The Bay Area's Red Triangle is known as a hot spot
for sharks. Care for a swim?

With alarming shark attack stories filling our surf news you have to wonder what the toll is for attacks around the world. In an article from the Peninsula Press they note the from 2009 to 2010 there has been a 25 percent increase in shark attacks.

Even though California is ranked number four in the United States for attacks, great white expert, John McCosker assures that it is still safe to surf, If you wanted to avoid getting shark-bitten with 100 percent assurance, I can t, other than staying out of the water. But I will also say that you re very safe in California water.

Her are the numbers for 2010...

• There were 79 attacks worldwide the most since 2000, when there were 80.
• Florida had the most attacks of any U.S. state, with 13 down from 18 in 2009.
• North Carolina also had more attacks than California, with five.
• California tied with South Carolina and Hawaii with four attacks each.

Both California and Florida had one fatal attack; all other states had none.