Not usually known for shark attacks, the waters off Cancun were the site of a couple of non-fatal attacks this year. Many spend their time in deeper waters, coming into shallow areas to feed or have their babies. This is an activity I would encourage the eco-friendly tourist to refuse to support and avoid. It follows that attacks by sharks in Cancun are extremely rare and the chances of you being the victim of one are so remote its not something you should even worry about at all. Of course, the few times that there has been a shark attack, it has received a ton of media attention. The Caribbean Reef Shark is known to avoid humans altogether and is not known to have attacked any humans. The 2018 Shark Attack Map provides information on all world-wide shark attacks bites that have occurred in 2018. Nurse sharks are one of the most common species of shark you will encounter while scuba diving or snorkeling in Cancun. And thats because shark attacks are not common in Mexico. They rarely come into the shallow areas where people swim or do water sports. You are not allowed to scuba dive with them, but it would not be necessary anyway. 2. Meanwhile, people were taking off their shirts to wrap the wounds while Ross was carried to hospital. They are wild animals, yes, but they are not the killers that people imagine, she said. Photo by Olivia Brown. The attack occurred Continue reading Tours leave from Cancun, Isla Holbox, and Isla Mujeres. Anyone can read Conversations, but to contribute, you should be a registered Torstar account holder. He stopped to meet with fishing friends. Others are cruel, some are borderline. You can read my disclaimer policyand privacy policy Wondering what to wear to Cancun, Mexico? Edited: 11 years ago Report inappropriate content HolaGata Calgary, Canada Destination Expert for Akumal, Riviera Maya, Cancun, Yucatan Peninsula Level Contributor Yes, there are sharks off the coast of Cancun, and this is a great thing. The Caribbean reef Shark can measure up to 8 feet (2.44 m) long and weigh up to 150lbs. She has had several surgeries to graft skin to cover to wound. Another non-aggressive species that has been responsible for only 10 attacks in the last 500 years*Attack statistics taken from the International Shark Attack File. The boy was left with horrific injuries when he was viciously attacked while playing hide and seek with his mates on the pool deck of Club Med Cancun on June 18. In recent years, Playa del Carmen has become very popular with scuba divers who want to see bull sharks. I knew it was real, but I didnt want it to be real.. Moore was attacked by the shark on Jan.31 while waist deep in the water during a Cancun vacation with friends. Her left thigh was missing a huge chunk out of it. Cancun Hotel Deals; Last Minute Hotels in Cancun; By Hotel Type Cancun Motels; Cancun Campgrounds; Cancun Hostels; Cancun Resorts; This practice has stirred debate among dive shops and divers since many people feel it is unethical to feed the sharks. There will likely be another at some point in the future, as long as sharks and tourists share the same environment. But for Ross, it was too late. Despite this, there are no recorded unprovoked shark attacks in Playa del Carmen. This is one tourism business I and many others can not support. People who viewed this item also viewed. Despite the hype, shark attacks . Founded by a former globetrotting freelance journalist (BBC, USA Today & others), now our small team is here to help you plan your next adventure! Even so, shark attacks in the area are still thought to be very rare. While the sharks are relatively docile, it is best to avoid touching them as some attacks have been reported when the shark was startled awake by a diver. The amount of time they stay in the area changes every year. Chances are, you will never have the chance to put this knowledge to use. Many scuba divers believe the incorrect myth that nurse sharks have no teeth and therefore cannot bite you. Whale sharks are the worlds largest fish, adults can reach up to 18-33 feet long. Cancun is one of the best destinations in the world for swimming with whale sharks. There are no known unprovoked shark attacks in the waters off Isla Mujeres. Many dive shops offer special dives to see these huge, pregnant females. Cancun Tourism Cancun Accommodation Cancun Bed and Breakfast . Shark Attacks in Cancun Nevertheless, shark attacks have indeed occurred in Cancun. There are a (very) few observation towers located along Cancun beaches to ensure lifeguards have an elevated view of people enjoying the water. But if you are concerned about being attacked by one, stop worrying right now! In response, biologists from the Saving Our Sharks organization say that it is common for sharks to approach the coast to have their young during this season between November and March. Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach Cancun All Inclusive, Fiesta Americana Condesa Cancun All Inclusive. The lagoon also needs to be separated better from the people with so many crocodiles in there., Charlie added: I just want people to know that they can die in there.. If the idea of all these sharks is making you nervous because you were planning to spend your vacation lounging on the and in the water dont be! I haven't been able to find any articles suggesting that they do have occasional ones. If you make a purchase using one of those links, I may earn a commission at zero cost for you. 2022 LET'S TRAVEL TO CANCUN |Privacy Policy|Disclosure Policy|Disclaimer Policy Lets travel to Cancun is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. The whale sharks that come to the Cancun area do not come close to the shore. Source. Shortfin Mako sharks are 12 to 13 feet long, and can weigh up to 1,200 pounds! Teen surfer bitten in latest New York shark attack. Those were the first attacks for many years and as far as I know there havent been any recorded incidents since. Whale sharks are much more likely to be hurt by a human who touches their sensitive skin or grabs onto them for a ride than the other way around. Guests say there were no shark warnings posted or discussed prior to the attack. When was the last shark attack in Cancun Mexico? Nurse sharks can be seven to ten feet in length and weigh up to three hundred pounds. The shark bit a 30-centimetre-long chunk . - Quora He was also given 15hyperbaric chamber treatmentsand was put on a Vitamin C drip. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window), Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Common & Dangerous Spiders in France That You Could Meet on Vacation. This happened on the beaches close to Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, about 10 hours south of Puerto Vallarta. Hammerhead sharks have known to attack humans but seldom, and no fatalities have been recorded. Republication or distribution of this content is I actually saw a Bull Shark in Cancun once during one of our catamaran cruises. Grimes and a handful of other. As tourism has increased throughout Cancun and the Maya Riviera, so has the threat to the safety and well-being of sharks and their habitats. And Jennifer has praised the resort for covering all of her sons medical expenses. Are there sharks in Cancun beaches? From movies to new stories about shark encounters, they paint the ocean as a very dangerous place to visit. to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about Here are the shark tourism opportunities in Quintana Roo. Bull sharks in Cancun are around 7-8 feet long and weighing up to 290lbs. oceans have sharks. You can sign up for a tour that will take you out into the deep water, where you can snorkel with them. The first shark attack took place in January of 2011 when a Canadian woman waded into the water up to her waist and then felt a shark bite into her arm. Tours to go snorkeling with the whale sharks depart from there. Caribbean Reef sharks are not aggressive toward divers- they generally avoid them. "It was like a scene from Jaws," the Toronto Star declared in 2011 after Nicole Moore, a Canadian tourist, was bitten by a bull shark in the shallow waters of Cancun, just outside the Caribe Park Royal Grand Resort. http://www.myspace.com/video/vid/46950682. Cancun, Mexico Although this may come as a shock to you, Cancun Mexico is highly infested with sharks. This because an expert will take you to the reefs with . To add to that, Pamela Vzquez, coordinator of the Saving Our Sharks organization stated that shark sightings are frequent events and are not as dangerous as people perceive. Tiger sharks are aggressive predators. Nevertheless, shark attacks have indeed occurred in Cancun. It is best to only support shops that DO NOT feed the sharks. There is more than one answer. 4 The crocodile approached the man and brought him underwater Credit: Newsflash 4 Rescuers pronounced the man dead after bringing him onshore Credit: Newsflash In a statement, Club Med said it was deeply saddened by the incident and continue to provide assistance to the family. It is believed that it is the bull shark responsible for two of the three shark attacks in Cancun. However shark sightings off the coast of Playa Del Carmen are particularly common. Answer 11 of 33: Hi all, I'll be in Cancun in a few weeks and just wondering if all the hysteria about the shark attacks has calmed down? Shark attacks are most likely to occur in September. 17 How much does it cost to snorkel on Catalina Island? As always, take caution when entering the water and be aware of your surroundings. Cancun Hotel Deals; Last Minute Hotels in Cancun; By Hotel Type Cancun Motels; Cancun Campgrounds; Cancun Hostels; Cancun Resorts; Not surprisingly there are several tourism opportunities and. He said: It felt like I got stabbed. You are not allowed to scuba dive. A tourist has been attacked by a shark after ignoring warnings to stay out of the water, according to a lifeguard in the Mexican resort of Cancun. Isla Mujeres is located in the Caribbean Sea just off the coast of Cancun. It just felt like if someone grabbed your leg and squeezed it with their hands tightly., It almost felt like its teeth were holding the blood in because it hurt less with its teeth in [my leg] than when I was on the ground after.. Nurse sharks are more of a yellowish-brown color instead of a grey color like most sharks, and they have round heads and very small eyes. That means you should be prepared to encounter marine life in both areas. Communication. The government requires boats to have proper permits and follow rules to ensure the whale sharks safety. Unfortunately, the victim lost her arm and a large chunk of her thigh was bitten off and had to be reattached later at the hospital. Strangely, there were several attacks in a very short space of time in 2011. In March of 2011, the second unprovoked shark attack took place when a tourist waded about 100 meters into the water, even after lifeguards on the beach warned her that there was the possibility of sharks in the water. Though the chance of being attacked by a shark is. The latest attack came Saturday, when a shark chomped down on the arm of surfing enthusiast Bruce Grimes, an American expat who runs a surf shop in Zihuatanejo. It was about 11:30 a.m. on Monday. "Unprovoked bites" are defined as incidents in which a bite on a live human occurs in the shark's natural habitat with no . The last shark attack in Quintana Roo was in 1997 (according to the "official" shark attack website - I forget what it's calle). So the safest way to avoid attacks from sharks in Cancun and the Riviera Maya is to listen to lifeguards who will keep an eye on sightings, and avoid touching or going near any sharks. The Canadian woman who was bit Jan, 31st ended up losing her left arm. Shark Attacks in Cancun Verified 2 in last 4 months, Re: Shark Attacks in Cancun Verified 2 in last 4 months, Get answers to your questions about Cancun, Cancun Restaurant Trip Advisor Listing and Ratings, Bus, Taxi or Private Driver: Getting around Cancun, Airport Arrival, immigration limits,and hotel tranportation, Replacing a lost immigration form (tourist card). This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. Most area dive shops will take you to see the bull sharks. Some years they stay until February or March. Below is information and knowledge on the topic number of shark attacks in cancun gather and compiled by the yugo.vn team. According to the Australian Shark. Tiger sharks can grow up to 14 feet long and weigh up to 2,000 pounds! This does not, however, increase your chances of being attacked by a shark in Cancun. Lifeguards will tell you if there are shark sightings, and also alert you to dangerous rip currents in the water. The bull sharks arrive in Playa del Carmen around December. permissions/licensing, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com. Whale sharks are gentle giants. Until recently, it was believed that there were only around 25 species. Last Thursday, while spear fishing in a mangrove area off Cancun, the experienced fishermen hit trouble. Avoid immigration jail. The foreign minor who was attacked by a crocodile on the night of June 18, suffered the amputation of his leg due to the serious injuries caused by the saurian. Bull sharks, along with great white and tiger sharks are responsible for most shark attacks worldwide. Caribbean Reef sharks are a dark gray color with white bellies and a blunt snout. 15 Tips for Keeping Costs DownContinue, Disclaimer:This page may contain affiliate links. Click on a country to show more information. She said she was eating dinner at a restaurant overlooking the pool when her son was attacked. . Luxury: Set in the heart of the action in Cancuns hotel zone, and with every luxury imaginable including butler service, Turquoize at Hyatt Ziva Cancun with its unbelievable beachside views and infinity pool is as high end as you can get. In the past 450 years, only 40 shark attacks have been reported in Mexico, while 828 have happened in Florida. As always, be careful when swimming in the water. When fully grown the bull shark has a broad flat snout. A few minutes later, a piece of her flesh washed up on shore and someone asked for ice to pack it in and take it to hospital for possible grafting, according to Busuttil. In fact, the presence of sharks is great news! Based on the information we have, there have only been a few shark attacks in Cancun. They stick close to the ocean floor have tiny teeth which they use to feed on crustaceans and small fish. For the size of the shark and the shallowness of the water, it was surprising, she said. Unlike the stereotypical-looking shark, they have round heads and small eyes. Never remove marine life or plants and take them with you. That attack took place at the Park Royal. This color helps them blend into the sandy bottom, and they often live and hunt for food in shallow waters. These sharks are commonly seen by scuba divers because they live in the shallow waters near coral reefs where they feed on crustaceans, mollusks, and cephalopods. For some people, learning that there are several shark species living in the Cancun area could cause some anxiety. Most shark attacks that humans experience are actually provoked, meaning the human initiated interaction with the shark in some way. In the rare event that you do encounter a shark while swimming off the shore in Cancun, the best thing to do is calmly get out of the water. Marine tourism companies have used this opportunity to cater shark diving tours. The explanation comes down to numbers: More men than women surf,. They are the fastest swimming shark, capable of swimming up to 25mph (40.23 km/h) with bursts to 56mph (90.12 km/h). Shark preparation is an important aspect of visiting any beach destination, and while shark attacks tend to be very rare its important that you are prepared for whatever you may run into on your travels. In fact, scuba divers may spend their entire dive career hoping for a glimpse of one, and never seeing it. Experts think that sharks attack humans because they are confused or curious. After a team of surgeons operated on her, she was transferred to the intensive care unit and, although she is in a delicate state of health, doctors say she will live. Here, we answer your questions about the sharks that you might run into in Cancun and the Riviera Maya, and also detail past shark attacks in the region. Specific regions to visit include Tulum and Playa del Carmen where shark sightings are more frequent. The best months for spotting them are usually July and August. They ensure that species further down the food chain dont over populate and contribute in keeping the reefs of the Caribbean in healthy condition by doing so. They are found in warm waters all over the world and can live in either deep water or shallower areas. Sharks cycle nutrients between the open ocean and reef and control the population of smaller fish. Yes. He then repeats this a hundred or more times a day, 7 days a week. Tiger sharks are some of the largest marine animals, weighing up to 2,000 pounds and measuring up to fourteen feet in length. Thanks. Recommended: The Common, Rare & Dangerous Animals in Cancun You Might Meet! The incident is the first fatal shark attack in the Bahamas since 2019, when a 21-year-old woman from California was attacked by sharks near Rose Island, about half a mile (0.8km) away from . 5.0 . The first attack happened in January 2011 when a Canadian woman went into the water up to her waist. 1.1K views, 12 likes, 0 loves, 0 comments, 1 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from WIN News Illawarra: Last night's coverage of the shark attack at Bombo Beach. Sharks have now become an intrinsic part of Cancun tourism. Data shows there were 103 attacks in Septembersignificantly more than in other months of the year. It wasn't the first time they'd seen a crocodile, but this time was different. To guarantee that their divers will see bull sharks, some shops have begun feeding the sharks. As a matter of fact, whale sharks are actually the largest species of fish on planet earth. Examples of provoked attacks include a shark being caught in a fishermans net, a human harassing or touching a shark in their habitat, or a human feeding a shark. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Metallic rotating cube-shaped UFO hovers over shops in mind-blowing footage, Cats fill with pride as theyre hilariously transformed into lions, Another rare 1909s VDB Lincoln coin sells for $1,498, Inside creepy abandoned aquarium where worlds most miserable dolphin died alone, brutally attack and kill about 1,000 people a year many more. According to researchers at the University of Quintana Roo, there are over 40 different types of shark species in the area. Shops that do not feed the sharks still know what areas the sharks frequent, so you will still see them without participating in a feeding. When people see sharks as dangerous, they are less inclined to stop shark overfishing or shark finning. Some Playa del Carmen dive operations will take out experienced divers and attract sharks with the use of bait. A loud whistle sounded and a lifeguard ordered everyone out of the water. Experiencing a shark attack is incredibly rare, but if you are interested in seeking out a shark encounter, you should do so safely with a guided tour company that offers authorized tours focused on protecting you and the marine life. The females are typically larger than the males. If lifeguards see sharks they ask people to come out of the water so that the sharks can have their space, but there have been no incidents,, She also emphasized the species significance on the ecological system stating They are species that are key to ecological balance.. Tourists on the beach at the time said there was a lot of blood in the water but that Ross was conscious when she was taken to shore. Cancun Tourism Cancun Hotels . Top 13 Cancun Day Passes at the Best All-Inclusive Resorts, What to Wear in Cancun: Useful Tips and Outfit Recommendations, Is Cancun Expensive?