From the powdery white sands of the Bahamas to the rocky coastlines of California, beaches worldwide attract millions of tourists every year looking to relax and soak up some sunshine. However, despite the allure that these seaside destinations might have, the joy of swimming in the open sea also comes with its own set of potential dangers lurking just beneath the surface — especially when it comes to its feared inhabitants.
And although destinations like Florida, Hawaii, and Australia’s coastal regions regularly make headlines for shark encounters, there’s one region that remains remarkably peaceful in comparison: the Mediterranean. Bordering popular holiday destinations like Spain, Italy, and Greece, this beautiful stretch of sea experiences significantly fewer shark attacks than American coastlines.
Don’t be mistaken, though — Europe’s waters aren’t entirely shark-free, and roughly 50 species of sharks inhabit the Mediterranean Sea. However, shark encounters with humans still remain exceptionally rare, primarily due to declining populations. In fact, according to historical data, only 36 shark attacks have been recorded in the Mediterranean over the past 150 years — with 18 of these proving fatal. Nonetheless, when you consider the millions of people who swim in these waters annually, protecting yourself from sharks while swimming at most European beaches becomes a minimal concern.
European seas are home to mostly harmless shark species
