l beginner surfed in Hl before--where l can see through the water;Here in CA l thought l got over it, but when l wanted to try surfing again, out here, got all tripped out when l swam out w/ a board, b/c of how the water is dark and l imagined sharks or whatev else l was not able to see; and of course when I'd get farther out..l hate that the fear is stopping me from trying again.Did not help that a friend mentioned that from Stinson to Monterey it is like, Great Shark territory and a big population live in it. (Youtube vids did not help me:P) Pls help and l do realize attacks are rare, but really wanna get over the fear.

dont worry. almost every surfer was scared of sharks at one time, but once u start catching some waves, u will forget all about it. u may be a little nervous right as u paddle out, but nothing will hapen. just go surf around afternoon time where lots of other surfers are, & then u know no shark will really be lurking under you. just think about how awesome surfing is & u will realize that it is well worth the risk. after a few days in the water, u will have that fear out of ur head & never return

Yep, all surfers get afraid once in awhile, of sharks,fish,etc.
But eventually they get over it.
If they would not get over it, they would never be able to surf with passion.

Everyone at some point was scared of sharks. LIke the other guy said, just surf when alot of people are out. After awhile you just do not care anymore it either going to happen or it is not.

The Surfboard Man
http://thesurfboardman.com/

l guess at some time, everybody who surfs (frequently) thinks about sharks. Do not forget, sharks live in the ocean, we just visit. But l guess that same thing goes for folks who frequently mountain bike, cougars & bears r dangerous too. But we can not live our lives inhibited but unreasonable fears. The beaches r not littered with bloody body parts of surfers who have been eaten by sharks, r they?

The folks who r probably most at risk r Florida surfers, since statistically there r more unprovoked attacks on humans there.than elsewhere in the US. But that is still not a reason not to go in the water.

l have been surfing for 42 years, & l still have not gotten eaten. For many, many years, l was an avid shark fisherman. l caught & killed sharks (and ate 'em). l gave that up, for lots of reasons, but part of it was professional courtesy. l do not eat sharks, so sharks wo not eat me.

Most surfers have a higher chance of getting run over by a beer truck while walking to the beach than they do getting attacked by a shark. Statistically, more people get struck by lightening annually than get bitten by sharks. Take the time to learn about sharks & do not let 'shark paranoia' keep u out of the water.

Check out this web site:http://flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Sharks/ISA.

every surfer is afraid of sharks but once you get out there and you get that thrill of riding a wave you forget about your fear and just too help you feel better I've heared you are more likly to get hit by a car or struck by lightning then get attacked by a shark it is not like there out to get you.

l surf(try to l am abegginer) on lake erie so there are no sharks lol, but l worry like freegin crazy about everything else ripcurrents, getting knocked out by my board or some other thing.