World's most dangerous beaches

The recent attacks by what appears to be an oceanic whitetip shark on divers off the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh - including the fatal mauling of a 70-year-old German woman on Sunday - will have done nothing to allay the fears of holidaymakers who dread what nonetheless remains an exceedingly rare event. Regardless of the real risk, plenty of people, when they see a body of water, instantly imagine razor-toothed monsters lurking below the surface.

If you are one of them, however, you should probably re-evaluate your fears. The recent tragic incidents in Egypt notwithstanding, on an average day at the beach you have a much better chance of being killed by lightning, sun exposure, a falling coconut or a collapsing sand hole dug in the beach by an ambitious 10-year-old (not to mention the most common causes of death at the beach: old fashioned drowning or car crashes somewhere between your front door and the parking lot).

In pictures: world's most dangerous beaches

It is undeniable that we are out of our element and all the more helpless in water. That is a huge part of our fear of sharks. It is also the fault of Jaws and numerous B-movies with unnerving soundtracks and graphic re-staged attack footage featuring gallons of fake blood in the water. The shark clearly has a PR problem. But humans also recognise it as one of the planet's most evolved predators: a nearly flawless stalking and killing machin.

'South Carolina is so gay' and other crazy ad campaigns
The world's 50 most beautiful things
In pictures: world's most spectacular swimming pools
In pictures: world's oddest airports

Fortunately for us, it is only when one of its flaws occurs that a shark opts to bite a bony and nutrition-poor human. As Tasmania-based surfer Gerhard Mausz says: "We're not on top of the menu when it comes to the shark diet, and when surfers or swimmers get attacked it is almost always an accident." That increasingly seems to have been the case in Egypt: experts have commented that the killer shark may have had a damaged sensory system, leaving it unable to distinguish between humans and fish.

"Of the more than 400 shark species in the world," states the International Shark Attack File, based at the Florida Museum of Natural History, "only about 30 types are known to have attacked humans." And only three have a reputation for the highest number of "unprovoked" attacks: great whites, tiger sharks and bull sharks. Regardless, however, all sharks are to be treated with caution.

Shark-prone beaches take us thorough northern California to South Africa's eastern coastline - from Cape Town and on to Durban. There are also the popular east coast beaches of Australia, the reefs off the coast of north-eastern Brazil and a few other surprise destinations. Sources differ as to which of region holds the record for the highest number of attacks. New Smyrna Beach in Florida claims the largest number of attacks at a single beach.

And, as our list shows, it isn't only sharks that swimmers shold look out for. But, even with the tragic attacks in Egypt, you shouldn't become too scared, because stress can lead to heart problems, and that has a 750,000 times better chance of getting you than a sea creature..

In pictures: world's most dangerous beaches

READ MORE ON MSN
Things Brits get wrong abroad
Bling boats used to lure the world's most beautiful women
Daredevil cruises: set sail for wilder shores
Worldwide tipping guide
The secret life of hotels