Are there sharks in puerto vallarta?

because i want to go surfing but i dont want to get attacked by a shark.

thank you cause i have a HUGE fear of sharks. when im in the ocean im constantly on alert. they are my biggest fear

Yes, there can be sharks there and I have seen them. There are some basic things you can do to avoid them, however:

1. Don't swim near the mouths of rivers or large streams where they enter the ocean - this is where the sharks come to get their food. They don't want you, they want food, so don't hang out where the go to eat.

2. They tend to come to these areas late afternoon/early evening. Not sure why, but that seems to be their habit.

Unfortunately, sharks can be found almost anywhere. PV is not known for having lots of sharks, and the only places I've seen them are 10 miles north of there, not right in the hotel corridor, and it's always been only one, not lots of them.

I'd put the odds of you getting hit by lightening higher than running into a shark there - especially if you stay away from their favorite hotspots.

Oh - and if you go surfing in Nayarit (where Salulita is), please either wear water-shoes or be very very careful where you put your feet - there are urchins that have sharp spines.

Please don't let a fear of sharks keep you from going surfing in PV - it's a great place with some of the friendliest people around!

Not in that nasty polluted water. You will be fine surfing. No worries

You will be attacked by sharks as soon as you get to Puerto Vallarta. They are the time-share sharks trying to sell you a condo time-share. These are the only sharks around there. Bandaras Bay is not polluted, but the surfing is not great. You need to get out of the bay, north to Sayulita.

Hello Mark,

dont't worry there are no sharks at Puerto Vallarta, I live here and don't know about any incident. On the first mentioned site see posting no 6.

Surfing is good at the northern beaches. Have a look to the second mentioned site, there the beaches menu. Sayulita and Burros. I prefer Burros (less people).

Good luck.

( Vermontchef is right about the timesharing sharks, say NO ! )

Hi! My friends and I went on a snorkeling tour about 2 years ago. It was so much fun! While my friends were in the water I noticed our guides "scanning" the water. They said there are hammerheads that frequent the area. He said they don't usually surface or reach the snorkelers. We still had a great time but my friend got stung by a jellyfish.

I met some people who had been scuba diving and said they had seen some sharks so they are there but attacks are extremely rare. Probably more likely to hit the lottery.