After watching Jaws as a kid, I now just have to research the shark situation before heading anywhere new. I don’t fancy being anyone’s lunch thank you very much!
I spent hours researching this before visiting and now that I’ve been, I’d love to share with you my experience.
In this post, I’ll be covering everything you need to know about sharks in St Lucia.
Does St Lucia Have Sharks?
You’ll be thankful to hear that St Lucia isn’t home to sharks. There are usually no sharks at all in the ocean surrounding the island.
Yippee!
One huge fear that many people have (including mysefl) when visiting tropical islands like St Lucia is that they may come across a shark whilst swimming in the ocean.
Even worse, they fear that they might come across a bull shark!
❗️ Bull sharks are very aggressive and responsible for the majority of shark attacks on humans.
Here’s what you need to know:
People have been visiting St Lucia for decades and shark sightings are incredibly rare so you can put your mind at ease.
The only sharks that have ever been spotted in St Lucia are small reef sharks and nurse sharks.
These types of sharks are harmless to humans and fairly small so even if you do come across one, you have nothing to worry about.
Even then, it’s incredibly unlikely that you’ll even see one of these sharks. The only people that have ever spotted them have been out diving at super deep depths.
These types of sharks will not be found swimming in the ocean near the shore or anywhere where tourists can be found.
And your chances of seeing a bull shark in St Lucia are almost zero.
I did a lot of snorkeling when I visited St Lucia and I saw a grand total of zero sharks. I didn’t even see a small reef shark so the chances that you will are pretty low.
St Lucia is actually a fantastic snorkeling and diving location where you’ll see an abundance of marine life including tropical fish, rays, coral, sponges, golden eels, turtles, seahorses and more.
It’s highly unlikely that you’ll spot any type of shark though or any other dangerous animals.
St Lucia Shark Attacks
I spent a while looking at the statistics to see how often shark attacks occur in St Lucia and if it’s something that should concern me.
I was super excited to discover that there have been no recorded shark attacks in St Lucia ever!
In 2021, there was an attack on a woman near St Kitts & Nevis which led to the government of St Lucia to release a statement asking people to be vigilant for sharks.
💡St Kitts & Nevis sits in the northern Caribbean 426km (265 miles) away from St Lucia.
In the statement, they said that they were aware of recent shark sightings within the Caribbean region and asked people to report any shark sightings.
They did note that all of the sightings so far have been recorded in northern Caribbean regions (which St Lucia doesn’t belong to) but still advised people to be careful.
At the time of writing, there have not been any shark attacks in St Lucia. Additionally, there have been no bull shark sightings in St Lucia on record.
It’s also worth noting that many other Caribbean countries released very similar statements as a precaution.
Can You Swim in the Sea in St Lucia?
On my vacation in St Lucia, I actually swam in the sea pretty much every single day and so did everyone else around me.
It is perfectly safe to swim in the ocean in St Lucia however there are some things you should be aware of.
It’s also worth noting that there are jellyfish in St Lucia. Stings are rare but do happen (most are mild).
There are a range of fantastic water sports available in St Lucia including snorkeling, kayaking, jet skiing, parasailing, stand up paddleboarding and more.
If you’re worried about currents then stick to swimming on the Caribbean side of the island (rather than the Atlantic side).
The Atlantic side tends to get stronger currents which are great for surfers however anyone who isn’t a strong swimmer shouldn’t swim here.
The Caribbean side of the island is super calm and ideal for swimmers at all levels. It’s the best place to take part in watersports.
Check out this handy map for more details:
Check out my complete guide on how safe St Lucia is for swimming for more information.
And that’s it!
Thanks for reading this post on if St Lucia has sharks. Hopefully it put your mind at ease if you are worried about sharks.
Although a warning was issued, no major sharks have ever been sighted in St Lucia so it’s highly unlikely you’ll have any issues.
Need more help planning your St Lucia vacation?
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