If you are planning to visit Daytona Beach anytime soon, you might want to keep an eye out for Crystal, a 10-foot-long great white shark that has been spotted several times in the area. Crystal is one of the many sharks that are tagged and tracked by OCEARCH, a non-profit organization.
Shark Was Last “Pinged” 10 Miles Offshore
OCEARCH conducts research on sharks and other marine animals. According to OCEARCH, Crystal was first tagged in February 2020 near Nova Scotia, Canada, and has since traveled more than 6,000 miles along the Atlantic coast. She was last pinged on November 6, 2023, about 10 miles off of Daytona Beach. OCEARCH maintains a real-time online shark tracking site, which can be viewed by the public.
Crystal is Not Swimming Alone
Crystal is not the only great white shark that visits Florida waters. OCEARCH has tagged and tracked more than 60 great whites in the Atlantic Ocean, and many of them have been detected near the Sunshine State. Some of the most famous ones include Katharine, a 14-foot-long female that was tagged in 2013 and has over 60,000 followers on Twitter, and Unama’ki, a 15-foot-long female that is the largest shark ever tagged by OCEARCH in the Northwest Atlantic.
Why do great white sharks come to Florida?
According to OCEARCH, Florida is a winter hotspot for great whites, as they follow their prey such as seals, tuna, and dolphins. The sharks also use Florida as a gateway to the Gulf of Mexico, where they can find warmer waters and abundant food sources. OCEARCH says that tracking the movements and behaviors of these sharks can help scientists learn more about their biology, ecology, and conservation.
What to Do If you Encounter A Shark
So what should you do if you encounter Crystal or any other great white shark while swimming or surfing at Daytona Beach? OCEARCH advises people to stay calm and avoid splashing or making sudden movements. You should also try to maintain eye contact with the shark and slowly back away to a safe distance. If the shark attacks, you should fight back by hitting its nose, eyes, or gills. However, OCEARCH says that shark attacks are very rare and most sharks are not interested in humans as food.
Follow Crystal And Other Sharks
If you want to follow Crystal’s journey or learn more about OCEARCH’s work, you can visit their website or follow them on social media.
