When vacationing in Virginia Beach and enjoying the surf, it’s natural to have the thought of sharks in the back of your mind. After all, sharks are the predators of the waters.

We’ve been conditioned to fear sharks through the infamous movie, “Jaws”, Discovery Channel’s “Shark Week”, and other news and movies. But, did you know that these predators should be of little worry when it comes to the shores of Virginia Beach?

Shark bites in the USA have been recorded since the 1800s.

Since 1852, there has been only five bites with one fatal shark attack in Virginia Beach.

The shark bites and sightings start becoming more prevalent from North Carolina down along to the coast of Florida. This is because of warmer water temperatures and more sources of food for the sharks to feast. North Carolina’s shark attacks have been on the rise since 2010.

According to Shark Attack Data, North Carolina had an all-time high record for shark attacks two years ago in 2015.

The furthest south you can go on the US’s east coast, Florida, is where you will find the most incidents of shark attacks. Sharks are no strangers to this sunny state. Florida has been dubbed the Shark Capital of the World many times over.

The Guinness Book of World Records has named Florida’s New Smyrna Beach as the “Shark Capital of the World.”

Florida’s New Smyrna Beach even made the list of The Weather Channel’s 10 Dangerous Beaches of the World because of its 238 recorded shark attacks. When visiting Virginia Beach, you’ll be in safer waters. With such a low number of shark bites, you can set your mind at ease.

Did you know you can find the latest shark tracking information on Twitter? 

Many sharks who are tagged and tracked have their very own Twitter accounts so beachgoers, lifeguards, and news stations can be aware of their location. On Twitter, you can follow updates from Great White sharks like Mary Lee, Hilton, and Savannah. Find the Tiger shark, Beaufort. You can also follow Harvey, the Mako shark. Follow Mary Lee and the gang on Twitter.

If you’re coming to our shores, it’s a great feeling to know that Virginia Beach shark attacks are extremely rare. This is just another great reason why choosing this beach city is a no-brainer.

PS- If sharks are what you are looking to find, we suggest you take a trip to the Virginia Aquarium! There you can watch them instead of them watching you.

Now, it is important to keep in mind that Virginia Beach is home to a fair number of sharks. These sharks that are off the shores of Virginia Beach are usually Sandbar sharks. These types of sharks in VA Beach can be caught near the Virginia Beach Fishing Pier.

Here are our tips for you:

  • Don’t swim near the pier
  • Don’t swim near dolphins as they may be feeding
  • Don’t swim at dusk or dawn