Myrtle Beach is a hotspot for sharks and the potential to be bit

• South Carolina has the third-highest number of historical shark attacks in the United States.
• Despite a high number of encounters, there have been no confirmed fatal unprovoked shark attacks in the state’s modern history.
• Myrtle Beach is ranked as the second-highest location for shark-bite risk nationally, though the odds remain very low.
• Most shark bites in the area are unintentional nips from smaller species mistaking humans for fish in murky water.

As summer crowds return to South Carolina’s beaches, new data highlights how influential the Palmetto State is on America’s shark risk.

The state has 118 recorded historical shark attacks, the third‑highest total in the nation. Two unprovoked bites have already been reported in 2026, according to Vegas Insider’s Summer Hazard Odds study.

South Carolina remains one of the country’s most closely watched coastal hotspots where incidents from shark bites to lightning strikes are likely to occur. Myrtle Beach, in particular, stands out, as it ranks No. 14 overall in hazard risk and No. 2 nationally for shark‑bite risk.

How likely is a shark bite in Myrtle Beach?

The odds of a shark bite in Myrtle Beach are estimated at 1 in 720,000 during a two‑week trip, equivalent to a 0.00014% likelihood, according to Vegas Insider’s Summer Hazard Odds study.

Even with Myrtle Beach’s national ranking, the numbers make one thing clear: shark encounters remain pretty rare.

Has there ever been a fatal shark attack at a South Carolina beach?

Despite its high risk of recorded shark encounters, there has never been a confirmed or fatal unprovoked shark attack in South Carolina in modern history.

The only such incident on record dates all the way back to 1852 in Charleston Harbor, according to America Surf, a magazine dedicated to surfing.

Myrtle Beach is among America’s top shark hotspots

With new national rankings spotlighting Myrtle Beach as one of the country’s most closely watched shark hotspots.

Vegas Insider’s Summer Hazard Odds study reveals it stems largely from the area’s intense swimmer density and environmental conditions.

With over 17 million visitors each year, Myrtle Beach does see an increase in accidental shark interactions. At the same time, the region’s warm, murky coastal waters create ideal shark-hunting conditions.

What types of sharks are at Myrtle Beach? Blacktips to bull sharks

As concerns about coastal safety rise each summer, understanding which sharks are actually responsible for bites in Myrtle Beach helps put the risk into perspective.

Most incidents in South Carolina involve small to medium coastal species, not large predators, according to americansurfmagazine.com

Along the beach, sharks most often linked to bites include blacktips, spinners, bull sharks, sandbar sharks, and Atlantic sharpnose sharks.

Reality of shark encounters in Myrtle Beach

Understanding why shark bites happen in Myrtle Beach helps make sense of the danger.

As reported by americansurfmagazine.com, most incidents aren’t aggressive attacks but quick, unintentional encounters driven by shark behavior.

Bites are typically unprovoked yet non‑aggressive, often involving single, rapid nips when a shark mistakes a hand, foot, or ankle for a small fish in the surf.

Juvenile sharks feeding in shallow, turbid water are the usual culprits, especially fast‑moving blacktips and spinners, which strike at baitfish near the shoreline and may accidentally contact swimmers.

Ways to reduce shark bite risk this beach season

As the summer beach season approaches, safety experts say that most shark encounters can be prevented with simple habits in the water.

According to the Florida Museum, ways to keep yourself and others safe include swimming in groups, staying close to shore, and avoiding the ocean during dawn, dusk, or nighttime, when sharks are most active.

It also means minimizing behaviors that attract attention, avoiding excess splashing, and steering clear of shiny jewelry or bright, high‑contrast clothing that resembles prey in murky waters.

Travis Jacque Rose is the trending news reporter for the Greenville News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at trose@gannett.com.