Rockaway Beach Bathers Continue Enjoying the Surf Despite Shark Warnings

Regular visitors to Rockaway Beach are remaining unfazed by recent shark alerts issued by the NYPD.

Over the holiday weekend, drones detected sharks dangerously close to swimmers, prompting temporary beach closures after sightings on Friday and Sunday. Despite these warnings, many beachgoers chose to keep swimming and surfing, dismissing the alerts.

Offer Miala, an experienced surfer, commented, “When lifeguards alert us about sharks, most people, especially the less experienced, leave the water. But many come back quickly, saying, ‘We surf with the sharks.'”

Despite shark warnings, crowds continued to gather at the shoreline, even on the same day after new sightings. The alerts came from drone patrols, which sometimes evoke skepticism among beach visitors.

Some residents noted that the shark sightings occur in areas lacking lifeguard coverage. Connor Bickford, a local, observed, “The spot where they saw the shark is like a lifeguard desert, with no lifeguards between 109 and 116. The drone operators sit at Beach 109, but there’s no staff here.”

Many dismiss the drone alerts, with some ridiculing the robotic voice warnings as ineffective. Prospect Park resident MacGregor Rucker joked, “I was thinking of the 50th anniversary of Jaws and chuckled. Nobody panicked, just got out of the water. Today, I’ll risk the sharks because it’s too hot.”

In fact, some locals appreciate the presence of marine life nearby. Willy Rodriguez, a resident near Beach 113, shared, “Last year, 266 whales were counted here. I saw dolphins off the jetty this summer. We also have seals, and that’s why sharks are around. It’s a beautiful thing.”

Rucker added, “It’s just nature; these encounters are part of the experience. I might go in today—sharks or not, the heat is too much.”