Shark Diving - The World's Best Spots

by Mario Passoni

Before starting to dive you probably had a different opinion about sharks and especially about sharks and humans. Now that you’re addicted to breathing pressurized air, you realize how awesome it is to see and dive with sharks. If you’re in between these two phases, you’ll soon realize that sharks are very nice creatures, far from being dangerous, and very fun to dive alongside.

You can use our destination wizard to determine what is the best place to dive with your favorite shark in a chosen month.

Table of contents

Best places to dive with sharks

Types of sharks

Shark attacks

Shark conservation

Shark feeding

Sharks facts

Best places to dive with sharks

Now let’s get to the part you were looking for: what are the best destinations to dive with sharks! You can find sharks all over the world but below we’ve selected the most exciting and renowned destinations where you can dive with plenty of sharks.

South Africa

South Africa is a prime destination in terms of diving with sharks and big creatures. I would even dare to say it is the best shark destination out there. The two areas where you should head to see sharks are around Durban and around Cape Town.

Photo credit: Sandro Lonardi

Aliwal Shoal and Protea Banks

Aliwal Shoal and Protea Banks, two reef formations in front of Umkomaas and Shelly Beach, respectively, are the most famous destinations for baited dives. Dive centers have been diving with sharks here for many years now. Diving is divided into two categories: baited dives and reef dives. During the baited dives, sharks are attracted by smell and pieces of fish. You can encounter up to 30 oceanic blacktip, bull, silky, tiger and sometimes Hammerhead Sharks. In the reef dives without bait, it’s easy to spot sand Tiger Sharks (ragged-tooth sharks) swimming slowly and relaxed in fixed patterns. Although diving with sharks in KwaZulu-Natal is possible year-round, the best conditions occur between March and July.

View dive centers in Umkomaas (Aliwal Shoal)
View dive centers in Shelly Beach (Protea Banks)

False Bay and Gansbaai

These two locations are some of the best places in the world for cage diving with Great White Sharks. Seal Island, in the middle of False Bay, is an island home to more than 60,000 seals and a hunting ground for Great White Sharks. From February until the end of September, daily dive charters depart from Simon’s Town in the early early morning.

Gansbaai has often been called the Great White Shark Capital of the World. Just two hours from Cape Town, the area hosts up to 60,000 resident Cape Fur Seals which attract hungry sharks. Cage diving trips are run from April to September to Shark Alley alongside Dyer Island and from September to March to Shark Bay.

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View dive resorts in Western Cape

Mozambique

Mozambique’s position on the Indian Ocean, just north of South Africa, makes it a great addition to this list. Although it is not commonly thought of as a popular shark destination, the encounters along its southern coast are as exciting as its southerly neighbor offers. Ponta do Ouro holds your best chance for seeing these toothy creatures. Although not discussed in depth here, Tofo Beach is also a great place for those interested in swimming with Whale Sharks.

Ponta do Ouro

Just to the north of Mozambique’s border with South Africa, Ponta do Ouro is an easily reached shark diving destination. Here divers can swim among 11 species of sharks. Operators in the area don’t bait the sharks so migrational patterns are still observed. From May until early October, Tiger Sharks, Bull Sharks and Hammerhead Sharks are almost guaranteed. Outside of these months, you’ll still have a good chance of getting in the water with Bull and Whale Sharks.

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Maldives

The Maldives are a scuba diver’s dream. Emerald islands set among crystal clear waters invite adventure-seekers below the surface. Of course, their open ocean conditions are also a prime attraction for pelagic species. The Maldives is one of the best countries in the world for swimming with Whale Sharks, but diving in the area can also yield plenty of Nurse Shark and Reef Shark encounters. If you’re looking to swim with one of the largest species of shark head to the South Ari Atoll.

South Ari Atoll

The South Ari Atoll is famous for its varied underwater topography and the rich variety of marine megafauna that can be found there. Inner atoll reefs and pinnacles as well as the channels leading to the open ocean are a great place for nurse and Reef Shark encounters, but what makes the area extremely special are the Whale Sharks found on the reefs facing the wild open ocean. If you sail through the atoll by liveaboard, you are more than likely to spot a Whale Shark during your week at sea. We now know that these encounters occur throughout the year with no predictable pattern other than local conditions. Looking to get in the water with Whale Sharks? Book your next holiday in the South Ari Atoll.

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Photo credit: Jil Kune

Australia

Famed for deadly encounters of both the terrestrial and marine kind, Australia graces our list for the best places to dive with sharks. Don’t believe everything you read or see on TV, sharks and humans coexist peacefully with curiosity in this habitat. In fact, it is the birthplace of cage diving with Great Whites. Ready for a shark adventure? Head to the Neptune Islands in South Australia.

South Australia

The Neptune Islands are located approximately 20 miles south of the Australian coast. Today they form a marine reserve where divers enjoy unique shark encounters. This is the only place in the world that puts cages on the sea floor, giving divers a fantastic vantage point for viewing shark interactions. From November until late February, Bull Sharks arrive to birth their pups and breed again. From May until the end of October, enormous female Great Whites dine on Australia’s largest colony of New Zealand fur seals. Whichever sharks you encounter, the Neptune Islands are surely one of the top four cage diving locations in the world.

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French Polynesia

Heading into the South Pacific, French Polynesia is already a world-class diving destination. Combined with its ability to produce amazing shark encounters, the island nation becomes one of our favorite recommendations for adrenalin-junkie divers. If you fit this description, head to Rangiroa or Manihi and Moorea for great shark diving. Did you know the country’s shark population outnumbers its human population?

Rangiroa

Rangiroa is the second largest atoll in French Polynesia and home to a spectacular reef. This reef opens at two passes (including the Tiputa Pass) where twice a day the tide carries in water and nutrients, attracting a plethora of pelagic species. It’s not uncommon to find yourself surrounded by more than 100 sharks during a single dive in the Tiputa Pass. This is partly due to the outstanding visibility which often tops 200 feet (60 meters). Divers can expect to see up to 16 species of shark, but Gray, Whitetip, Blacktip and Silvertip Sharks are the most commonly sighted year-round. From December to March, giant hammerheads also make an appearance. Currents can top 7 knots, making the Tiputa Pass best for advanced divers.

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Manihi and Moorea

While Rangiroa may take top honors for shark diving in French Polynesia, Manihi and Moorea easily come in second and third. Blacktips, Whitetips and Lemon Sharks in the dozens swarm around divers who visit these atolls. There is really never a bad time to dive these islands. You’ll be surprised by the number of sharks residing here year-round. Be warned that shark feeding is common in this area. It creates amazing moments, but those who prefer natural encounters may wish to dive elsewhere.

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View dive centers in Moorea

Fiji

Fiji, the world’s friendliest country, is one of the most sought-after vacation destinations. While you are on vacation and enjoying the majestic above-the-water scenery, take a day to dive under the surface and discover that ten-foot sharks lazily circling in the blue can be just as beautiful as anything you’ll find on land.

Photo credit: Chris McLennan

Beqa Lagoon

With the establishment of the Shark Reef Marine Reserve, Beqa Lagoon has become a premier shark diving area the world over. Bull Sharks are the stars of the show here, but divers can encounter up to 7 other species as well. These include sickle Lemons, Gray reefs, Wawny Nurses, Blacktip Reefs, Whitetip Reefs, Silvertips and Tiger Sharks. With more than 20 dive sites in the lagoon, divers can fill a week or more with fantastic shark sightings. Although you will see sharks during any month of the year, July to September offer the best diving conditions in terms of visibility, water temperature and other large marine life. As an added bonus, any diving done in the Shark Reef Marine Reserve finances shark research and compensates local fishermen for lost income due to the creation of no-take zones. It’s a win-win-win for sharks, divers and the local population!

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Philippines

A favorite among divers, the 7,107 islands in the Philippines deliver just about every tropical diving experience available. Among those are fantastic shark dives. To be one of the only among your diving peers to have seen a thresher shark, head for the Monad Shoal off of Malapascua.

Malapascua

As one tiny island in the more than 7,000 islands of the Philippines, it’s rather unbelievable that this one place has become a Thresher Shark diving mecca. Throughout the year, Thresher Sharks can be seen with regularity at 30 meters on Malapascua’s Monad Shoal. Some say it’s the only reliable spot in the world for observing these sharks, and it’s certainly the only place a Thresher Shark has been photographed giving birth. With two days of diving during any month of the year, you’re nearly guaranteed at least one observation of this wild-tailed shark. So grab your gear and head to this white-sand paradise.

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USA

Although not thought of as a traditional scuba destination, the United States touches three oceans, two seas and the Gulf of Mexico. This wide geographical area ensures excellent diving with sharks. In fact, the Farallon Islands off the west coast are consistently ranked as one of the best cage diving locations in the world. For divers who find themselves on the other side of the country, both Rhode Island and North Carolina on the East Coast offer up fantastic shark diving.

The East Coast

Although sharks can be found up and down the eastern seaboard, Rhode Island and North Carolina hold the titles for the best diving infrastructure. However, each state varies in terms of type of encounter and species encountered. From June through August, visitors can view migrating blue and Mako Sharks off the coast of Rhode Island. Expeditions in the area vary from cage diving to snorkeling to open water scuba diving. The beauty of these sharks is astounding and encounters often lead to amazing photographs so don’t forget your camera!

Shark diving in North Carolina, on the other hand, leads to some of the best Sand Tiger Shark encounters worldwide. Long known for wreck diving, the area is gaining a reputation as the East Coast’s best all-around shark destination. In addition to dozens of Sand Tiger Sharks stalking plentiful wrecks, divers can also happen upon Nurse Sharks, Thresher sharks, Hammerheads, Bull Sharks and Dusky sharks. May to October is peak shark season in these waters.

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Photo credit: Isaias Cruz

California and the Farallon Islands

Every bit as exciting as the East Coast, California and the offshore Farallon Islands on the Pacific Coast of the United States host excellent opportunities for Great White Shark diving. Some scientists believe that the Farallon Islands are home to the largest Great White Shark population during the months the sharks call the area home. From September until November, trips depart daily from San Francisco. Nearly all of the diving in the area is completed within a cage. Some trips require scuba gear, but most utilize a hookah breathing system. Either way, you’re guaranteed a hefty dose of adrenalin around these car-sized predators.

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Bahamas

Shark-lovers have long been visiting the Bahamas to get their adrenalin fix. With guaranteed sightings of a variety of shark species and easy access from North America, South America and Europe, it’s obvious why divers are attracted to the country. Three areas in particular stand out for shark encounters. Head to Bimini for hammerheads. Cat Island boasts amazing Oceanic Whitetip sightings, and Tiger Beach is, you guessed it, known for its Tiger Sharks.

Bimini

Every winter from December to March, great Hammerhead Sharks gather around the Bimini Islands in large numbers. Naturally shy and reserved, these huge sharks with their odd faces become curious in this location, closely approaching divers. While feeding of the sharks does occur, it is closely controlled due to the area’s marine park status. Those visiting the region might also encounter Bull Sharks, Nurse Sharks or Caribbean Reef Sharks. Although Bimini Island is a part of the Bahamas, it is located just 50 miles from Miami in the United States, making it possible to visit by boat in just three hours from the American city.

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Cat Island

Although Oceanic Whitetip Sharks are in decline throughout much of their range, the population surrounding Cat Island is still thriving. From April to June these large sharks follow the tuna migration to the area. You’ll come face-to-face with this fierce open-ocean predator during your dives on pristine Cat Island. You might also find Silky Sharks, Dusky Sharks, Bull Sharks, Tiger Sharks, Caribbean Reef Sharks, Nurse Sharks and Lemon Sharks. While Cat Island is not yet as popular as its neighbors for shark diving, it won’t be long before the crowds arrive. Grab your gear and get to this shark wonderland before everyone else does!

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Photo credit: David Grummitt

Tiger Beach

About an hour by boat from the West End of Grand Bahama, Tiger Beach is famous and aptly named for its resident Tiger Sharks. Two to seventeen of these gorgeous animals appear nearly every day of the year. However, the best time to dive Tiger Beach is between October and January when the sharks use the area as a breeding ground. For photographers, this is the place for Tiger Sharks. The 20-foot (7-meter) depth gives plenty of light and the sandy bottom is an excellent backdrop. Your friends are sure to be jealous of your underwater captures after a trip to Tiger Beach.

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Cuba

Relatively new to the Caribbean diving scene, Cuba serves up remote locales full of fascinating wildlife. However, one place in particular is taking the scuba world by storm. I believe the Jardines de la Reina is the best place to head for shark encounters in the Caribbean islands.

Photo credit: Sandro Lonardi

Jardines de la Reina

Since 1996, the waters in the archipelago known as the Jardines de la Reina, or Gardens of the Queen in English, have been a protected marine park. Because of this fact, an extremely healthy marine ecosystem exists. Divers from around the world arrive to this remote paradise by liveaboard in order to encounter vast numbers of Caribbean Reef Sharks and Silky Sharks. Sightings are a sure thing year-round, although you may wish to avoid visiting during hurricane season which lasts from roughly June to October. If diving with dozens of sharks doesn’t get the adrenalin flowing, you’ll also have the opportunity to snorkel with crocodiles during your stay in the Gardens of the Queen.

View liveaboards in the Jardines de la Reina

Photo credit: Sandro Lonardi

Mexico

With coastline on the Pacific Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, it only makes sense that Mexico dishes up fantastic shark diving. Although the diving locations in Mexico are numerous, two names stand out for shark enthusiasts. Isla Mujeres is a well-known Whale Shark hub while Guadalupe offers world-famous Great White Shark encounters.

Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe)

Along with South Africa, Australia and California, Guadalupe Island makes the list of the best places in the world to cage dive with Great White Sharks. This small volcanic island lies approximately 150 miles off Baja California in Mexico and is home to approximately 170 Great White Sharks from July to November. Many operators serving Guadalupe Island offer the unique experience of open-top cages. While at depth, divers are permitted to float half way out of the top of the cage, giving an unbarred view of the giant sharks. Because of the large population of sharks, clarity of the water and depth of the cages, minimal chumming is required for a great experience. While it may not be the easiest place to reach, Isla Guadalupe might just offer up the best Great White Shark experience in the world.

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Isla Mujeres

Isla Mujeres sits at the join of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. As such, it is home to plankton rich waters that attract hundreds of Whale Sharks from June to September every year. Some argue that this is the largest gathering of Whale Sharks in the world, ensuring you the opportunity to swim with at least one if not many more during your visit.

View dive centers in the Yucatan Peninsula
View dive resorts in the Yucatan Peninsula

Cocos Island (Costa Rica)

Featuring an amazing amount of pelagic action, Cocos Island is renowned for its shark encounters. At 550 kilometers off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, this remote island sits at a convergence of nutrient-rich currents. Schools of Scalloped Hammerheads are the main shark attraction, but divers also encounter Whitetip Reef, Galapagos, Silky, Blacktip, Tiger, Guitar and Silvertip sharks. Liveaboard is the only way to reach Cocos. Book your trip from June to December for the best shark show.

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Galápagos Islands (Ecuador)

The Galápagos Islands are the place where Darwin came up with most of his theory and are also one of the top places around the world to dive with hammerheads. These odd creatures along with many other pelagic species visit the Galápagos year-round. However, many believe the best Hammerhead Shark action takes place between January and May. Jump on a liveaboard to the north islands of Darwin and Wolf to dive with schools of hundreds of Hammerheads and Galapagos sharks.

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View dive resorts in the Galápagos Islands

Photo credit: Sandro Lonardi

Malpelo Island (Colombia)

500 kilometers west of Buenaventura, Colombia in the Pacific Ocean, Malpelo attracts shark-enthusiasts and scientists alike. Huge schools of hammerheads and silky sharks await those who visit this remote maritime mountain range. Ragged-tooth Sharks, Galapagos Sharks, Whale Sharks and Whitetip Sharks also make an occasional appearance. For the best conditions, plan your liveaboard trip from July to August or January to March.

View liveaboards in Malpelo

Types of sharks

Sharks come in all form of shapes and sizes (almost). There are more than 500 different species of sharks in our oceans and every year scientists discover new species. You can dive with most of them. Some require a bit more attention than others, but divers have been with them in the water a number of times.

Let’s have a look at the various types of sharks.

Great White Sharks

Carcharodon carcharias

The most famous one, at least for the number of movie appearances.

The Great White Shark is one of the biggest sharks. It can grow up to 20 feet (6 meters) and weighs up to 2 tons. You can find them in temperate and tropical waters, from the Gulf of Mexico to the Mediterranean Sea, from South Africa to Australia, from New Zealand to Alaska and across the entire Pacific Ocean.

Sharks are the most famous predators in the ocean. Their hunting behavior is fascinating. Seeing them in the water is one of the top dives every adventurous diver wants to do. Remember that you are in front of a machine that evolution didn’t touch for millions of years, just because they are perfect hunters.

You can dive and free-dive in Great White waters with or without a cage. It just depends on how you approach the shark. Diving close to a hunting area or attracting them with tuna heads could be really dangerous without a cage. To dive safely with them, it is mandatory to know their behavior. For this reason, always dive with an expert guide and you will enjoy the most adrenaline-filled encounter in the ocean.

Photo Credit: Elias Levy

Whale Sharks

Rhincodon typus

The biggest shark out there, they can reach up to 42 feet (12 meters) in length but are absolutely harmless.

Whale Sharks are filter feeders, which means that they eat only planktonic organisms and small fishes.

Imagine jumping into the water, turning your head back and seeing a bus-like fish that is swimming gently to you. Encounters with Whale Sharks are astonishing.

Behind their size is a hidden yet sophisticated GPS system that allows them to migrate thousands of miles in the open ocean.

Snorkelling or diving with them is a great adventure. The Ari Atoll in the Maldives is one of the most famous sites where you have a high chance of seeing a Whale Shark.

Get on board and look at the surface of the ocean. A giant shadow is coming close to you. Grab your fins and mask and jump into the water.

Photo credit: Gregor Kervina

Tiger Sharks

Galeocerdo cuvier

Tiger Sharks are named for the dark, vertical stripes found mainly on juveniles. As these sharks mature, the lines begin to fade and almost disappear. They are among the biggest sharks in the ocean at 20 feet (6 meters) in length.

Although they are big hunters, they are mainly scavengers. This means they eat dead organisms and actually a nearly limitless menu of diet items.

As majestic and slow swimmers, an encounter with a Tiger Shark is amazing, not only for its size but also for its elegance.

If you are brave enough to dive with this incredible creature, we can suggest many places in the world where you can find them and of course crazy diving guides that are eager to bring you in front of a Tiger Shark!

Photo credit: Albert Kok

Hammerhead Sharks

Family: Sphyrnidae

Up to 20 feet (6 meters) in length, Hammerhead Sharks are the easiest to recognize thanks to the particular head shape, reminiscent of a hammer. The strange shape allows them to see almost 360° and use a highly specialized detector of electric and magnetic fields. This means they can move in the blue water of the ocean, without any reference points, yet remain perfectly oriented. As one might surmise, they are unbelievable hunters.

Hammerhead Sharks are distributed in all tropical waters. Among the best locations for hammerhead diving are the Galapagos, Bimini Island, Costa Rica, Hawaii, the Maldives and Indonesia.

Just take your time and think about a great dive surrounded by hundreds of Hammerhead Sharks!

Bull Sharks (Zambesi)

Carcharhinus leucas

The Zambesi Shark is one of the most aggressive species of shark together with the Great White and Tiger Shark. A common myth about Bull Sharks is that they have the highest level of testosterone in the entire animal kingdom.

This shark has more testosterone than a whole team of rugby players. Zambesi Sharks, as they are called in South Africa, are also well known for their ability to swim in freshwater rivers and even reach lakes many miles inside the coast. They are able to eat everything that is interesting to them. Even humans might be in danger in front of this aggressive shark if they are bothered.

Are you brave enough? If so, take this challenge and follow us underwater to look for the Zambesi Shark! Take your equipment and jump in the warm water of Mexico, the Bahamas, Kenya, India, Thailand or Indonesia.

Photo credit: Brook Ward

Oceanic Whitetip Sharks (Longimanus)

Carcharhinus longimanus

A beautifully shaped shark!

The Longimanus is an easily distinguishable species due to its long and robust, paddle-shaped pectoral fins. Although the most distinctive features are the white tips on the first dorsal, pectoral, pelvic and caudal fins. The adults can grow up to 13 feet (4 meters). They are rarely observed in a group. Rather, they are most often solitary and in open waters.

The Oceanic Whitetip Sharks are famous for their curiosity, swimming very close to divers or following boats and others animals, mostly due to their search for food. They eat almost everything, but prefer pelagic fish.

Diving with Longimanus Sharks is easy, the Red Sea and tropical waters are the home-water of this majestic shark. For any information related to how to dive with this shark, just contact us!

Photo credit: Isaias Cruz

Nurse Sharks

Ginglystoma cirratum

While pelagic species, including sharks, must keep moving in order to breathe, Nurse Sharks can remain motionless, lying on the seafloor under tabular corals or inside caves. They are mainly active during the night, allowing divers to easily enjoy an encounter during the daylight hours. Nurse Sharks are bottom dwellers, feeding primarily on sea snails, crustaceans, molluscs and other small fish that are sucked into and then crushed in the mouth. These sharks also possess sensory barbells that protrude from their upper lip, allowing them to feel the presence of their prey in the environment and mainly under the sand.

They are present in the warm waters of all oceans, from the African coast to the paradise of the Maldives, Australia and the tropical waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Cow Sharks (Sevengill Sharks)

Family: Hexanchidae

Cow Sharks are considered one of the most primitive sharks. Their skeletons resemble those of ancient extinct forms. Their most distinctive feature is the presence of a sixth or seventh gill slit, in contrast to the five found in all other sharks. They can grow up to 16 feet (5 meters) in body length and are very good hunters. They live in the deep and cold water of all the oceans from New Zealand to South Africa and from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. Diving with Cow Sharks is not that easy due to the rarity of encounters in coastal and shallow waters, but in some places you have a higher chance of spotting these sharks. The kelp forests in South Africa and California are, for example, the ideal habitat for seeing this prehistoric hunter!

Reef Sharks

Caribbean Reef Shark (Carcharhinus perezii)
Blacktip Reef Shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus)
Grey Reef Shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos)
Whitetip Reef Shark (Triaenodon obesus)

Reef Sharks are the apex predators of the reef ecosystem. Caribbean, Grey, Blacktip and Whitetip Sharks are the most common species that you will find in the reefs of all oceans. These sharks usually don’t exceed 10 feet (3 meters) in length. However they are great hunters, feeding mainly on small reef fish, crustaceans and molluscs.

Spotting Reef Sharks is very easy. They are abundant around the reefs of all tropical waters in the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific Oceans. Just reach your favorite tropical place and dive as much as you can to enjoy an encounter with a school of Reef Sharks. It will turn a normal dive into a great dive.

Photo credit: Sandro Lonardi

Other sharks

Of course the ones mentioned above are only a small percentage of all the sharks species. I haven’t forgot the Lemon Shark, Blue Shark, Basking Shark and all the other many species you can find in the ocean. Let us know in the comments if there is a particular species you’d like to know more about.

Shark attacks

Being attacked by a shark is quite rare, but could happen. Do you know that every year there are about 60 confirmed shark attacks around the world? But why do sharks attack? First of all, you have to know that, fortunately, you are not on their menu. Most of the time they bite us because they are curious or frightened. Attacks can be provoked or unprovoked, and observations have shown that there are potentially 6 factors as reasons for shark attacks:

  • Food in the water
  • Confusion of senses
  • Competition
  • Animal personality
  • Conditioning
  • No respect

That doesn’t mean that if you swim close to a shark you will be attacked by it. You just have to remember that there is always a hazard, because they are wild animals.

If we compare sharks with other animals we find out, for example, that mosquitoes transmit diseases like malaria to more than 700 million people every year, and around 2 million of them die. And what about dogs? In the USA, dogs bite 368,000 people per year and in the last 6 six years, there was an average of 31 fatal attacks per year.

We are often frightened by sharks, but did you know that two seemingly harmless creatures are among the most poisonous of the planet? Most pufferfish contain a toxin in their body that could potentially kill 30 adults. But nothing compares to the poison of the small golden poison dart frog, whose poison is contained in the mucus that covers its skin. One gram of this toxin can potentially kill almost 6,000 people!

To have an idea of the risk of shark attacks take a look below:

Confirmed unprovoked (1958–2014):

  • Total: 2,899
  • Fatal: 548

Only 5-15 of attacks annually are fatal.

Now think that more or less 79 million sharks are killed each year by humans. So who is really more dangerous?

Photo credit: Isaias Cruz

Shark conservation

Sharks are stunning creatures. They have existed for almost 400 million years. It is incredibly frustrating and sad to know that they are disappearing. Why? Because of humans of course. Shark finning, bycatch, habitat destruction and overfishing are the main causes of their endangerment.

The demand on shark products is very high. For example, shark fin soup is a delicacy, especially in China. It is thought that this soup is a natural remedy for boosting sexual potency, enhancing skin quality, preventing heart disease and lowering cholesterol, but different studies have shown that this is incorrect. Other in-demand products are shark cartilage, shark liver oil, shark teeth and jaws, shark leather and even manta ray gills.

Photo credit: Nicholas Wang

Why sharks are so important

Sharks are defined as "top predators." The role of a top predator is to keep the balance in the complex food web of the marine ecosystem. A number of scientific studies demonstrate that depletion of sharks results in the loss of important fish and other organisms that keep the ecosystem healthy. If you'd like to continue to enjoy the beauty of the ocean while diving, it is your duty to save the sharks!

What you can do to help these animals

You should avoid buying the products mentioned above. If there is no demand, it is unnecessary to kill all these creatures.

Ecotourism can also help sharks as well as other marine life. The definition of ecotourism is: "Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and involves interpretation and education”.
A dead shark has less market value than a living shark. Scientific studies have shown that the fin of a dead shark on a restaurant menu brings in less money than a shark swimming in the ocean and attracting ecotourists. In this way, ecotourism has a massive impact on the protection of marine life.

So let’s go diving with sharks!

Shark feeding

Have you ever heard about shark feeding? While we are discussing ecotourism, we should mention that sometimes it is not easy to see sharks. This is because the number of them has decreased. Some frequently migrate and often their home range is huge. So to attract the sharks to one point, some divers feed them. There are different methods, like drifting bait and diver cages, feeding buckets and crates, or hand-feeding. There are many opinions about this practice, but without going into detail, only experts should do it, considering the risk. For example, a shark could become aggressive and even attack humans. It is also really important to avoid altering a shark’s behavior. If they used to migrate, they could stop because there is a new, permanent source of food.

In some countries, like Australia, shark feeding is forbidden.

Sharks facts

Shark teeth are awesome

They can regenerate and change their teeth continuously during their lifetime, as we change between baby and adult teeth during our childhood. Sharks can lose more than 20,000 teeth, while we only lose 20 baby teeth. This strange strategy is very important to avoid broken teeth stuck on the jaw. It is not useful for the shark. A shark’s tooth shape is dependent upon its diet. There are four basic types of shark teeth that vary according to the diet of the shark: dense flattened teeth for crushing; needle-like teeth for gripping; pointed lower teeth for gripping and triangular upper teeth with serrated edges for cutting; and teeth that are tiny, greatly reduced and non-functional.

Shark sense: how to detect the hidden world

Sharks have a perfect set of sharpened knife-teeth to cut, crush and grip their prey, but what make them really formidable predators?

Imagine staying in a big room, completely dark, with your eyes closed, no smell, no noise, nothing, but you can feel the presence of someone. You can also understand the size and the movement of the other person and also predict the way the person is moving. This is one of the most important senses in the natural world: electroreception. In this way sharks can feel the presence of every organism around them and attack in the blue water of the ocean or under the sand with incredible precision and accuracy.

Tonic immobility: do you sleep supine?

Sharks don’t but they will fall into a trance if they are supine. A trance is when a being is disconnected from his or her normal conscious state. Scientists think that it happens when a chemical is released into the shark brain to prevent panic. The brain is probably flooded with the neurotransmitter called serotonin. When the brain is overloaded, the shark falls into a coma-like state. When the shark is in the right position the serotonin concentration decreases and the shark returns to consciousness. The second hypothesis is related to electroreception. The coma-like state is attained by touching the area surrounding the eyes where the Ampullae of Lorenzini are located. The Ampullae of Lorenzini are the receptors that activate electroreception. It is thought that it may alter the electroreceptive sense of the animal with tonic immobility. After touching the shark it will start again to swim. The process is always reversible.

Did anyone know about tonic immobility? <a href="http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/a-night-of-exploration/videos/how-whales-eat-sharks1/"target ="_blank">Killer whales have already learnt!

Two penises: a funny way to ensure the continuity of the species

Actually, male sharks have no penises. They have grooved organs to deposit the sperm into the genital duct of a sexually receptive female shark. These organs, called “claspers,” are developed from each pelvic fin (the paired fins located behind a shark’s belly). Because the pelvic fins are paired, so are the claspers. It seems they only use one at a time. Sharks are not perverted.

Credits

This article was written by Mario Passoni and Luca Saponari - two marine biologists involved in several projects concerning ocean conservation and education.

Special thanks to Jim Hancock from the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme, John Richardson from Shark Trust, Victoria Elena Vasquez, and the photographers who allowed us to use their stunning images in this article.