Réunion
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The beaches of this French enclave in the Indian Ocean are exquisite and remarkably crowd-free, especially compared with glitzier neighbour Mauritius. Known for its epic waves and laid-back atmosphere, Réunion is also a surfing mecca for those in the know. Unfortunately, it's also one of the most shark-infested spots in the world.
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Two deaths occurred in 2019, when a fisherman was killed by a bull shark in January and a surfer died in May. The Indian Ocean island has recorded 24 attacks and 11 fatalities since 2011. Saint-Paul on the west coast has seen the most attacks with 19 since 1981, including a 15-year-old snorkeller who was killed just off the beach in 2013. It led to the government banning swimming and surfing at any beaches without shark nets.