Sharks are respected by some, feared by many. 

"I'm pretty freaked out by them I don't like water that I can't see the bottom and I don't know what's there," said Heather Rogers from Rock Hill.

"I don't want it to eat me, it attacks you and you could lose a limb," another young swimmer told ABC News 4.

But experts say sharks often get a bad rap.  Recent reported attacks on Isle of Palms still raising concerns among many swimmers.  The most recent was on Friday when a man reported being bitten on the forearm by a shark.  Some experts say however that not every bite at the beach should always be blamed on them.

"When attacks are small pops you can't tell the difference and type of wound from a boney fish, something like a blue fish," said Dr. Shane Boylan with the South Carolina Aquarium.

In fact, sharks are around you in the water more than you think.  If you've spent any time in the water in Charleston there's a good chance you've been within feet of a shark and never even knew it.

"The chances of getting attacked by a dog or attacked by bees are far more likely.  Lightening strikes are far more common than shark attacks," Dr. Boylan said.

There are an estimated 20 species of shark that live off our coast.

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