Is it dangerous to wade in the San Diego beaches?

Question

For those of you from here or have been here, we've been going to OB (Ocean Beach) the part where you can climb down the rops (or where it used to be anyways) And during low tide you can go out in the water pretty far and wade thru the rocks and stuff? I was just wondering if its dangerous as far as maybe sharks, stingray and stuff. There's a lot of sea weed, so I'm not really sure what kind of creatures hide in there. Is it too shallow for sharks? I'm trying to overcome my fear of going out to where i can't touch, but the sea weed and not knowing whats there REALLY freaks me out. I would really like to over come this fear and think that by understanding the waters better would definately help me. I'd also like to start snorkeling. If anyone knows of a great local website too, that'd be great! This is not just for OB either, for the general area.

Answer 1

Been living here thirty years or so, and can't remember hearing of any shark attack. About once a decade someone will report seeing a great white shark but no evidence, so might be someone's imagination working overtime. There are leopard sharks and lemon sharks but that's not a concern really. What does hurt, and are around in spades are jellyfish. I stepped on a part of a dead one once on the beach and that hurt really bad for a long time. There's an easy solution to that, which is to not go barefoot...get some kind of aqua booties...usually cost you about ten bucks, have a shoe like bottom and wetsuit type stretchy material on top. You just slip them on and off. Will give you better traction where you stand as well as provide some protection for stepping on jellyfish or coral...or discarded needles...or whatever.

Hey, there's always a little danger associated with the ocean, but for the great majority of people, the greatest harm will come from sunburn.

Answer 2

Like you, I also don't like to go too far out there, especially when I can't see what's underneath. Since you're going at low tide, you won't really be in any danger of getting caught in rip currents etc because you're not swimming, but rather wading in shallow waters. Don't know what could be in the seaweed, but I have been hearing about a lot of jellyfish on the beaches this year. As for sharks, I have seen plenty of sharks out in the water, but not where you are describing, when it is low tide. The sharks I have seen have been out where the water is deep - where the surfers are. Sharks don't generally tolerate the warmer water that is found closer to shore, and if it is low tide and you are able wade among the rocks, then you are still close enough to shore that you should be safe. As always though, just use common sense and be aware of your surroundings and changing conditions and you should be just fine.

Answer 3

WE have had sharks here b4 every no and then we get leapord sharks they can be harmful. but usaly the only sharks sand sharks they r just like fish if u are not an expect u couldnt tell the differance bettweeen a sand shark and a fish. if u live in san diego go to seaworld and ask all the qestions u have about harmful sea animals in san diego or just ask the life guard

Answer 4

Great whites take a person evry tow or three years. The body or parts of the body hit the shore. And,one lady was eaten while swimming just offshore in la Jolla five years ago. But, I would not worry too much about it as the chances of you getting bit are small, and If you do, it would be over quickly.