I participate in a lot of open water swims here on the east coast but have never swam in the ocean on the west side of the country. I sent in a bunch of questions to the FINA World Champ Master website and never got a response (there is an excerpt from the email below). I'm hoping anyone who has had experience swimming in the San Francisco Bay could give me their advice. If anyone running this event could also give me any feedback that would be great.
"Open Water Issues....... I am concerned about the shark population in San Francisco bay. I am an open water swimmer and would like to "attempt" alcatraz and the 3k swim. What measures if any will there be taken concerning sharks? I'm very comfortable with the ocean on the east coast but have never swam on the "west side". I'm I being silly? Once I heard there were seals in the bay I got nervous because that's what sharks eat.... or so I'm told. Some people also told me that people go to "watch" the sharks in San Francisco bay. Please, please tell me I'm being silly."
Per your request: "You're being silly."
There are many of us who do open water swims regularly here on the left coast, in both competition and training . . . not to mention surfing year round.
The only swimmer that I am aware of who ran into shark problems was on the central coast a couple of years ago. She was swimming in a wetsuit, without other humans, in the middle of a seal group . . . or as the sharks call them . . . "food."
So as long as you're not swimming with a horde of seals at dusk or dawn (feeding time) you should have no worries. I've seen sharks a few times in my 30+ years of ocean play, but we've managed to keep our distance.
Have fun and don't sweat it . . . there are sharks in the east coast too. The ONLY way to guarantee 100% safety from sharks is to not go in the water in the first place.
;)
Per your request: "You're being silly."
There are many of us who do open water swims regularly here on the left coast, in both competition and training . . . not to mention surfing year round.
The only swimmer that I am aware of who ran into shark problems was on the central coast a couple of years ago. She was swimming in a wetsuit, without other humans, in the middle of a seal group . . . or as the sharks call them . . . "food."
So as long as you're not swimming with a horde of seals at dusk or dawn (feeding time) you should have no worries. I've seen sharks a few times in my 30+ years of ocean play, but we've managed to keep our distance.
Have fun and don't sweat it . . . there are sharks in the east coast too. The ONLY way to guarantee 100% safety from sharks is to not go in the water in the first place.
;)
