Sharks are attacking people in record numbers on this Florida beach

Summary

• Shark attacks are becoming more frequent on the beaches of Walton County, Florida, indicating a new dangerous trend.
• Bait fish that swim closer to the shore attract sharks into shallow waters and cause attacks there.
• To protect yourself, avoid swimming alone, do not stray too far from the shore and be aware of your surroundings.

The summer season has gotten off to a rocky start for beachgoers in Florida, with multiple people being attacked in less than two hours on two different beaches in the Sunshine State. Even more alarming is that the beaches where the shark attacks occurred are not near Volusia County, where shark attacks occur every year off the coast of Florida on the most dangerous beach in the United States. With the record number of shark attacks on these beaches, there is no telling how many more will be attacked throughout the summer.

The beaches where the shark attacks occurred are located in Walton County, off the Gulf of Mexico. While it’s not uncommon to see sharks in the waters near beaches in the area, the fact that so many have been spotted in shallow waters is cause for concern. That’s why authorities are doing everything they can to keep visitors safe, including closing off sections of the beach and warning anyone who plans to swim to be vigilant.

But with Walton County experiencing unprecedented levels of shark attacks, Watersound Beach — known for scenic Florida road trips along 30A and Seacrest Beach — appears to be sharks’ hunting ground this season.

Shark attacks have reached record levels at Watersound Beach and Seacrest Beach

Three shark attacks were reported on Watersound and Seacrest beaches within less than 90 minutes

It is not unusual for Florida residents and visitors to see sharks in the waters off one of the beaches. What is unusual, however, is that shark attacks occur particularly on the beaches off the Gulf of Mexico, particularly Florida’s 30A, which many have been talking about lately. But in early June 2024, the lives of three people would change forever when they were attacked at Watersound Beach and Seacrest Beach within 90 minutes of each other.

The first attack occurred at Watersound Beach around 1:20 p.m. EST, as a woman was swimming with her husband near a sandbar. Seemingly out of nowhere, a shark attacked and bit her in the stomach, causing “significant injuries.” The woman’s left hand was also bitten and part of it had to be amputated.

Just 90 minutes later, two teenage girls lying waist-deep on a sandbar were attacked by a shark at Seacrest Beach, which is four miles from Watersound Beach and just minutes from one of Florida’s safest beaches (Santa Rosa Beach). One was bitten in the stomach and was in “critical condition” after being transported to a local hospital. The other girl suffered injuries to her foot and was also transported.

In response to the attacks, the waters off the beaches were closed. Now that they are reopened, flags are posted on the beaches to remind people that the waters off Watersound and Seacrest are safe. Officials are asking beachgoers to heed them to prevent further shark attacks.

While this may not seem like a high number of shark attacks, considering that the last shark attack occurred in June 2021 and the one before that in 2005, three attacks in less than two hours is a record for these beaches.

What causes shark attacks at Watersound Beach and Seacrest Beach?

Baitfish swimming closer to shore appear to have been the reason for the shark attacks on beachgoers in June 2024

Smyrna Beach is one of the most dangerous beaches in the world. It is located off the Atlantic coast of Florida and has a constant supply of baitfish swimming offshore. The beaches in Walton County have estuaries that push the baitfish further out to sea. Sharks are not generally approach the shallow water.

However, on the day the attacks occurred in June, there was a report that the “brackish” water that normally pushes the baitfish from a freshwater estuary to the open sea was not creating the same current as it normally does. It is believed that the baitfish were swimming closer to shore, which also brought the sharks closer. As people enjoyed their time in the water on the sandbars, the sharks became confused and accidentally bit people in their hunt for fish.

There is also the possibility that orcas swimming offshore are responsible for bringing sharks closer to shore. However, since the orcas were last seen off the coast of Florida several days before the shark attacks, scientists studying the situation believe that warmer temperatures reducing the flow of freshwater from estuaries is a more likely cause.

How beachgoers can protect themselves from shark attacks

By taking precautions when entering the waters off the coast of Florida, you increase your chance of not being bitten by a shark.

Because Florida beaches are crowded during the summer, beachgoers won’t forgo the water to cool off, especially when temperatures rise. For this reason, visitors must be alert to their surroundings and do everything they can to ward off shark attacks.

Fortunately, there are things that those who choose to wade in the waters off the coast of Florida can do to protect themselves as much as possible from shark attacks. Some of these precautions include:

• Stay in a group when swimming or wading in the water
• Do not go too far from the shore unsupervised
• Stay out of the water at dusk or twilight, the most active time for sharks
• Do not enter the water if you are bleeding
• Do not wear shiny jewelry in the water as it may look like fish scales reflected in the sun.
• Avoid areas where baitfish are known to congregate
• Be careful when wearing brightly colored swimsuits
• Be careful when swimming near sandbanks, as sharks also like to hang out there.
• Stay out of the water if sharks are spotted

By following these tips and venturing into the waters off the coast of Florida, you increase the likelihood that a supposedly beautiful day at the beach will not end in a visit to the emergency room or, worse, tragedy.

Will you avoid Florida beaches after the shark attacks or can you swim safely as long as you take precautions?