NYC beachgoers take latest NYC shark warnings with a huge grain of salt: ‘We surf with the sharks'
Sand and surf lovers at the popular Queens beach refused to let NYPD alerts take a bite out of their holiday weekend after drones spotted menacing sharks precariously close to swimmers on Friday — even though lifeguards shut it down again after a new sighting on Sunday.
'The lifeguard will come over and yell, 'Shark, shark!' surfer Offer Miala told The Post Sunday. 'Most of the people come out of the water, the inexperienced surfers, the novices, they come out of the water.
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6 Shark sightings along Rockaway Beach over the holiday weekend put the kibosh on swimming at the popular spot.
Kevin C Downs forThe New York Post
6 Despite shark warnings, Rockaway Beach regulars couldn't stay out of the surf on Sunday to stave off the heat.
Michael Nagle
'It's great of us. We stay in the water. It's great for us because there's usually a line of 50 people waiting to catch the next wave,' the '50-ish' Miala said. 'We surf with the sharks.'
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Beach lovers flocked to the shore Sunday, one day after NYPD drones spotted the seaborne predators 'very close' to folks splashing in the waters near Beach 113 to Beach 115 — coming within 100 feet.
On Friday, the popular beach was temporarily shut down to swimmers after similar sightings.
The new Sunday alert came around 2:30 p.m. after another shark was spotted.
One regular said the drones' 'robotic' voice typically fails to impress beachgoers, and it typically takes a lifeguard to get them out of the water — when one is around.
Advertisement
6 NYPD drones have continued to scour the beach from above after a series of shark sightings over the holiday weekend.
Michael Nagle
6 Local MacGregor Rucker said beachgoers typically ignore the 'robotic' warnings from NYPD drones above the beach.
Michael Nagle
'This stretch where they saw the shark yesterday is kind of like a lifeguard desert,' 41-year-old Beach 113 resident Connor Bickford said while walking his dog. 'There is no lifeguard between 109 and 116. The guys who fly the drones, they sit right there on Beach 109th Street. But there's no lifeguards here.
'People usually don't listen to the drones,' he added. 'They sound funny, like a broken robot. People usually don't listen.'
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For some, even the lifeguards don't do it, with some still taking it with a grain of salt.
'I just started chuckling,' Prospect Park resident MacGregor Rucker said. 'I thought it was kind of a riot.
6 Surfer Offer Miala said the Rockaway Beach shark warnings clear 'novice' enthusiasts out of the water.
Michael Nagle
6 After two days of shark sightings on the 50th anniversary of Jaws, Queens beach lovers braved the waters.
Michael Nagle
'I was thinking of the 50th anniversary of Jaws and I just chuckled,' Rucker, 63, added. 'It happens sometimes around 11 or noon, right around this time. Nobody screamed. There was no panic. There was just like an honest compliance, like people just got out of the water.
'Today? I'm going in. It's too hot out here. I'll take my chances with the sharks.'
Some area residents even rave about the occasional close encounters with sea critters.
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'Last year they counted 266 whales here. It's amazing,' said Willy Rodriguez, 70, who lives near Beach 113. 'I saw a pod of dolphins right here, off the jetty this summer. IT's beautiful. We've got seals right there too, and that's why the sharks are here.
'It's a beautiful thing,' he said.
.
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Rockaway Beach regulars are taking the latest Big Apple shark warnings in stride. Sand and surf lovers at the popular Queens beach refused to let NYPD alerts take a bite out of their holiday weekend after drones spotted menacing sharks precariously close to swimmers on Friday — even though lifeguards shut it down again after a new sighting on Sunday. 'The lifeguard will come over and yell, 'Shark, shark!' surfer Offer Miala told The Post Sunday. 'Most of the people come out of the water, the inexperienced surfers, the novices, they come out of the water. Advertisement 6 Shark sightings along Rockaway Beach over the holiday weekend put the kibosh on swimming at the popular spot. Kevin C Downs forThe New York Post 6 Despite shark warnings, Rockaway Beach regulars couldn't stay out of the surf on Sunday to stave off the heat. Michael Nagle 'It's great of us. We stay in the water. It's great for us because there's usually a line of 50 people waiting to catch the next wave,' the '50-ish' Miala said. 'We surf with the sharks.' Advertisement Beach lovers flocked to the shore Sunday, one day after NYPD drones spotted the seaborne predators 'very close' to folks splashing in the waters near Beach 113 to Beach 115 — coming within 100 feet. On Friday, the popular beach was temporarily shut down to swimmers after similar sightings. The new Sunday alert came around 2:30 p.m. after another shark was spotted. One regular said the drones' 'robotic' voice typically fails to impress beachgoers, and it typically takes a lifeguard to get them out of the water — when one is around. Advertisement 6 NYPD drones have continued to scour the beach from above after a series of shark sightings over the holiday weekend. Michael Nagle 6 Local MacGregor Rucker said beachgoers typically ignore the 'robotic' warnings from NYPD drones above the beach. Michael Nagle 'This stretch where they saw the shark yesterday is kind of like a lifeguard desert,' 41-year-old Beach 113 resident Connor Bickford said while walking his dog. 'There is no lifeguard between 109 and 116. The guys who fly the drones, they sit right there on Beach 109th Street. But there's no lifeguards here. 'People usually don't listen to the drones,' he added. 'They sound funny, like a broken robot. People usually don't listen.' Advertisement For some, even the lifeguards don't do it, with some still taking it with a grain of salt. 'I just started chuckling,' Prospect Park resident MacGregor Rucker said. 'I thought it was kind of a riot. 6 Surfer Offer Miala said the Rockaway Beach shark warnings clear 'novice' enthusiasts out of the water. Michael Nagle 6 After two days of shark sightings on the 50th anniversary of Jaws, Queens beach lovers braved the waters. Michael Nagle 'I was thinking of the 50th anniversary of Jaws and I just chuckled,' Rucker, 63, added. 'It happens sometimes around 11 or noon, right around this time. Nobody screamed. There was no panic. There was just like an honest compliance, like people just got out of the water. 'Today? I'm going in. It's too hot out here. I'll take my chances with the sharks.' Some area residents even rave about the occasional close encounters with sea critters. Advertisement 'Last year they counted 266 whales here. It's amazing,' said Willy Rodriguez, 70, who lives near Beach 113. 'I saw a pod of dolphins right here, off the jetty this summer. IT's beautiful. We've got seals right there too, and that's why the sharks are here. 'It's a beautiful thing,' he said. .
