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Killer Beaches 2008: New Smyrna Still a Shark Paradise

One of our Killer Beaches for two years running, New Smyrna Beach, Florida just counted its 18th shark victim of the year. The 26-year-old surfer was bitten twice on the left leg while sitting on his board, but escaped with "only" a dozen or so gashes that needed stitches.

Earlier this week, a shark nibbled on a swimmer off the coast of New Smyrna, though he too escaped with minor injuries. Still, the beach town is on track to match its annual record of 22 incidents, set in 2001--or what locals call "The Year of the Shark."

Four months to go!

Related Stories:
· Edgewater Surfer Bitten by Shark [Dayton Beach News-Journal]
· Dangerous Travel: Killer Beaches 2008 [Jaunted]
· Killer Beaches 2007 Map [Jaunted]
· Sharks coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: ruminatrix]

Sharks / Adventure Travel / Surfing / Dangerous Travel / → All Tags

Shark Travel: New Smyrna Going for Gold

It's only been spring for a couple weeks in the Northern Hemisphere, and New Smyrna is already making a play for this summer's "Most Dangerous Beach" award. Four people have already have suffered shark bites in Volusia County this year--including three in the past 10 days--and that has locals thinking this year's title is within easy reach.

The latest shark victim was 18-year-old surfer Joey Giangrasso, bitten on Thursday:

I thought he was just going to hit me and leave, but he like held on for a second when I went to pull out he clamped on a little harder and shook his head. And that's when I like reached down in the water and tried to grab or push or do whatever I could. He finally let go.

Luckily doctors were able to patch Joey up--though it took more stitches than they could count.

Meanwhile a spokesman for the local beach patrol says the last time there were this many bites this early was in 2001, the "Year of the Shark." New Smyrna racked up 22 shark attacks that season.

Go straight to our Killer Beaches 2007 Map.

Related Stories:
· Killer Beaches of 2007: New Smyrna Beach [Jaunted]
· New Smyrna Surfer Suffers "Very Deep" Gash from Shark [News-Journal]
· Fourth Shark Bite in Volusia County [WDBO]

[Photo: jencommunicado]

Killer Beaches of 2007 / Beaches / New Smyrna Beach / killer-beaches-2007 / → All Tags

Killer Beaches of 2007: New Smyrna Beach

Click here to go straight to the World's Top Killer Beaches Map

Though you wouldn't know it with all the snow and ice in the Northeastern US, this week marks the beginning of spring. Spring break, beach season and the imminent start of summer are just around the corner. If April is the new June, we better get you prepped early, so this week we'll be looking at the sandy strands that while beautiful, should come with a warning label. Know about a Killer Beach we haven't mentioned? Help your fellow beach goers out and adventure seekers out--let us know about it.

New Smyrna Beach :: Map
South of Jacksonville but north of Orlando and Cape Canaveral, New Smyrna Beach channels that old-time Florida vibe. (Like from before the days South Beach was over.) There's good reason to check it out, too. A 13-mile long stretch of sand guards the coast, and the surfing draws shredders from all over.

But could all those bobbing surf boards account for why Florida has suffered most of the past year's shark attacks? George Burgess, director of the International Shark Attack File, told the BBC:

"Within Florida, Volusia County and particularly New Smyrna Beach is the hot spot," Mr Burgess said in a statement. "This area on a square mile basis has more attacks than any place else in the world."

Maybe the best way to see NSB is by bike?

How to get there:
NSB is about an hour northeast of Orlando, and there's no doubt you'll be able to find a flight to MCO. Daytona Beach International Airport is about a half-hour from the beach--just cruise south on Highway 95 in that rental car.

Related Stories:
· Four Fatal Shark Attacks in 2006 [BBC]
· Killer Beaches of 2007 coverage [Jaunted]