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If you’re heading out for a sea kayaking adventure, the presence of sharks may have crossed your mind. And you’ve probably wondered if sharks attack kayaks.
Well, the truth is, they can and they have. But how likely is it to happen to you? If you kayak in the ocean, there is always a chance of a shark attack, even if it is a very small chance.
But there are certain locations around the world where the risk is greater. But out of all shark attacks on humans, kayaking is not the most at-risk activity compared to surfing and swimming.
Do Sharks Attack Kayaks?
The quick answer is: yes, sharks attack kayaks. But sharks attacking kayaks is not something that occurs very frequently anywhere in the world.
In fact, kayakers make up a very small percentage of the overall number of shark attacks. And how likely you are to be attacked by a shark while kayaking depends on where in the world you plan to paddle.
More shark attacks happen in the United States than anywhere else in the world. And if Florida was a country, it would also have more shark attacks by far than any other country in the world.
However, while you might be more likely to be attacked by a shark in Florida than anywhere else in the world, Australia has the highest number of shark attack fatalities in the world.
Australia has had 20 deaths from shark attacks since 2012 (out of 143 shark attacks). Florida has had zero deaths from shark attacks over the same period (out of 259 shark attacks). Florida has had two shark attack fatalities since 1992.
By comparison, California has had only 130 shark attacks since its records began in 1923.
Remember, these statistics are based on global shark attacks in general, not specifically shark attacks on kayakers. However, the majority of shark attacks happen to people who are participating in surface recreation. This could be any activity on top of the water, such as surfing or paddle boarding.
Surface recreation may also include kayaking.
It’s also worth noting that many shark attacks or encounters go unreported. So the statistics may not reflect real life experiences.
But out of a total of 137 shark attacks globally in 2021, 4 of those were boat bites. Kayaks are considered boats for the statistics. It’s not known how many of these were attacks on kayaks and how many were unprovoked.
However, some records show that there has been only one death of a kayaker worldwide from a shark attack. This happened in 1989 in Malibu, California. Along the Pacific Coast, there have been 22 shark attacks on kayakers since 2000.
2021 Unprovoked Shark Attacks Worldwide
2021 Unprovoked Shark Attacks USA
As you can see, Florida has a much higher rate of shark attacks than any other state or country. The majority of Florida shark attacks happen on the Atlantic coast, with Volusia County (the Shark Bite Capital of the World) having the highest number of shark attacks in the state.
More shark attacks happen in Volusia County, Florida than any US state.
Types Of Sharks To Worry About When Kayaking
1: Great White Sharks
The Great White or white shark is probably the most famous of all the sharks, thanks to movies like Jaws. These are also the most dangerous sharks in the ocean in terms of fatalities. Great white sharks have killed more people than any other type of shark.
White sharks are very powerful, very large, and feed during the day.
These large sharks tend to be found close to the shore and the surface. They generally feed in areas around archipelagos where there are shoals and offshore reefs. White sharks hunt seals, sea lions and walruses and can often be found around the surfline in waters between 10 and 30 feet deep.
White sharks are commonly found in the waters off the coast of California, South Africa and Australia. But they can be found around the world, as far north as Alaska and as far south as the southern tip of Argentina.
It’s thought that great whites attack humans unintentionally as they may think the human is one of their food sources. For example, surfers can often resemble the shape of a seal when viewed by a shark swimming below.
However, these sharks are known to attack objects of various shapes and sizes so mistaken identity may not always be the case.
- Where they are found: Just about everywhere
- Are they dangerous? Yes
2: Bull Sharks
Bull sharks are notoriously dangerous and aggressive. Along with tiger sharks and white sharks, they’re part of the “Big Three” due to their attacks on humans.
They account for many unprovoked attacks on humans, particularly around the Florida coast. This shark is often considered the most dangerous shark in the world.
These sharks tend to be found in shallow waters close to the shore, even as shallow as three feet deep.
They are found in warm waters around the coast of Florida and the Caribbean. They also migrate up the eastern coast of the United States in the summer, as far as Massachusetts.
They can also be found around the Gulf Coast of the USA and Mexico, as well as the coasts of Central and South America.
Additionally, they are known to frequent freshwater environments and can be found in rivers, including the Amazon and the Mississippi. They are commonly found in harbors, lagoons and estuaries.
- Where they are found: Tropical/Subtropical waters, eastern USA
- Are they dangerous? Yes
3: Blacktip Sharks
Another one of the world’s most dangerous sharks in terms of unprovoked attacks, the blacktip shark accounts for a large percentage of shark attacks on humans.
It’s thought that the blacktip shark may be responsible for more attacks, as they are part of the Carcharhinidae family of species from which the Requiem spp. belongs.
The Requiem spp. includes blacktip, sandbar, and spinner sharks. However, it’s believed that most of the attacks by requiem spp. in Florida are by blacktips.
These sharks tend to hunt in shallow waters, which is why they often come into contact with humans. They eat small fish and will target schools of fish, such as sardines and herring.
In most cases, when blacktip sharks attack humans it’s thought that it’s a case of mistaken identity. These sharks tend to target arms and legs as these limbs may more closely resemble their prey.
While blacktip sharks account for a relatively high number of bites on people, there have not been any confirmed deaths from a blacktip shark anywhere in the world.
These sharks can be found in tropical and subtropical coastal waters. They are abundant in the Gulf of Mexico and around the Caribbean. But they can also be found in the Mediterranean and from the South Pacific to the northern coast of Australia.
- Where they are found: Tropical/subtropical coastal waters (mainly Gulf of Mexico)
- Are they dangerous? Yes
4: Tiger Sharks
Tiger sharks are responsible for more attacks and deaths than any other species of shark except great whites.
Tiger sharks are extremely large animals and can grow up to 18 feet long. They’re generally not aggressive but they have been responsible for 138 recorded shark attacks worldwide, including 36 fatalities.
These sharks are known for eating just about any type of marine animal and almost anything else, including garbage. This could be why they pose a threat to humans. They tend to hunt at night but can bite people at all times of the day.
They can be found in shallow waters near islands or around harbors and bays.
These large predators can be found in tropical and temperate waters around the world, except the Mediterranean. Large numbers can be found in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean.
They are also found around Southeast Asia, the South Pacific, and northern coasts of Australia.
- Where they are found: Tropical and temperate waters
- Are they dangerous? Yes
5: Basking Sharks
Basking sharks are enormous sharks that swim close to the surface where they eat zooplankton through a large open mouth. Basking sharks are the second largest fish in the world, after whale sharks, and can grow up to 40 feet long.
hese are generally harmless sharks that are not known to attack humans.
They can be found in temperate waters around the world and can often be seen in the waters around the British Isles, both the east and west coasts of the USA, and the Mediterranean.
Basking sharks can also be found off the coast of South Africa, South America