- Animal
- Time of year
- Area, Country or Location
- Type
- Experience
- Can see
Oceanic Whitetip Sharks are very curious sharks and frequently interact with divers. If you are careful there is no problem diving with Oceanics and it can be a thrilling experience getting up close to these amazing sharks. These interactions are often in shallow water and on safety stops. These sharks will circle divers and due to their curiosity will get very close and tend to show a lot of interest in divers with large camera housings with dome ports, probably as they can see their reflection. This means they are great for photographers and can provide you with many photo opportunities.
Certain behaviour is advised when these sharks are in the area. Divers should remain still and hang in the water. Do not flap or panic, especially on the surface as this attracts the sharks attention. When exiting the water approach the boat underwater and surface with as little fuss possible.
The presence of this sharks in some areas, for example the Brother islands in the red sea, have led to a ban on night dives as this is when they feed and they can get a lot more aggressive towards divers when in feeding mode.
Oceanics are an open ocean shark and a scavenger, this means they investigate anything that could be food floating on the surface, which is why snorkelling is not advised. Recently they have been responsible for attacks on swimmers and snorkelers in the Sharm el Sheikh area and this led to a snorkelling ban. Attacks are very rare and when they do happen there tend to be human factors such as dumping animal carcasses or chumming as contributing factors. There have not been any attacks on divers.
This same scavenging behaviour means that they are likely responsible for open-ocean attacks following air or sea disasters. They can be very aggressive and unpredictable in the presence of potential prey.
Oceanics can grow up to 4 metres, although usually they do not exceed 3 metres, with the female typically larger than the male. Their maximum reported weight is 170 kilograms. Males can live-up to 12 years old whereas females can live-up to 16 years old. Oceanic whitetip sharks feed on oceanic bony fishes, including tuna and dolphin fish, threadfins, stingrays, sea turtles, sea birds, gastropods, squid, crustaceans, mammal carrion and sometimes even garbage.
This shark is usually observed well offshore in deep water areas (0-152 meters) although on occasion it has been reported in shallower waters near land, usually near oceanic islands. Longline capture data in the Pacific Ocean shows that abundance of this shark increases along with distance from land. It is one of the top three most abundant oceanic sharks, which also include the blue shark and the silky shark. The oceanic whitetip shark is very abundant throughout its range which includes water with temperatures are above 21°C. Although this shark is primarily solitary, it has been observed in "feeding frenzies" when a food source is present.
An unusual behaviour of the oceanic whitetip shark is its association with the shortfin pilot whale in Hawaiian waters. They are often observed swimming along with pods of pilot whales. Although the reason for such behaviour is unknown, it is suspected to be food-related. Pilot whales are efficient at locating squids upon which the oceanic whitetip sharks also feed.
Due to its extreme abundance, this shark is subject to pressure as bycatch in tuna and other oceanic fisheries. Its fins are especially highly prized due to their large size while the remainder of the shark is often discarded. Although little is known regarding current fishing pressure, it is likely to come under increased pressure in the future. The oceanic whitetip shark is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
More detailed information about Oceanic Whitetip Sharks can be found here.
Andros, Bahamas
Set in a tropical scattering of islands, surrounded by the third largest coral reef and some of the clearest water in the world. Andros has a wide range of exciting and beautiful marine life making this an exciting scuba diving location. The...
Go>
Berry Islands, Bahamas
A quiet group of islands with excellent less known reefs, the Berry Islands are great for those who want a quiet holiday but still have access to excellent reefs and large pelagic species. The Bahamas means “Shallow Seas” and consists of a...
Go>
Bimini, Bahamas
Bimini lays 81km (53 miles) due east of Miami, just on the other side of the gulf stream. The close proximity to the United States made it the ideal spot for an offshore speakeasy during prohibition. One of the most popular shipwrecks...
Go>
Cat Island, Bahamas
Home to the highest peak in the Bahamas, a huge 207 feet, Cat Island is a wonderful place to explore above and below the surface of the ocean. The Bahamas means “Shallow Seas” and consists of a group of 700 breathtaking islands...
Go>
El Quseir, Egypt
El Quseir is an ancient Egyptian town, located on the edge of the Red Sea. Today, it is a quiet resort town that draws in guests with its stunning beaches, clear waters, coral reefs and the remnants of the Ottoman Empire....
Go>
Eleuthera, Bahamas
The pineapple capital of the Bahamas, Eleuthera has excellent diving on reefs and wrecks with the most natural wrecks of any other island. The Bahamas means “Shallow Seas” and consists of a group of 700 breathtaking islands at the top of the...
Go>
Grand Bahama, Bahamas
Close up dolphin and shark encounters can be had in the waters around Grand Bahama, including dives at the famous Tiger Beach where you can get up close and personal with the amazing Tiger Shark! The Bahamas means “Shallow Seas” and consists...
Go>
Hurghada, Egypt
A gateway to some of the most exciting and diverse diving for all levels of divers, Hurghada is a good place to base yourself or to board a Liveaboard to explore the best that the Red Sea offers. It is set...
Go>
Long Island, Bahamas
The most scenic island in the Bahamas, Long Island has amazing diving including the deepest Blue Hole in all the Bahamas. The Bahamas means “Shallow Seas” and consists of a group of 700 breathtaking islands at the top of the Caribbean above Cuba...
Go>
Marsa Alam, Egypt
One of Egypt’s fastest growing holiday destinations, until recently Marsa Alam was just a small fishing village, then since the introduction of the new international airport in 2001 its popularity is growing, and is soon expected to rival the larger resorts in...
Go>
Mtwara, Tanzania
Mikindani is a historic coastal trading town with a blend of Swahili, Arabic and colonial influence. It has a rich and colourful past having once been the regional capital of German East Africa, and was also where Dr David Livingstone based himself...
Go>
Nassau, Bahamas
Turquoise water, soft powdery white sand beaches, world-class casinos, duty free shopping, and succulent seafood draw hundreds of thousands to Nassau, Bahamas every year. The Bahamian capital and tourist hot spot is located on New Providence Island, 290km (156 miles) southeast of Miami,...
Go>
Palau, Micronesia
Well known for its marine bio-diversity, spectacular wall dives and vibrant colourful reefs, Palau is a top diving destination which attracts divers worldwide to experience one of the most unique holiday destinations on the Planet. Palau is a group of over 200...
Go>
Ponta D’Ouro, Mozambique
Ponta D'Ouro is an unspoilt diving location that can be reached easily from South Africa’s main hubs (7hrs from JHB, 4.5hrs from DBN) making it a good location even, for South Africans, for a a weekend diving getaway. Visitors to Ponta can...
Go>
Samoa, Polynesia
Samoa is found within Polynesia and is located almost equidistant from Hawaii and Australia. It has a rich cultural history, colonised millennia ago by the Lapita. The earliest known evidence of human occupation are pottery shards of a Lapita village near Mulifanua,...
Go>
San Salvador, Bahamas
World class wall diving, frequent visits by hammerheads and striking topography, San Salvador is a must for divers visiting the Bahamas. The Bahamas means “Shallow Seas” and consists of a group of 700 breathtaking islands at the top of the Caribbean above Cuba...
Go>
Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt
The most popular diving destination in the Red Sea, the waters around Sharm El Sheikh offer some of the most stunning and famous dive sites not just in the Red Sea but also the World. Sharm el Sheikh is located on Egypt’s...
Go>
Socorro Island, Mexico
The Socorro Islands are a diver’s paradise offering once in a life time encounters with the oceans largest creatures, and is one of the only places in the world where you can swim with Humpback Whales! The Socorro Islands, or the Revillagigedo...
Go>
The Abacos, Bahamas
The Bahamas means “Shallow Seas” and this is no more evident than in the Abacos islands. Arranged along the eastern side of the little Bahamas bank, the Abacos islands cover over 263 square hectares (650 square miles) in the northern portion of...
Go>
The Exumas, Bahamas
Great Diving, easy reefs, blue holes and a peaceful scenic setting, the Exumas are a great location in the Bahamas to visit. The Bahamas means “Shallow Seas” and consists of a group of 700 breathtaking islands at the top of the Caribbean above...
Go>