Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. We have done 50+ dives with the Sandals Grande Divers and we have never seen a shark. Since its control has so often been transmitted back and forth between the French and the British, it’s sometimes called the “Helen of West Indies,” alluding to the mythological Helen of Troy. In another article from around that time, it was divulged that a Zambezi shark was spotted on one of St. Lucia’s beaches. This region is known for the biggest congregation of whale sharks during the months between May and September. Bull shark eggs? In fact, there are quite a few diving establishments like the Sharks Friends Dive Center that are prominent in the region. You really only need a cage for great whites, but there is no shark feeding in St Lucia anyway. Re: Sharks in St. Lucia near the Sandals Grande Resort? You are unlikely to see any sharks unless you go looking for them! Cheap vacations to St Lucia in luxury all inclusive resorts are out of this world. However, since this footage is practically ancient, I wouldn’t sweat it! This only makes things a little better off, though, knowing the injuries that these sharks are capable of inflicting. Like bull sharks, these species are amongst the hugest and also the most dangerous for human beings. The good news doesn’t even end there. From here you can spot tigers and bulls, along with other big fish like eagle rays and other breathtaking fish. Seen reef sharks whilst diving but general watersports - unlikely. It’s now a sovereign independent country. No doubt, this information will help you prepare for your tropical cruise and put you at ease. St. Helena. At the time of this writing, visitors are urged to contact the emergency line at 082 797 7944 if they have any shark related (or other) incidents to report. There are lots of exciting events that take place on the island such as the La Rose and La Marguerite, which are festivals celebrating orders like the Freemasons. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. I was reading reviews earlier and someone said that a good thing about St. Lucia is that you really dont have to worry about sharks. Could it be that once more, our lovely St. Lucia is being mixed up with Santa Lucia? Problem is not only are they nocturnal, they are still considered extremely rare, with only a handful sightings in Bonaire, Curacao, and the Bahamas, in addition to St. Lucia. Beqa Lagoon in Fiji boasts of eight different shark breeds. There are lots of sharks so beware: shop sharks, beach peddler sharks, timeshare sharks! No thanks. Notable diving and photography spots include Keyhole Pinnacle, consisting of four volcanic peaks teeming with life, the Lesleen M. Wreck, a marvel of an artificial reef 16 to 65 feet below surface and inhabited by frogfish and octopi, and Fairyland, a coral reef kept strikingly clean because of warm, breathtaking currents. The article had a video of an interaction between a bull shark and a hippo in the St. Lucia estuary. They pressed on in moon-soaked water hours after nightfall, and only then did they have the chance to rest on sand. But we’re here to dispel that confusion. "There's this very real understanding that the situation is dire," said Kate. Try the Bahamas if you have your heart set on shark dives. more. What is the Currency and What Should I Bring and Use? What’s more, you also have a lot to pick from in terms of resorts for diving. all the diving and good snorkeling spots are mostly on the carribean side. As you move closer to the Atlantic side of the waters (as opposed to the Caribbean), your chances of seeing a shark do increase. As it’s near the equator, the climate of the region is towards the higher side of temperatures (about 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius) during the day and about 77 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees Celsius) at nighttime). I'll call Jaws & his cousins to tell them to stay away next summer during your honeymoon! Since these great white sharks have great white teeth, you might want to stay on the boat. After further research into the matter and a little digging around, we discovered that iSimangaliso Wetland Park actually happens to be located in Cape Town, Africa. We will be staying at the Windjammer and look forward to enjoying the free banana boat rides and water skiing. ( except for the one in the pic, of course - lol). The economist Sir William Arthur Lewis, hailing from St. Lucia, won the Nobel Prize for economics in 1979. https://zululandobserver.co.za/205631/watch-zambezi-shark-seen-off-st-lucias-beaches/, https://zululandobserver.co.za/86901/watch-shark-vs-hippo-interaction-in-st-lucia-estuary/. there isn't much sharks near shores.. We’ve even compiled a list for you. I have been to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? This is happening in Santa Lucia, a remote resort area on the north coast of Cuba. Sharks Friends Dive Center: Diving with sharks in St Lucia - See 92 traveller reviews, 191 candid photos, and great deals for Playa Santa Lucia, Cuba, at Tripadvisor. The aim of St. Lucia … Corals, sponges, black coral trees, golden eels, turtles, seahorses, angelfish, these waters have it all! ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-6685282', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');St Lucia many times and have dived, snorkelled, windsurfed and been swimming. 2. Since this is one of the first results obtained upon searching “sharks in St. Lucia,” we thought we’d clarify this too. As of now, the score remains the same: sharks 0 – 0 no sharks. Good luck with that. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-6668960', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');St. Lucia for my honeymoon next summer. With parties sprinkled all around, this is a great event for the diving community to enjoy (and show off!). At the time of this writing, visitors are urged to contact the emergency line at 082 797 7944 if they have any shark related (or other) incidents to report. The unique shark attack took place in the vicinity of Booby Island. Although easy to confuse and mix up, Playa Santa Lucia is a small and intimate resort region in the North of Cuba. Currently it’s an independent state and a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. Sharks known to fatally attack human beings are not common in the region. Keep reading on, because we did the research to answer that question so you wouldn’t have to, dear traveler. One popular option is Scuba St. Lucia, which also happens to be a National Geographic 5 star dive resort. There is also a yearly music festival held in the country called the Saint Lucia Jazz Festival. A lot of these tourists have been to the island numerous times and have gone for many dives, but haven’t once encountered a shark. Approximately 19 are caught each year, mainly in the summer months on the north coast. You will have a blast.....make sure you don't miss the tubing! However, it’s only natural for you to have some concerns regarding the place. What’s more, St. Lucia has a record for the second highest Nobel Laureates to the population of any sovereign nation. Re: Sharks in St. Lucia near the Sandals Grande Resort? Sharks Friends dive center Santa Lucia Camaguey Cuba this is amazing how they feed the bull sharks by hand and without a cage. Not to worry, everyone is telling the truth. This doesn’t take away too much from the fun since these hunters are known to occasionally break onto the surface for you to point and scream at. Don't be put off, you should have a great time! Our (now probably lost, sorry!) Besides this handful of tourists, there is a unanimous “no” to the question of whether there are sharks in the St. Lucia waters. You little adventurous (and stubborn) thing. We’ve even compiled a list for you. You can search for sperm whales, humpbacks and pilot whales, as well as spinner, spotted, fraser and common dolphins. That’s kind of scary when you realize that about a hundred percent of all visitors to the region have reported sighting them. The region also has regular dry and wet seasons. Or perhaps you’re a huge daredevil and wish to see one up close? However, they’re generally harmless and sleep during the day, so it’s unlikely that you’d run into them, unless you happen to be deep diving in the dark. This is the kind of information that makes the queasy tourist cower and cancel the cruise, but don’t do that yet, we’ve got you. Not to worry about the swimming kind. You’re not the only one! II) … The culture of this distinguished nation has undertones of African, French, and English influence. Snakes: There is one poisonous snake on the island of Saint Lucia, the “Fer-de-Lance”. Of course, due to its tropical location, multiple islands, and beaches straight out of a movie, St. Lucia remains an extremely popular tourist destination as of today. There hasn't been a recorded shark attack on divers from 1580-2004 in St. Lucia according to the International Shark Attack file from the Florida museum of natural History. There are lots of sharks so beware: shop sharks, beach peddler sharks, timeshare sharks! Enjoy magnificent views of the West Coast of St Lucia and sip on complimentary rum punch or non-alcoholic beverages on a 3.5 hour cruise. Their bites are known to be fatal. ... in … They even let you hand feed the bull sharks if you’re feeling adventurous (and in need of an all new, impressive, deluge of Instagram posts). They claim to have even felt something moving by their feet, a supposed shark. The place specializes in that after all. Are there sharks in St. Lucia? Already drawn in by the charm of this promising part of the world? From here on out we’ll be talking about St. Lucia in the West Indies only. Vacation safely! If the sound of those aggressive creatures gives you the frights, not to worry. Are shark attacks rare in St. Lucia waters? To date I have never seen a shark but have seen dolphins, pilot whales, tuna and turtles. Average rainfall ranges between 50 inches and 150 inches per year. Wishing for a cruise to the destination? In fact, the tourists recalled that they had been trying to fight off images of the film, “Open Water”, for the entire duration of their courageous swim. These allow tourists to dive and swim among bull sharks, delightful! Anyhow, as much as we’d like to go on talking about the delights of swimming (and dying) with the sharks, this article does happen to be about St. Lucia and not Playa Santa Lucia, Cuba. Get answers to your questions about St. Lucia. It’s still a good idea to be prepared for any emergencies and keep hospitals and first aid centers in sight, though. Gaansbai in South Africa allows you to cage dive with breathtaking great white sharks. If you’ve been diving for a while then you’re … There’s more to the story than meets the eye, we promise. If you want to attract some, just attach a string of dead fish on the back of your waterskis. From Anse Chastanet to Rosemond's Trench, there are many captivating underwater adventures awaiting snorkelers in Saint Lucia. Ha! Second Beach, Port St. Johns, South Africa ... “There is no truth to the notion that there are no sharks where there are dolphins,” says Ralph S. … It has also been suggested that late night diving reveals some of the most magical marine life that’s known to man. It seems that this isn’t a very common occurrence since a great white hasn’t been spotted again since. 2020 © HolidayNomad.com | All Rights Reserved. Netted bull shark juvenile to be studied and returned to the IRL. And one official has … Curious (read: intrepid) tourists can interact with them by heading underwater protected by a huge cage, but swimmers shouldn’t go in the surf outside of designated beach zones. We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason. If you were hoping to see sharks anyway, don’t be disappointed, there’s all sorts of spots where you can chill with these deep sea monsters. According to one user, there are some reef sharks present in the area. Some suggest diving down to 85 feet during nighttime in order to have a slim chance of sighting one! Bring your camera to the Tet Paul Nature Trail, which is one … Besides luxurious spas and resorts, other attractions in this tropical paradise include the Sulphur Springs, a drive-in volcano (wow!) Since most of the holiday attractions are at the Caribbean end, this shouldn’t be a problem. Along with pink flamingos and mosquitoes, this sandy location is known for – wait for it- its sharks! These sharks are not known to attack humans unprovoked and are generally not interested in their activity anyway. It may be found in many large rivers and lakes far from the sea; estuaries such as St. Lucia and Richards Bay form nursery grounds for the juveniles. Sharks in St. Lucia near the Sandals Grande Resort? Trou Diable (Devil’s Hole)Dive Level: Advanced. St. Lucia All Inclusive Honeymoon Resorts, Hotels near Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens, Hotels near La Soufriere Drive-In Volcano, Hotels near Marc's Taxi Service and Tours St. Lucia, http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html, Looking for transportation options to windjammer beach resor, Sandals Grande St. Lucian, over the water Bungalows. Are there sharks in St Lucia? Yikes! The rich ecosystem of the region offers all kinds of sights from ancient reefs to circles of rays. The above reported sightings are isolated occurrences and it remains fact that St. Lucia isn’t really known for it’s shark population. However, officials say such attacks are rare. Trust me....if there were sharks, I wouldn't be diving with them! Stray away from the perimeter of the compound, and the protection against the islands dangers is mainly lost. They aren’t known to attack humans unprovoked, and not a lot of people have seen them anyway. The short answer is no. Are shark attacks rare in St. Lucia waters? Besides the threat of crime, burglaries, and harassment (which are being controlled by police measures and private security teams, not to worry!) Shocking Shark attacks in St.Lucia. If your idea of a relaxing week spend in the sun doesn’t include the words “shark infested,” you might want to consider avoiding the West End on Grand Bahama Island: It’s one of the most shark-populated beaches in the world. Sharks known to fatally attack human beings are not common in the region. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one. St. Lucia’s Fishery department denied these claims, and the Information and Communications Officers actually clarified that one of the sharks had been pregnant, which accounts for what was inside it. Still now, and for the moment, all anyone can say is that it belongs to the Family of elongated worms Eunicidae, giving rise to its genies species name: Eunice roussaei. (I haven't yet.) I too am freaked out by them. Isla Mujeres in Mexico is the place for you. Now, with a couple of shark attacks off Florida, not far from where I live, it reminds me that shallow water attacks here are where most of the attacks occur so that makes me leery about going too far out off the beaches. I have been to St Lucia 9 times and have never heard of sharks there. We have heard people a few years ago say they had seen a nurse shark hiding in the reef on the bottom. It also went on to say that these sharks are a common sight on the estuaries because that is where female bull sharks come to give birth. There are many different types of snakes living and breeding on St Lucia. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, Natural Resources and Co-operatives issued a statement Wednesday. Here, we will address the question of, “are there sharks in St Lucia?”, but first, let’s take a deep dive into understanding more about St. Lucia. Craving bigger thrills? It’s only here that you need to worry. As a matter of fact, tiger sharks are one of the most dangerous shark species and are responsible for a huge chunk of fatal shark bites. (I haven't yet.) Fortunately for you, St. Lucia isn’t the only thrilling tourist site in the world. https://www.travelawaits.com/2476685/the-worlds-most-shark-infested-waters There are varied terrains throughout the island, from volcanic rocks to highlands to a depression in the southern part. As long as you don’t dive too deep (read: over 85 feet) and stay clear of the Atlantic side, you’re virtually safe. Nevertheless, they explain that sharks are coming closer to shore to look for food. Most sharks are also likely harmless (when unprovoked) species such as nurse sharks and reef sharks; as long as you don’t bother them (or swim around with bait), you’re all set. I / App. sharks are one of the most common fears among tourists. A YouTube video from the distant past – 2009 – shows footage of a great white shark in the waters of St. Lucia. Like the Galapagos Islands, St. Helena is one of the few places in the world where … More than seven years ago, in 2013, panic struck when a brother and sister duo had to complete the brave feat of swimming around for 12 hours after their fishing boat sank. Besides that, a poet from St. Lucia called Derek Walcott also received a Nobel prize in literature for his poetry in 1992. See the footage for yourself here: https://zululandobserver.co.za/205631/watch-zambezi-shark-seen-off-st-lucias-beaches/, Our research also took us to an article dating back to 2015. Furthermore, to avoid any untoward incidents, the wetland park has also employed 38 beach monitors and numerous lifeguards, all made recognizable because of their iSimangaliso attire. There are sites where sharks just show up, and also dedicated feeding dives (more expensive) with a few dozen milling about you. To review the Tripadvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html. Antigua or St. Lucia - Which one for wedding/honeymoon? We spent several days diving in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? What’s the verdict then? Here is the URL www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/scuba/All2.htm Contrast that with Florida which averages around 30+attacks a year. They further divulged that there are no shark nets throughout the area and these bull sharks are an important part of the marine ecosystem and thus must be protected. While we do believe that it’s possible to encounter a shark on your tropical cruise to St. Lucia, it’s not very likely. These images are enough to make a potential tourist worry about encountering one of these underwater monsters on their Caribbean dive. You don’t even have to worry about ending up in a shark tummy, these giants are vegetarian! When diving in St. Lucia expect to see black coral fans, sponges, golden spotted eels, stingrays, turtles and even nurse sharks. These sharks move quite slowly and are docile for the most part. But there is no fear to be had for the many baby and juvenile sharks living in the St Lucie River and Indian River Lagoon. st lucia doesn't have much dangerous things,maybe sometimes there might be ting jelly fish but not the once dat can kill you. As mentioned before, you can also head over to Santa Lucia to have the time of your life diving with the bull sharks. What makes this story even more horrifying is that it was also alleged that one of the sharks contained what was thought to be human remains. You’re not the only one! I wouldn't give it too much concern. Still hell bent at wanting to encounter sharks? Silly confusions out of the way, we still have some bad news for you. located in Soufrière as well as the St. Lucia Botanical Gardens. Only the atlantic side would you have to worry. Last month, a 38-year-old tourist died after a shark attack off the coast of St Martin. It created chaos among the neighboring sea residents. The short answer is no. In another relatively recent article from about a year ago, it was revealed that two sharks were caught in Dennery. Here’s the video: https://zululandobserver.co.za/86901/watch-shark-vs-hippo-interaction-in-st-lucia-estuary/. The answer is plenty! Thank you for your help!! Nom scientifique Nom commun Class Order Family Appendix (App. Each holiday season since 2017, security is increased at the beach and visitors are time and again reminded to adhere to all rules and regulations so that they remain safe and protected while enjoying their holiday and take care of the environment around them as well. about 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius) during the day and about 77 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees Celsius) at nighttime. … Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. No shark dives in St Lucia, although by great luck you may come across one. Since Zambezi is another name for bull sharks, this information is kind of alarming. Don’t want to restrict to only one species? These are only the most major in a whole host of festivals and events. Sharks in St. Lucia near the Sandals Grande Resort? 1. The only sharks that I have ever seen in the Caribbean are reef sharks and these are harmless - they sleep during the day. They carry whistles to alert beachgoers of any safety hazards. The curious reader would be interested to know that bull sharks are one of the most dangerous sharks in the world with about 30% of bull shark bites being fatal to human beings. These crazy Cubans will soon be hand feeding these dangerous sharks without the benefit of any protection, not even a pair of gloves. Enjoy your time in and on the water, and don't worry. These were both tiger sharks. Unfortunately, this incident took place on the north coast of St. Lucia and the articles reporting on it make one think that the waters are infested by sharks. You don’t even have to worry about ending up in a shark tummy, these giants are vegetarian! : ). Yet they seem so calm and self assured. It is brown and/or black with pale yellow or cream … Jalousie Reopening as The Tides, Sugar Beach. Hi. So, it can be said that the area has a tropical rainforest climate, nothing too unbearable. Once they finally reached home, they got the news that the captain and first mate of their former boat had suffered a fate similar to theirs; they had to swim around for over 23 hours before they were rescued. 5 Epic Rooftop Bars in Brooklyn You Must Visit, Where to Stay in Los Angeles: 6 Best Places, 2 Great Locations for Your Next Fishing Trips in Florida. I really want to do alot of watersports ( waterskiing, jetskiing, parasailing, snorkeling, etc...) but i am terrified of sharks. If not shark seeing, what can you see whilst at St. Lucia? The underwater part of St Lucia is like another world, completely teeming with wild life like no other place in the Caribbean sea. there isn't much sharks near shores.. 0 … Please let me know if you have been to St. Lucia and know if this is true or not. Just another day at work to them. Remarkably, it beats places like Las Vegas and Maldives as the most visited wedding destination in the world! Net captures. Later, it was renamed as Hewanorra, by the native Caribs people. Thankfully, the shark was not able to harm anyone since it was stuck in a sandbank. We’re still not convinced, though. Re: Sharks in St. Lucia near the Sandals Grande Resort? point being that the two are often confused, and since once is famous for its sharks, it’s quite natural that the other would be linked to it too. Still, sharks rarely attack humans, and even fewer attacks result in death, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History’s shark attack database. Recently there have been shark attacks in St. Lucia too. The sharks that have been claimed to inhabit this area happen to be – you guessed it – bull sharks. You wouldn’t want to miss out on the trip of a lifetime featuring a walk-in volcano, a sailing rally, a horse racing facility, and various nature reserves. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Besides these websites, the good old folks over at tripadvisor.com also have a lot to say about sharks in St. Lucia. Saint Lucia is a sovereign, volcanic island nation formerly of the West Indies. Read on for all you need to know about sharks and the St. Lucia islands. We stayed way north, almost to the atlantic and still saw no sharks. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-6669430', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');St Lucia 9 times and have never heard of sharks there. According to the statement, the department is aware of sightings of sharks and their interactions with humans in the region. It’s still a good idea to be prepared for any emergencies and keep hospitals and first aid centers in sight, though. Although these warm waters are open to divers all year long, the best time to visit them is perhaps in September when the St. Lucia Dive Association hosts its annual Dive Fest, which is a week long event that allows diving fanatics (and rookies, be prepared for competition though) to take part in exciting events like the lionfish derby or the various photo contests. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. One thing we’d like to clarify before we begin unravelling our research is that St. Lucia is not the same destination as Playa Santa Lucia. Another user claimed that divers had reported seeing nurse sharks whilst down in the reef. Walk the Tet Paul Nature Trail. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-6679305', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');St. Lucia and did not see any sharks. You wouldn’t want to miss out on the … Most of the sharks are immature. Which is nicer....Sandals La Toc or Grande? Saint Lucia authorities have urged caution in response to shark sightings in the Caribbean. I am going to the Sandals Grande Resort in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? As per the statements from the sharks’ attacks, at least one person suffered severe injuries, and he is now in the hospital. We’d rather keep our distance. I have been to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? There are danger signs all over as it is one of the only places in the world that Sharks, Hippos and Crocodiles are found in the same waters. Formerly it was known as Lyonola, since this is what the indigenous Arawaks called it. Unfortunately, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park administration has issued warnings that visitors are advised to refrain from the water due to the presence of bull sharks and extremely powerful currents. Are there sharks in St. Lucia?