When I was 18, I lived in Arlington, VA. My friends and I would go to the ocean, UNTIL Jaws came out. THAT scared me so much, I didn't want to venture into the water.
Before I moved here, part of my research was about sharks at the beach.
Here is what Google says -
Yes, sharks absolutely live off the coast of the Algarve, with over 40 species recorded in Portuguese waters. However, encounters are rare, and there have been zero recorded shark attacks in Portugal. Algarve hosts several notable shark species, though they rarely bother beachgoers:
- Blue Sharks & Hammerheads: These are the most frequently sighted species in the warmer waters close to the southern coast. They primarily feed on small fish like sardines and mackerel, and are generally non-aggressive toward humans.
- Basking Sharks: These massive, slow-moving filter feeders are occasionally spotted near the coastline following plankton.
- Deep-Sea Sharks: Species like the Shortfin Mako and the rare prehistoric Frilled Shark exist further out in deeper waters.
Most surface sightings are recorded several kilometers offshore by fishermen or dolphin-watching tours, though very rarely, a hammerhead will swim near bathing beaches in the summer. Because these sharks find plenty of natural food in the area, they do not pose a threat to swimmers.
I don't care for sand everywhere once you go to the beach, so I have only been IN THE SAND once in a couple of months, and only checked the water temps with my feet, and that is how far out I went! STILL fearful of sharks to this day!
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