An ignorant question from an Ohioan for Floridians (Page 2)

Another Floridian checking in! The old saying here in NWFL is if it's bigger than a mud puddle there's gators and snakes in it. That being said, those Tri series in central FL in Clermont area have long and solid reputations. Would I just go our for an early AM solo swim in any lake in FL? NO. Night swim by myself or for any reason? NO. Well run Tri with hundreds of others in daylight? Not an issue. There will not be an issue of gators. Biggest problem for you would be training all spring up north and getting punched in face with 85 degrees and 90% humidity on race day. Other than that, good luck and enjoy.

^ This ^

Also, regardless of if you can see them or not, if you are in the ocean, you are never very far from sharks. I talked to rescue divers at IMFL last year and they saw sharks right in middle of swim course. They are not interested in hundreds of thrashing triathletes apparently.

Gators also swim in the ocean. We have plenty in the Indian River Lagoon and they sometimes cross A1A onto the Atlantic Ocean. In Florida, if there's water, it's very likely that there's a gator in it.

But, the reality is that they're stalkers and won't head toward a pack of splashing people. I would be more concerned with amoeba in Florida lakes.

Ha ha, I didn't notice the date of the OP!