Swimming in the Sea (July/Aug)

"For foolish talk, deaf ear"

"For foolish talk, deaf ear"

dolphins, turtles, giant manta rays etc... U have a good chance to see those if u go to the right spot and far offshore ;) ---- been blessed to have swum with them all :) !!!

I think the chance to see sharks, dolphins and sea snakes would only encourage me to go swimming off shore. Count me in!

Sharks

Discovering Qatar

Although no incidence of shark attack has been recorded in Qatari waters since the days of the pearling industry which ended 60 or 70 years ago, some people still consider sharks a possible threat to swimmers, quite without justification.

Sharks are naturally nervous creatures and steer clear of humans. However, when the pearling fleets anchored on the oyster beds for 3 months at a time and food scraps were being thrown overboard daily, sharks hung around the boats and overcame their natural fear, and attacks on divers sometimes occurred.

Hammerhead Sharks are sometimes seen in the shipping channel at Ras Laffan, following the boats as they come in. Other sharks known in the region are Tiger and Leopard Sharks, and the harmless Grey Reef and Nurse Sharks which feed on the inshore reefs.

"For foolish talk, deaf ea

Hey; You shouldn't have to worry about sharks in the summer season (they venture very very far offshore --- ull see them by the oilrigs which is anyway forbidden to go anywhere close as the sea surface temperature is around 32-34C right now which is too hot for sharks to survive in)..... However, the problem now is with the seasonal jelly fish (come early june till end of august)... Beware of strong currents at the moment, as well as strong waves (for boats as you could capsize)... The good news is that weather will calm down next week so it should be fine for a boat trip...(BTW: Im a divemaster..)...

There ara various types of jellyfish. On the other hand, human reaction varies as well.

I know a lady who had a jellyfish touced her neck, That lady was very allergic and her neck swelled externally and internally. Ended up in intensive care for some time but she survived.

Generally speaking. Gulf sea is safe. Would recommend wearning suitable beach shoes all the time. You cannot tell what would be hidden under the sand.

===================================== http://www.qatarliving.com/node/58409

http://qatarvisitor.blogspot.com/2007/01/swimming-in-sea-in-qatar-is-it-safe.html

read the above article

very well collected info on the topic

This sounds like so much fun, can anyone pplllleeeaaaassseeeeeeee send me details on how I can go on one of these trips? Does it include fishing / bbq -ing? In desperate need of some adventure!

and I am sure as a few other QL's would tell you as we have been on a few Dhow trips in our time - there is nothing to worry about - I have a morbid fear of swimming in the sea - but I got in not only in the day but also at night - actually its facinating, cause at night the water is illuminous - I have never seen a jelly fish in the waters near Sofliya Island (I assume this is where you will be heading) nor have I seen sharks or sea snakes:-)

Just go and have fun and take precautions - thats all you can do.

"if you don't like the heat... get out of the kitchen... but stop trying to fan the flames before you leave... it will burn you on the a** as you go through the doorway...." ME

visit www.qaws.org

lolzzz.... Brite expat is little bit right. They are on the lookout for all ladies. lolzzz.

Just watch out for jelly fish. They are really poisonous.

Peace.

Take Mandi's advice.. Sea Snakes can get into all those strange places. Beware especially of the Mullah Shark found loitering around the shores of Doha and on the lookout for Western ladies..

thanks for the advice - much appreciated.

most degerous sharks are in arabain gulf and summer is very danegerous and gelly fish are very dangerous and deep water is degerous every thing in sea is dangerous

but its fun in sea

i dont swim but love fishing in boat

There is no man eating sharks in the Gulf region, except lots of poisonous and dangerous jelly fish species. that will kill you. Yet there is only one sick person who think of himself as a vampire in Qatar living....

Graduated from Xavier Institute for Higher learning.

Drac said:BE CAREFUL!

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Last year one QL member got dragged under water by a giant fish

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Details here:

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http://www.qatarliving.com/node/131423

Yeah there are sharks and jelly fish, we went far out and i saw a shark, dolphins, jelly fish and a sea snake... but i saw them at night so maybe if u swim in the day it would be better... i dont know if the sharks here are dangerous but the one i saw was big but the kind without the jaws fin.

Safest seas in the world. Seriously. Biggest risk in any sea is exposure and the water here is so warm that is eliminated. Sharks are zero issue here. Sharks that do live n the gulf are small warm water sharks. There simply isn't enough for big sharks to eat in the waters here. All the nasty ones are in food rich cold waters in Aus and SA and US. Jellyfish worst you could ever get is a little sting. nothing dangerous. Ignore comment on sea snakes. if you even see one you are lucky

FACE YOUR FEARS LIVE YOUR DREAMS

everyone wants to go with her :p

If so may are going let me join Also:P

Avoid sea snakes. They are unaggressive but VERY venomous.

Mandi

Swimmign will be no worries,

Just chek the tides b4 u proceed. And ya Take Vineger along with ya as well if u get sting by any Jellyfish coz u might find some, again depends upon the wind direction.

Would hav been more fun if u Take Me along as well...:)

can I go with you?