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."
After your first run in with a shark it does make you think. I have only had 3 shark related things happen to me. One in Atlantic a shark nibbled on my big toe and tore at it pretty good. The next at the coral Islands, the Canadian Olympic team were swimming at the beach, we had a gun guard watching us, when he yelled out SHARK even our distance swimmer sprinted out of the water. We stood and saw many a fin. The next one was in Narragansett Rhode Island that one followed me for ten miles.
After your first run in with a shark it does make you think. I have only had 3 shark related things happen to me. One in Atlantic a shark nibbled on my big toe and tore at it pretty good. The next at the coral Islands, the Canadian Olympic team were swimming at the beach, we had a gun guard watching us, when he yelled out SHARK even our distance swimmer sprinted out of the water. We stood and saw many a fin. The next one was in Narragansett Rhode Island that one followed me for ten miles.
