Daytona Beach Travel Forum

What is a piers? I am comcerned of how far tht is and if I should take the chance of swimming. I am going on vacation to Datona Beach and want to know if there is any danger if I just swam 30 ft out? Maybe more or less

A pier is self explanatory if you view this picture, I know you've seen them before.

http://flickr.com/photos/maijau/429480057/sizes/o/

Regarding sharks, don't worry about them. There is always a risk, but your chances of being killed driving to the beach are much higher than being killed by a shark. I spend a lot of my summer days around Daytona Beach and have never had problems. I go past 30 feet as well to catch the surf. If you are truly worried, just make sure someone else is further out then you, that way there is a better chance that if a shark is in the area, they will attack that person first...I'm not sure how logical it is, but it'll help calm your fears mentally.

The other poster is partially correct. Your chances are rather slim of getting attacked by a shark. However, statistically, 95% of all shark attack occur in water that is less than 2 meters deep. So going by that, being out in deeper water is safer...if that makes you feel any better. Here is a good link for you to calm your fears:

http://ezinearticles.com/?Shark-Attack-Facts---Are-Sharks-Man-Eaters?&id=472746

We used to take our kids to New Smyrna and Daytona all the time - back some years ago. Lately I found an article on CNN that calls New Smyrna the #1 beach for shark attacks - New Smyrna is right south of Daytona.

So while I agree with the previous post - something's going on. Somebody just got bitten (don't recall if it was Daytona or New Smyrna) - in knee deep water. I posted the link in the Misc Forum, posting about Pina Coladas Freaking Out.

A pier is like a dock. In some cases, people fish off of piers so the sharks may come to that area for food. You wouldn't be swimming there anyway, especially if there was any surf because there would be dangerous currents under there, not to mention the problem with fish hooks and being pushed into the barnacle covered posts.

Some of the attacks are on surfers where it is the theory that the sharks mistake them for seals. I don't think that is the case with the Florida coast though as there aren't many seals there. But the surfers are usually out past the surf line, so not in as shallow water.

A lot of shark attacks occur in reduced visibility - low light like at dawn and dusk, or if there's a lot of sand or the water is murky. These kinds of attacks occur in shallow water near the beach. So don't swim at dawn or dusk.

Here is the attack nomad was speaking of:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,353051,00.html

It was New Smyrna.

Are you seriously worried about a shark attack. Of the tens of millions of people who swim in Daytona Beach a year there is what, 1 or 2 shark attacks a year. You do the math. Probably your chances of getting hit by lightning are greater.

With that said I did find some interesting stats concerning Daytona Beach. Since 1882-2004 there were 171 shark bites in Daytona, Volusia county area with no fatalities. Most of the attacks are to surfers. So a word of advice if you are that concerned about sharks. Don't surf!