How close do sharks come to shore in Hawaii?

She has seen them as close to 40 yards from shore (as have I), napping in the coral to as far out as 300 yards. Reef tips are considered docile sharks when it comes to human interaction. Occasionally there are tiger shark sightings. Tiger sharks are considered aggressive to humans.



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Beneath the ocean's beautiful blue surface, conditions can be unpredictable and even dangerous. Ocean safety experts recommend checking in with lifeguards before you enter the water - they'll be happy to tell you about potential hazards like rip currents, hidden rocks and shorebreaks.

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Shark bites are rare in Hawaii — and fatal shark attacks even more rare — but the risk is not zero. There are about 7 to 8 shark incidences in Hawaii per year, based on the past 10 years' data.

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Although tiger sharks may be the most dangerous of Hawaiian sharks, other species have been known to bite people, usually with much less serious results. But as mentioned above, sharks have very sharp teeth, and even small sharks can cause significant tissue damage to a person.

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Leave the water quickly and calmly if a shark is sighted; if you see a shark, alert lifeguards or other swimmers immediately. Keep pets out of the water as their erratic movement can attract sharks. Be aware that using bait to lure fish may also attract sharks.

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You'll want to keep a safe distance from the underwater animals (as many of them could be endangered) and never stand on or touch the reef, as it is extremely fragile and can easily cut you. Snorkeling tours are safe, well-organized, and know the best spots for viewing sea turtles and fish.

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The easy answer is no. Alligators are not native to Hawaii, and the only way you'll see a gator in the Aloha State is in the zoo, such as the Honolulu Zoo. However, of the two alligators the Honolulu Zoo had, their oldest alligator, Goliath, died in 2015 after living six decades in the zoo.

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Maui generally enjoys some of the best water quality on earth. Sometimes during winter storms on Maui, Molokai and Lanai water quality can be compromised temporarily by water runoff that carries excessive sediment, nutrients, and pollution called Brown Water Events, characterized by brown-looking water.

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Hawaii has no native snakes. But, unfortunately, that doesn't mean it's snake-free. The islands have seen their fair share of snake species thanks to travel, stowaways, and illegal smuggling. However, Hawaii is far from overrun, in part, thanks to the fact that it's illegal to own snakes.

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