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7 of the Best Shark Dives in the World
Not only is the shark phylum essential for healthy oceanic ecosystems, it also has an important role to fulfill at the top of the food chain.
This page contains a list of the top sharkiest destinations around the world and how they rank for divers who want to go scuba diving with sharks.
Places With "Responsible Shark Encounters"
It's fair to say most scuba divers would relish the thought of having a face-to-fin meeting with one of the majestic sharks.
But for many, traveling overseas is the only way of satisfying this goal.
So, what are some of the safety factors that make the "sharkiest resort destinations" ideal for responsible shark diving? How about:
- Locations that balance accessibility with safety protocols.
- In-water dive guides who are knowledgeable about diving with sharks.
- Operators that use float lines and have boat support within reach.
No matter whether your thrill is diving with hammerheads in the Galapagos Islands or snorkeling around gigantic whale sharks in the Maldives, our list of worldwide popular shark diving destinations is a great place to start.
Aliwal Shoal (South Africa)
The sharks encountered at the rocky reef known as Aliwal Shoal include oceanic blacktips (Carcharhinus limbatus), bull sharks (called the Zambezi shark in Africa), the sand tiger shark (Carcharias taurus), and hammerheads.
If you have a plan to join baited dives with some of the largest predators on earth, this shark diving mecca should be on your bucket list.
Furthermore, the world famous sardine run that takes place during the months of June and July delivers a spirited feeding frenzy with sharks and large marine mammals (e.g. dolphins).
Fuvahmulah Atoll (Maldives)
There's a valid reason for calling Fuvahmulah the "Galápagos of the Maldives". The steep drop-offs provide year-round pelagic shark action.
Besides hammerheads, other sharks you're likely to come across include tiger sharks, migratory thresher sharks, and oceanic whitetips (Carcharhinus longimanus).
Oahu and Maui (Hawaii)
One of our favourite destinations for shark diving is Hawaii.
This is one of the best places to dive with Galápagos sharks (Carcharhinus galapagensis) or sandbar sharks (Carcharhinus plumbeus) - often called the thickskin shark.
Bahamas (Nassau, Bimini)
More than three thousand islands and cays make up the Bahamas in the Caribbean. Head out to this famous shark diving destination for thrilling encounters with big nurse sharks (Ginglymostoma cirratum), Caribbean reef sharks (Carcharhinus perezi), and three-metre long lemon sharks.
Being a "beginner-friendly" region is the main reason for adding it to our list of best shark dives in the world. Plus, divers and snorkelers should experience calm conditions in clear warm water for most of the year.
Experienced operators conduct shark dives in shallow depths (around 12 metres). They offer a cage-free encounter - but under a "controlled" environment.
Cocos Island (Costa Rica)
Isla del Coco is a remote volcanic island in the Pacific Ocean. Huge aggregations of scalloped hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini), white-tip reef sharks (Triaenodon obesus), and silvertips (Carcharhinus albimarginatus) will be among the sharks encountered at Costa Rica dive sites.
Fiji (Beqa Lagoon)
Can you imagine descending near protected reef walls down to twenty metres (65 feet) and swimming around bull sharks, nurse sharks, and reef sharks?
This world-renowned area for shark dives is operated by professional diving teams that structure shark feeding dives and "extremely" close encounters.
Isla Mujeres (Mexico)
The meeting point of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea is one of the most rewarding destinations to go snorkeling with whale sharks (Rhincodon typus).
Not only is swimming alongside the biggest fish in the ocean safe, these gentle giants are filter-feeders so they pose no threat to humans.
Pro Tip: Even though these seven locations offer world-class shark diving experiences, not all of them require its participants to have advanced diving skills.