long time," he said. "We need to be sure the data is accurate."

Which Florida counties have never reported a shark bite?

According to the ISAF's latest data, these Florida counties have never seen a confirmed, unprovoked shark attack.

  • Citrus County: Includes Whispering Pines Park, Fort Island Gulf Beach, and Hunter Springs Park
  • Dixie County: Includes Horseshoe Beach, Suwannee and Shired Island
  • Hernando County: Includes Hernando Beach, Bayport, and Alfred McKethan Pine Island
  • Hillsborough County: Includes the Tampa area, Gardenville Beach, Apollo Beach and E. G. Simmons Regional Park
  • Jefferson County: The coastline here is completely within the Flint Rock Management Area.
  • Levy County: Includes Cedar Key, Bird Creek Beach and the Waccasasa Bay Preserve State Park
  • Pasco County: Includes Hudson Beach, Leisure Beach, Anclote River Park, Port Richey and the Werner Boyce Salt Springs State Park
  • Taylor County: Contained within the Big Bend Wildlife Management Area
  • Wakulla County: Includes Ochlockonee Bay, Piney Island, Osyer Bay and Wakulla Beach

The statistically safest place to swim to avoid shark bites in the Sunshine State is along the Big Bend area down the west coast to Hillsborough County. In some cases, it's because some of those areas have fewer swimmers. The more people in sharks' natural habitats, the more encounters. Shark bites remain relatively rare, compared to the number of people in the water on any given day in Florida, and most happen by accident.

But stay alert. You can still encounter sharks anywhere there's salt water and you don't want to be a county's first incident.

How do I avoid shark bites?

  • Swim with a buddy. Most sharks are more likely to approach a solitary person.
  • Stay close to shore.
  • Be careful around the area between sandbars or near steep dropoffs, both popular shark hangouts.
  • Stay out of the water at dawn or dusk when sharks are more active and feeding.
  • Avoid shiny jewelry or reflective swimwear that might resemble the sheen of fish scales.
  • Avoid areas where people are fishing or areas with known effluents or sewage. Stay away from areas with diving seabirds.
  • Be careful in murky water. Some shark species may not see you very well either, and there can be confusion.
  • Try not to splash too much, especially in a single spot. Sharks may investigate to see if you are a fish in distress.
  • If a shark is spotted, slowly and calmly get out of the water.