Barbados, an eastern Caribbean island, is also a British Commonwealth nation.
The island nation is known for its aquamarine waters and beautiful soft sand beaches.
Apart from having some of the most beautiful beaches on the planet, Barnados has a wide range of must-see sights to explore.
There is something for each traveler to do.
One of the factors that draw so many tourists from around the world is that Barbados is a safe destination for travelers.
But, you may be wondering, with such a beautiful coastline and pristine beaches, are there any sharks in Barbados?
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So… Are There Sharks in Barnados?
Barbados is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.
You may think that these waters are ideal habitats for many different species of sharks, and they are.
However, there are no sharks closer to the shore in Barbados.
And, therefore, there are no shark attacks in the island nation.
No reported shark attacks and no records of any previous shark attacks.
There are, however, incidents of fishermen catching certain species of sharks out at sea.
There have been sightings of Tiger Sharks on the north and northeast parts of the island, out in the Atlantic Ocean.
These are also the type and species of sharks caught by fishermen.
While there aren’t any shark species closer inshore, there certainly are sharks offshore and deeper into the Atlantic Ocean.
In fact, the offshore in Barbados is home to approximately 40 different shark species.
Most people swim and sunbathe on the south and west coasts of the island, so this shouldn’t be too much of a concern.
One of the primary reasons, speculated, that there are no sharks on the shores or coastline of Barbados, is the fact that most of the island is surrounded by reefs. It is believed that this reef is what is keeping the sharks at bay.
You may, however, find a variety of different shark species just beyond the reefs.
You may also notice some small, non-aggressive shark species in the reefs when you go scuba diving.
It has to be noted that there have been sightings of other types of shark species in the water in Barbados.
According to the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Sharks, here is a list of the most common shark species present just off the coast of Barbados in the Atlantic Ocean:
- Blacktip Reef Shark
- Silky Shark
- Tiger Shark
- Scalloped Hammerhead Shark
- Oceanic whitetip shark
- Shortfin Mako Shark
- Whale Shark
- Blue Shark
- Caribbean Reef Shark
- Great Hammerhead Shark
These sharks are typically found all over the Caribbean islands and off the coast of Barbados in the Atlantic Ocean.
Of the species of sharks just offshore from Barbados, the most aggressive and possibly dangerous shark is the Oceanic Whitetip Shark.
The most docile and harmless of these sharks is the Whale Shark.
Another potentially dangerous shark is the tiger shark.
These sharks do not hunt humans but have been known to attack humans when unprovoked.
They can grow to be quite large and may potentially be very aggressive.
There are a host of reef-dwelling sharks in Barbados that are non-aggressive and won’t cause any harm to humans.
Some of the sharks listed above may be curious and, as such, may come closer to humans.
However, they do not pose a threat and are very harmless.
Is it Safe to Swim in Barbados?
Swimming on the beaches in Barbados is relatively safe.
However, there are some factors that should be considered.
Firstly, some areas of the water are more suited to experienced swimmers as the currents are very strong.
This is especially true on the east coast of the island.
Swimmers are advised to only swim in designated areas where there is a lifeguard on duty.
Undercurrents and riptides on the north and northeast sides of the island are very strong and can potentially be very dangerous.
Ideally, the best place to swim in Barbados is on the west and south coasts.
These coasts have the calmest waters and that is the reason why most visitors and locals prefer to sunbathe and swim on this coast of the island.
Avoid going to isolated beaches at night.
This may be very dangerous.
If you do plan to go swimming in Barbados, it’s always best to practice reasonable caution.
Only swim in designated areas that have lifeguards on duty.
There are certain times of the day and night to avoid swimming.
Many locals in Barbados swim at dawn.
And they are perfectly safe.
However, when it comes to the beach, the sea, or the ocean, it’s best to always remain on high alert.
Interesting Shark Facts in Barbados
Tiger sharks have been spotted off Barbados in the Atlantic Ocean.
These sharks are considered to be some of the most dangerous and aggressive sharks in the ocean.
Tiger sharks can grow to a length of 18 feet and weigh up to 2,000 pounds.
This makes the tiger shark the second-largest predatory shark in the ocean.
And, the fourth largest shark to swim in the ocean.
The whale shark is the largest shark to swim in the ocean.
And, despite its name, it is in fact not a whale but a shark.
These sharks are very docile and are known as gentle giants.
They feed off other small fish and plankton.
A whale shark can process up to 6,000 liters of water through its gills in an hour.
Whale sharks are found in the Atlantic Ocean off Barbados.
They have very small teeth and cannot chew or bite.
The next interesting fact is about the Caribbean Reef Shark, also known as the reef shark.
These sharks have a very unique color.
On their ventral side, these sharks are light to light yellow and on their dorsal side, they are light to dark gray.
They are the most commonly seen shark in the Caribbean.
Their status is listed as near-threatened.
These sharks can live up to 14 years.
Possibly the most interesting fact about all sharks is that they never sleep.
They are unable to sleep as they will die if they stop moving.
They need to keep moving in order to breathe.
They may slow to a near standstill but they move just enough to keep the airflow going.
Most sharks live in the ocean in very salty water.
There are some sharks that live in freshwater rivers and other freshwater bodies of water.
And, there’s a very good reason for this.
Sharks are very salty, they are almost more salty than the water they live in.
They do not have swim bladders like other fish.
A swim bladder is a gas-filled organ that allows other fish to float in salt water.
Instead, sharks have large oil-filled livers.
These livers allow sharks to be buoyant in saltwater.
Sharks are known to be less buoyant in freshwater due to the fact that the lack of salt in the freshwater dilutes the salt in the shark’s bodies.
This could cause their cells to rupture, their bodies to bloat, and eventually die.
There are, however, some sharks that have adapted to living in freshwater.
These sharks have substantially larger livers that help them to process the freshwater and remain buoyant in freshwater.
And, their organs have adapted to living in freshwater.
3 Safety Tips for Swiming in Shark-infested Waters
Here are a few tips when swimming in or near shark-infested waters, it may just save your life:
- Be mindful of the time you swim. Sharks like to hunt for prey at dusk, dawn, and at night. Avoid shark-infested water during these times of the day as you may be mistaken for prey and you may be the victim of an unprovoked shark attack. In addition, avoid murky water. Sharks have very developed senses. They can easily camouflage themselves in murky water and hunt using their senses alone.
- Avoid areas with seals and where people are fishing. This may seem like a no-brainer. Sharks have a very keen sense of smell. They hunt fish and seals. If there are a lot of seals in an area, you can be sure that there are sharks not too far away. The same goes for places where people fish often. Sharks may identify this area as an easy target to get prey and may be lurking just beneath the murky water.
- Never go swimming alone. Especially if you know that there are sharks in the area. Always swim in a group and try not to be at the edge of the group when you are swimming deeper into the sea.
Summary
Barbados is a beautiful island nation with some of the most pristine beaches in the world.
The island is completely surrounded by a reef and, while there are sharks offshore, deeper into the ocean, there seem to be no sharks in the coastal waters where divers and swimmers enjoy the crystal clear water.
Of course, the ocean is very unpredictable.
And, just because there have been no reports of sharks or shark attacks, doesn’t mean that it can’t change in the future.
For now, it is considered to be safe in the coastal waters of Barbados.
The sharks that are present in the waters are reef-dwelling sharks and are primarily harmless to humans.
Barbados Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Barbados Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there shark attacks in Barbados?
There have been a total of six reported shark attacks in Barbados.
Unfortunately, four of them were fatal and out of the blue.
The last recorded attack was said to be in September 1922.
It is highly unusual for sharks to make their appearance in Barbados’ waters since most of the island is surrounded by a reef, but that doesn’t mean there will never be any sharks.
What other dangerous animals are there in Barbados?
While sharks are not a primary concern in the island nation, there are other dangers that lurk on the island, such as the stone fish, giant snail, giant centipede, lionfish, and green monkey.
Which Caribbean island has the most sharks?
West End, Grand Bahama Island.
This is one of the most shark-infested beaches in the world.
There may be sharks in the waters surrounding Barbados, but, it is generally considered a safe destination for swimmers and divers.
In conclusion, Barbados is a safe destination for travelers and beachgoers alike.
As long as you follow the basic safety tips and take the necessary precautions, you can enjoy the beautiful beaches and crystal clear waters without having to worry about shark attacks.
Barbados is a stunning island nation with a wide range of must-see sights to explore, and its safe waters make it an ideal destination for travelers of all types.