Whaler Sharks
The following sharks are all whaler sharks, a species that have that classic shark look most people are familiar with: sleek and muscular. There are more than 50 species in the whaler family and many are quite similar in shape and size.
Bull Sharks
Few people know that Bull Sharks are one of the most dangerous sharks in the world and one of the sharks most commonly involved in attacks. Attacks generally occur in shallow waters with low visibility. These sharks are found worldwide in tropical areas and warm temperate seas, even fresh water. Sightings generally occur in northern Australia and African rivers. They have even been spotted in the Mississippi River as well as the Amazon. They grow to a maximum of 3.5 meters and are large and heavy set.
Scientific Name: Carcharhinus leucas
Grey Reef Sharks
Grey Reef sharks are the most commonly sighted sharks by divers. They are typically calm around divers, however they have been known to get aggressive in some situations specifically around spearfishermen. They have black markings on the posterior side of the tail fin and for this reason are sometimes referred to as “black-vee whalers.” They are very territorial and tend to spend their entire life on one reef system. They grow to a maximum of 2.5 meters and feed on small fish, octopus, squid, and crab. You can find these sharks from the Indian Ocean through to the central Pacific.
Scientific Name: Carcharhinus amblyrhynochos
Silvertip Sharks
Silvertips are usually mild tempered sharks, but do possess a potential danger to people. These whalers have a silvery white trailing margin on their fins and feed mainly on ocean going fish and sometimes reef fish. The grow to a maximum of 3 meters and are found in the Indian Ocean and all throughout tropical Pacific waters.
Scientific Name: Carcharhinus albimarginatus
Whitetip Sharks
Whitetips are easily recognizable due to the white tips on their upper fins. They have a blunt nose and are a slender shark reaching lengths of up to 1.7 meters. Divers usually encounter these sharks under reefs or rock ledges during the day and while they are out hunting at night. They feed on small fish, octopus, and crustaceans. You can spot these creatures in shallow reef systems throughout the Indian, Western and Central Pacific Oceans. Whitetips, like the Grey Reef, spend their entire lives in one reef location.
Scientific Name: Triaenodon obesus
Blacktip Sharks
Blacktips inhabit shallow waters over reefs and also in sandy areas. Due to over fishing for their flesh and fins, it is becoming more and more rare to encounter this small shark. They grow to a length of 1.5 meters and are not typically dangerous. Their diet consists of small fish, crustaceans, and squid, and sometimes terrestrial snakes!
Scientific Name: Carcharhinus melanopterus
Tiger Sharks
The Tiger is the largest in the whaler family, and also one of the most dangerous. Growing to lengths of up to 6 meters, they are easily recognized by their unique vertical stripes on their sides. These stripes tend to disappear in the larger specimens, however, these sharks are still recognizable due to their large blunt head. They are found worldwide in tropical waters and feed on turtles, fish and even other sharks. They are also known as the garbage disposals of the sea due to their indiscriminate taste buds and have been known to eat everything from license plates, hubcaps, and oddly enough whole sheep!
Scientific Name: Galeocerdo cuvier
Lemon Sharks
Lemon Sharks are pale yellow to brown in color and are a large whaler growing up to 3 meters. They live in shallow sandy lagoons and mangroves mainly in the Indian Ocean and Central Pacific waters. They hunt at night for fish and have a mild temperament, acting aggressively only when provoked.
Scientific Name: Negraprion acutidens