Don't go to far in he says... There are sharks in these waters!

We headed down to Atlantic Beach in Jacksonville, Florida where @gomatthew spent some of his youth as a navy brat. We decided to go down to the beach pretty late at night & as I’m splashing around in the shore with our dog he warns me not to go to far in as sharks are pretty feisty around these parts.

While I believed him of course, I obviously had to look up the facts and see what I’m getting myself into for the week! Well, he wasn't kidding!

This is what I found!

Sharks attacks on humans are increasing more than ever, as I was aware, just not to the full extent! Global warming certainly takes the heat when it comes to why our coasts are becoming more vulnerable to attacks.

This article on tripping has rated Atlantic beach #8 on the list of beaches with the most shark attacks reported.

https://www.tripping.com/explore/12-beaches-with-the-most-shark-attacks-in-the-us

According to the Brevard Times I also discovered that Florida saw a pretty hefty increase in shark attacks. The article stated that Florida accounted for 60.4% of all shark attacks in the U.S. and 39.5% of the worlds total, according to the University of Florida International Shark Attack File.

http://news.brevardtimes.com/2017/01/florida-shark-attacks-rise-in-2016.html

So what kind of sharks are we talking about in these waters?

So if you’re going for a swim or a surf be sure to have your fun & raise your awareness of the increased activity.

Here are some great tips I found in an article from how stuff works by Ed Grabianowski

Here are some general guidelines:
• Don't swim at dawn or dusk -- sharks are actively feeding at these times. Visibility in the water is lower, which can lead to mistaken identity bites.
• Don't swim in murky water -- again, the poor visibility increases the chances of a shark mistaking you for prey.
• Don't swim with open cuts -- even a small amount of blood in the water can attract sharks from miles away. Some experts recommend that menstruating women also avoid swimming in the ocean.
• Avoid sandbars, sea mounts, and drop-offs -- marine wildlife tends to congregate at these areas, including many fish that are a shark's natural prey. The sharks aren't usually far behind.
• Don't wear contrasting colors -- high-contrast or brightly-colored swimsuits seem to confuse sharks. Even contrasting tan lines are speculated to lead to mistaken identity bites.
• Don't wear shiny jewelry -- the sun reflecting off of a watch or necklace can draw a shark's attention.
• Don't swim when a shark's natural prey is present in large numbers -- if you are swimming near marine mammals or other shark prey species, and you see them react with sudden alarm and flee the area, follow their example.
• Don't thrash around -- smooth, steady swimming strokes should be used. Frantic paddling and splashing looks like a wounded fish to a shark. The swimming patterns of dogs can also draw sharks.
• Don't think you're safe just because the water is shallow -- shark attacks can occur in less than three feet of water. While shark activity tends to be greater a few hundred yards from shore, stay alert even if you're in thigh-deep water.
• Don't leave shark bait in the water -- large amounts of baitfish or animal blood will attract hungry sharks. If you're fishing while standing in the ocean, keep your bait out of the water until you use it, and don't stay in one place too long.
• Don't swim when there are sharks in the water -- this is the most obvious way to avoid sharks. If you know they're present, stay out of the water.

To read his full article:
http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/shark-attack6.htm

I think I have discovered enough to more than want to take Matthews advice & not go night swimming! But really looking forward to hitting the beach in the sunshine!

Looking forward to sharing some of the Atlantic beach adventure with you soon!