Chances Of Shark Attacks Higher In South Carolina Than Any Other State In The Lower 48

We are taking a late summer vacation so I did a little research on where sharks are most likely to be hanging out this time of year. I was shocked to discover what one site had to say. According to Carolina Sportsman, chances of shark attacks higher in South Carolina than in any other state in the lower 48 states.

The University of West Florida did comprehensive research and discovered that beach goers are much more likely to be bitten in South Carolina waters than anywhere else in the continental United States. Erich Ritter is with the University and says while Florida gets most of the publicity for shark attacks, "South Carolina is where the true danger lies". Now more shark attacks do occur in Florida but the survey takes into account the number of people and amount of days spent in the water. The study uses the number of people that enter the ocean on average.

Carolina Sportsman features this quote about shark attacks higher in South Carolina. "According to the study, the most-likely place to be attacked by a shark is Folly Beach and other Charleston-area beaches. Swimmers there are three times more likely to have an unpleasant shark encounter than swimmers in Volusia County, Fla. – which includes Daytona Beach — commonly referred to as the “shark attack capital of the world,” and eight times more likely than any other Florida beaches."

And apparently it is all about the optimum hunting grounds around the Charleston, South Carolina area. The theory is there are bountiful estuaries created by the Cooper and Edisto river systems among others. And that is prime hunting and nursing ground for sharks.

The experts say swimming in the Charleston area, its 34 times more likely you will be attacked by a shark than anywhere else in the state. They add Myrtle Beach "isn't the safest place to swim either". You know where a shark won't bite you? You will find me under my umbrella, in a lounge chair sipping my favorite beverage. The beautiful ocean looks amazing from there.

Sharks are not to be vilified. They are an essential part of the ocean. And the experts say chances are if you are bitten it is most likely by accident. People aren't on their menu. And it's their home not ours. I'll respect that.

If you're like me, then when you go to the beach there is only one thing you think about, SHARKS! If it is one thing we have learned over the years, shark attacks can happen at just about any moment. From movies like Jaws to memorable shark attacks over the years, it's the one thing we fear at the beach. While there are tons of precautions people try to take out nowadays, there are still some areas that are just known for high amounts of shark attacks.

How Stuff Works went through to determine which places are some of the most dangerous for shark attacks. From other countries like Brazil to U.S. spots like South Carolina, attacks happen worldwide. Although shark attacks are rare, it is good to know a bit about the beaches you may visit this summer or in the future. Here are How Stuff Works top 10 most dangerous places for shark attacks. Beware!

Welcome to the world's largest tropical island. In the Pacific Ocean, this area has had a record of 48 shark attacks since 1848, according to How Stuff Works.

South Carolina has had a record of 107 shark attacks since 1837, says How Stuff Works. With a long stretch of coastline, 37 of those attacks occurred in the Charleston County coastline.

Brazil is home to most shark attacks throughout South America. According to How Stuff Works, they have had 107 attacks since 1931.

Since 2012, California has had a record of 29 shark attacks. How Stuff Works says they have had nearly 130 attacks since 1926.

Florida is undeniably one of the most known places for shark attacks. The state has had so many multiple areas within Florida made the list. Brevard County specifically has had 155 shark attacks since 1882, according to How Stuff Works.

Headed to Maui or Oahu? Beware of the possibility of a shark attack. 159 of shark attacks in Hawaii have occurred at one of those two islands since 1828, says How Stuff Works.

Since 1700, Queensland has had a record of 199 shark attacks. Australia is home to over 150 shark species and the attacks range from all different types of sharks. How Stuff Works reports that some of Australia's beaches are protected by drumlines and baited hooks to help keep beaches safe from sharks.

Another spot in Australia you may want to be cautious about is New South Wales. They have had over 250 shark attacks since 1700, says How Stuff Works. That includes five attacks and one fatality in just 2021.

South Africa has had over 200 shark attacks since 1905! WOAH! How Stuff Works reports people tend to flock to South Africa beaches to dive with sharks, but that can be highly dangerous for many obvious reasons. The country is the first to formally protect Great White Sharks leading to their population to grow tremendously. Yeah, sounds like I will not be in the waters of South Africa no time soon.

Coming in at the No. 1 spot for the most dangerous place for shark attacks, of course, Florida. Volusia County to be specific. This area has had over 300 shark attacks since 1882. Not only is it the highest for the state, but this one county beats out multiple countries as well! This area is considered the world's shark bite capital! How scary is that!

For the full article and more information on each location, click here. 

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