Top Shark Attack Beaches

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Adventures + Outdoors ,
Beach

http://www.flickr.com/photos/the-lees/ / CC BY 2.0

Thomas Kohnstamm

When you see a body of water, do you instantly imagine razor-toothed monsters lurking below the surface? Sharks are nearly flawless stalking and killing machines, making them one of the planet's most evolved predators. Fortunately for us, we aren't at the top of the menu when it comes to the diet of a shark. On your average day at the beach, you have a much better chance of being struck by a bolt of lightning than being stalked by a big, slippery shark.

Still, the beaches that have a relatively high incidence of shark attacks are compelling attractions that excite and frighten adrenaline addicted visitors. Click through the following slides to witness the world’s most shark-infested shorelines. But remember: don't get too scared, because you are 750,000 times more likely to suffer from a heart problem than a shark bite.

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Bolinas Beach, Northern California

The tiny enclave of Bolinas Beach is on a secluded bay just north of San Francisco in Marin Country. Like its neighbors Stinson Beach and Point Reyes, Bolinas is located right in the middle of the Red Triangle: a region marked by its high density of great white sharks.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/anne_jimenez/ / CC BY 2.0

Brisbane, Australia

Australia's coastal waters are filled with swimmers, surfers and, unfortunately, sharks of all sorts. While the highest numbers of attacks occur along the east coast with its larger cities and high beach traffic, they can happen anywhere. Brisbane has warmer water and tends to attract a few more pointers (great whites).

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New Smyrna Beach, Florida

What do you get when you mix divine sub-tropical Florida weather with easily accessible white-sand beaches? Correct: tons of tourists. And what do you get when you mix all of these tourists with a huge population of blacktip and spinner sharks? Correct again: "Shark attack capital of the world."

http://www.flickr.com/photos/trodel/ / CC BY-SA 2.0

"Shark Alley," Gansbaai, South Africa

"Shark Alley" is a narrow channel between two small islands off the coast of Gansbaai, a charming fishing village and holiday destination east of Cape Town. It is also home to one of the greatest populations of great whites in the world and is, therefore, a top world destination for cage diving.

Robert Harding Picture Library Ltd. / Alamy

Hong Kong, China

Hong Kong’s beaches have had zero shark attacks in the last few years. So why does it make the list? After a series of fatal attacks in 1995, Hong Kong Authorities erected an elaborate system of nets to block the predators from entering the city’s swimming beaches. Attacks have been prevented recently, but who knows what evil lurks beyond the nets?

Robert Harding Picture Library Ltd. / Alamy