Are There Sharks in Cocoa Beach? Everything You Need To Know!

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If you are planning your visit to Cocoa Beach and want to know more about the sharks that can be found in the waters of Cocoa Beach then you have come to the right place.

Cocoa Beach is a very popular beach destination in Florida, but at the same time, it is considered one of the most shark-infested beaches in the country. So, if you are visiting Cocoa Beach, it is important to know more about the various shark species that are lurking in the waters of Cocoa Beach.

In this article, we have covered everything about the sharks in Cocoa Beach that you should know before visiting this lovely beach destination.

Are There Sharks in Cocoa Beach? Everything You Need To Know!

Are there sharks in Cocoa Beach?

does cocoa beach have sharks

Yes, there are sharks in Cocoa Beach.

Cocoa Beach is a popular beach destination situated along Florida’s Atlantic coast. And, as with many other beach destinations in Florida, there are a number of shark species living in the waters around Cocoa Beach.

In fact, the north Atlantic Ocean, where Cocoa Beach is located, already has over 40 registered shark species.

Aside from that, Cocoa Beach is in Brevard County, which has had the second-largest number of shark attacks in the United States since 1882.

Also, Cocoa Beach is just a few miles away from New Smyrna Beach, the beach that has encountered the most shark attacks in the country since 1882 and is known as “the shark bite capital of the world.”

Aside from that, it is a great place to go if you want to go shark fishing. Cocoa Beach is considered one of the best destinations for shark fishing in the Sunshine State as it is home to a number of fascinating shark species like lemon sharks and blacktip sharks.

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What types of sharks are there in Cocoa Beach?

Types of sharks are there in Cocoa Beach

As I already explained, there is a wide range of species in the waters around Cocoa Beach. These are some of the most common shark species found around Cocoa Beach:

  • Lemon Shark
  • Blacktip Shark
  • Black nose Sharks
  • Spinner Sharks
  • Sandbar Sharks
  • Bonnethead Sharks
  • Hammerhead Shark
  • Bull Sharks
  • Nurse Sharks

One of the most common shark species in Cocoa Beach is the blacktip shark. They get their name from their black-tipped fins, and they can grow up to 5 to 6 feet. Blacktip sharks are usually found in coastal waters.

Even though blacktip sharks are not considered aggressive toward humans, they are involved in 15% of all unprovoked shark attacks that have happened in Florida since 1926.

Lemon sharks, along with blacktip sharks, are among the most common shark species in Cocoa Beach. They can grow up to 8 to 11 feet and are usually found in inshore and nearshore areas.

Like blacktip sharks, lemon sharks are also not aggressive; they can, however, be dangerous if provoked.

Also, you may sometimes find shy sharks like sandbar sharks and bonnethead sharks in the waters around Cocoa Beach.

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Cocoa Beach shark attacks statistics

Cocoa Beach shark attacks statistics

Now, take a look at the shark attack statistics for Cocoa Beach.

Cocoa Beach is a beautiful beach destination located in Brevard County.

And Brevard County, according to the data from the International Shark Attack File (ISAF), has reported the second-most shark attack incidents in the country since 1882.

Confirmed Unprovoked Shark Attacks in Florida Since 1882 as per ISAF

CountyTotal Shark Bites
(Since 1882)
Volusia337
Brevard155
Palm Beach81
St. Johns45
Duval46
Martin40

As you can clearly see in the above table, Brevard County has reported a significant number of shark attack incidents after Volusia County since 1882. When it comes to Cocoa Beach, was responsible for 30 of the 155 shark attacks that took place in Brevard county, which is 20% of the total.

Can you swim in Cocoa Beach?

Can you swim in Cocoa Beach

So, is it safe to swim in Cocoa Beach? Of course. As long as you are taking basic safety precautions and not doing silly things to attract or provoke sharks, Cocoa Beach is just as safe as any other beach in Florida.

Even though Cocoa Beach has reported one of the highest shark attack incidents in the country since 1882, compared to the number of tourists that come here every year, you will find that shark attacks are extremely rare here.

Let me answer this question with the help of statistics.

Cocoa Beach is a very popular beach destination that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.

So, if you compare the number of visitors that come to this beach every year with the number of shark bite incidents that happen on this beach, you will find those shark incidents are extremely rare.

For example, Brevard County, the place where Cocoa Beach is located, reported two shark attack incidents in 2021. However, compared to the hundreds of thousands of visitors who visited Cocoa Beach in 2021, two is an extremely small number.

In other words, shark attacks in Cocoa Beach are extremely rare. In fact, as with any Florida beach, you should be more concerned about rip currents in Cocoa Beach than shark attacks.

Cocoa Beach shark attack incidents in 2022

Cocoa Beach shark attack incidents in 2022

In February 2022, an 18-year-old boy named Gene Menchara-Lopez was attacked by a shark while surfing near Cocoa Beach Pier. Fortunately, he received immediate care from medics and lifeguards on the scene.

Aside from this incident, no other shark attack incidents in Cocoa Beach have been reported in 2022.

As I mentioned earlier, there were two shark attack incidents reported in Brevard County in 2021. Fortunately, as of December 5th, only one shark attack incident had been reported in Cocoa Beach in 2022.

Safety Tips to Prevent Shark Attacks

Safety Tips to Prevent Shark Attacks

Even though shark attacks are quite rare in Cocoa Beach, you should follow some basic safety precautions to avoid unwanted attention from sharks.

The important thing to note is that sharks try to stay away from humans, as humans are not their natural prey.

They only attack humans when they confuse humans with their prey or feel threatened by them. In other words, if you take some basic safety precautions, you can keep sharks at bay.

Here are a few safety tips for you to prevent shark attacks:

  1. Avoid swimming in murky waters. Due to less visibility in murky waters, sharks might confuse humans with their prey.
  2. Avoid wearing shiny things like jewelry while swimming or surfing as it might attract sharks’ unwanted attention.
  3. Avoid swimming alone far away from the coastline. Try to swim close to the lifeguards and other people.
  4. Avoid swimming in areas where the river meets the ocean. Such places are ideal hunting grounds for sharks.
  5. Don’t swim near fishermen as their bait can get the attention of the sharks.
  6. Do not swim in low light or at night. Some sharks are more active at night or in low light.
  7. It is advisable to stay away from water if you are bleeding. The smell of human blood can attract sharks’ attention.
  8. Always swim near lifeguards and take advice from them before entering the water.
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About the author
Chetan Patil
Chetan is a travel enthusiast, who finds solace in traveling. Reading, writing, and sharing about outdoor adventures, culture, and traditions has been his lifelong passion.

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