Quick answer
Yes, but shark bites in Puerto Rico are very rare. The International Shark Attack File (ISAF) at the Florida Museum confirmed one unprovoked shark bite in Puerto Rico in 2025, and it wasn't fatal. The case reported that year happened on July 31, 2025, at the Balneario de Carolina, just east of Isla Verde: a 39-year-old visitor wading in waist-deep water was bitten on the thigh, had surgery and recovered.
- How rare? ISAF counted 65 confirmed unprovoked bites worldwide in 2025, with one of them in Puerto Rico.
- Are there sharks near San Juan? Yes. Sharks live all around the island, but most of the roughly 47 species recorded here live in deep water, according to a UPR Humacao marine biologist.
- Is it safe to swim? Yes. Rip currents and big surf are a much bigger risk at Puerto Rico's beaches than sharks. Swim at a balneario with lifeguards, especially in winter.
What happened in Carolina in 2025
On Thursday, July 31, 2025, Italian sports journalist Eleonora Boi was bitten on the thigh while wading near the shore at the Balneario de Carolina, a busy public beach just east of Isla Verde. She was six months pregnant. She was taken to the UPR hospital in Carolina, had surgery and was reported stable.
The DRNA (Puerto Rico's Department of Natural and Environmental Resources) first described it as a bite from a "marine creature" and sent samples for testing. Its secretary called it "an extremely unusual case." No beach was closed afterwards. ISAF's 2025 summary lists one confirmed unprovoked bite for Puerto Rico.
How often do shark bites happen in Puerto Rico?
Almost never. In 2025 ISAF confirmed 65 unprovoked bites worldwide: 25 in the US states, 21 in Australia and one in Puerto Rico. Florida alone had 11.
Before 2025, reported cases in Puerto Rico were years apart, and most involved spearfishers or divers in open water rather than swimmers at a city beach.
Are there sharks in Puerto Rico?
Yes. About 47 shark species have been recorded in Puerto Rico's waters. Most live offshore in deep water, and there's no part of the coast with a known higher risk, says Patrick Reyes Pesaresi, a marine biology professor at UPR Humacao.
Snorkelers and divers on reefs sometimes see nurse sharks resting on the bottom, and divers on deeper walls (for example off La Parguera or Desecheo) occasionally see reef sharks. Seeing a shark from a city beach is unusual.
How to lower your (already tiny) risk
These are ISAF's standard tips:
- Swim in groups and stay close to shore.
- Avoid the water at dawn, dusk and night.
- Don't swim near people fishing or cleaning fish, or near river mouths after heavy rain, when the water is murky.
- Leave shiny jewelry on the beach.
- Never touch or feed a shark, even a nurse shark.
The real beach risks: currents and water quality
- Rip currents cause far more emergencies than sharks, especially on the north coast in winter. Swim at a balneario with lifeguards. Escambrón (Puerta de Tierra) and the Balneario de Carolina both have lifeguard stations, and Carolina's balneario closes when the surf is dangerous.
- Water quality: the DRNA tests beaches every week and posts which ones aren't safe for swimming. Stay out of the water for 24 hours after heavy rain.
See our guides to the best beaches in San Juan, Isla Verde and whether Puerto Rico is safe.
FAQ
When was the last shark attack in Puerto Rico? The most recent reported case was on July 31, 2025, at the Balneario de Carolina, east of San Juan. The swimmer survived. ISAF lists one confirmed unprovoked bite in Puerto Rico for 2025.
Has anyone died from a shark attack in Puerto Rico? The 2025 bite wasn't fatal, and ISAF recorded no fatal bite in Puerto Rico in 2025. Fatal bites here are extremely rare.
Are there sharks in San Juan? Sharks live all around Puerto Rico, including off San Juan, but they're rarely seen from the beach. The 2025 case in Carolina was the first bite at a local swimming beach that the DRNA secretary could remember.
Are there great white sharks in Puerto Rico? Great whites prefer cooler water, and we found no confirmed record of a great white bite in Puerto Rico. Most of the species here live in deep water offshore.
Can you swim with sharks in Puerto Rico? Some dive operators visit reefs where nurse sharks rest. Go only with a licensed operator, and never touch or feed them.
What's more dangerous than sharks at Puerto Rico's beaches? Rip currents and big winter surf. Swim at beaches with lifeguards and follow the flags.
Originally published on PuertoRico.com (2023-01-17); last updated 2026-10-11.