Diving with Sharks

Although it is not recommended for all divers, there are a growing number of people in the diving community who dive in and around sharks for both scientific and recreational purposes. Underwater photography of sharks is frequently cited as the purpose of diving with sharks and if you think you’d like to give it a try, you should probably learn more about diving in the company of sharks. The best advice is always to be prepared of course. Do some research in advance and learn what kinds of sharks you are likely to encounter in the particular area you plan to dive in. This will give you a chance to learn what kind of behavior to expect of the different species’ you will encounter. In addition to all the normal dive safety practices, you‘ll need to keep in mind that danger increases with increasing depths. The decreased visibility of dives at night or in strong currents, along with the added burden of carrying equipment can be challenging when in a group of sharks.

However, the ocean itself presents far more danger than any shark ever could, and it is critical to know your own limitations before you attempt to dive with or without sharks. You’ll need to have a meeting with your diving buddies and discuss your dive and contingency plans before you get into the water with sharks.

Although sharks and rays are found throughout all of the world’s oceans, there are certain areas where certain species are found in huge numbers. Great numbers of sharks congregate in particular hot spots due primarily to the natural life cycles of different species. Sometimes they will also congregate in areas where there is artificial encouragement like an abundance of human-provided food. Some of the world’s shark hot spots are well-known like the Great Barrier Reef in Australia where huge numbers of sharks are found, and others are not so well-known, like the huge numbers of hammerhead sharks found near the Cocos Islands off Costa Rica. The interest and activity surrounding shark diving has resulted in an expansion in the numbers of boat tours, dive shops, and resorts that facilitate divers getting to the action. If you are in search of the ultimate encounter diving with sharks, starting at one of the world’s shark-filled hot spots will guarantee that you’ll see some action.

Worlds’ Top 20 Shark Diving Hotspots –

1. Catalina Island, California, USA
2. Baja California, Mexico
3. Cape Point, South Africa
4. Quadra Island, British Columbia, Canada
5. Hornby Island, British Columbia, Canada.
6. Outer Banks, North Carolina, USA.
7. Dyer Island, South Africa
8. Cocos Island, Costa Rica
9. Playa Del Carmen, Mexico – Bull Sharks
10. St Maarten, Netherland Antilles
11. Tiger Beach, Bahamas
12. Utila, Bay Islands, Honduras
13. Ningaloo Reef, Australia
14. Southwest Rocks, Australia
15. Dangerous Reef, Australia
16. Darwin Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
17. Dyer Island, South Africa
18. Malapascua, Philippines
19. Nassau, Bahamas.
20. Elphinstone, Egypt