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Great White Sharks
The great white shark is an apex predator. It dominates the food chain, and can be found around the globe in temperate to subtropical waters. The sharks first appeared about 11 million years ago, and are 6 meters long when fully grown.
White sharks are one of the most well-known predators to exist on earth, but they don’t have a specific diet and can live up to 70 years. They’re mostly solitary creatures though, so they communicate with one another by body language. It is rare to see white sharks attack other white sharks and the majority of their food comes from smaller fish and mammals.
They have been considered as aggressive, have been heavily hunted and fished since the 1970s, and now live in small groups. Their global population has now been estimated to be between 1500 and 5000 individuals. They are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
One of the most distinctive and unusual aspects of great white sharks are their eyes. For one thing, they’re usually blue. They also have an array of colors, from light grey to deep blue, through bronze tones. This allows for educators to identify individual sharks by their unique color and pattern, as well as size.
Where is the Best Place to see Great White Sharks?
In the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Guadalupe Island and Neptune Island, you can swim with great white sharks. They glide by at such a close distance that it is possible to touch them. While certified divers should undergo additional training for this activity, snorkelers shouldn’t have too much trouble as long as they are not afraid of gentle currents.
1. Guadalupe Island, Mexico
Guadalupe is your destination for white shark diving adventures in clear, blue water. It’s a tiny island located off the coast of Mexico, so that shark chumming limits are maintained at a minimum level; protecting the environment and the natural behavior of sharks.
Guadalupe offers cage diving trips during the main season of July to December. The water temperature is 19 degrees Celsius (66 Fahrenheit) to 22 degrees Celsius (71 Fahrenheit), and visibility is fabulous. You’ll be able to dive both at surface or deep, and you’re guaranteed some amazing experience along the way.
2. Neptune Island, South Australia
Neptune Island offers something unique – the opportunity to cage dive with great white sharks and interact with them in their natural environment. Deep-diving and surface-style dives are available. The dive certification required for deep-dives is hard, but it’s a lifestyle worth committing to. The good news is that both options are available even if you’re not a diver.
If you’re interested in seeing sharks, Neptune Island has good viewing opportunities all year long. The main season is May to October when the average water temperature is 16 degrees Celsius (60 Fahrenheit). The best month for shark viewing is April; when the weather, water temperature, shark size, and other factors provide an optimal experience for divers. Divers visiting the Neptune Islands can also see Leafy Sea dragons, seals and sea lions typical of South Australia diving.
Can you Dive with Great White Sharks without a cage?
White sharks are known to encounter divers at certain places and in certain areas. It is a rare occurrence, and cage dive operators do not provide the opportunity to dive with these sharks without a cage. There are several destinations where you can do a cage dive without being inside a cage, including Bahamas, Belize, Mexico, Fiji, Cuba and the Cayman Islands.
Where to Dive other types of Sharks
Diving with sharks is an adrenaline rush, whether you’re diving in a cage or free-diving. Cage diving can also provide security for inexperienced swimmers or those who are nervous of swimming in open water. Swimming without a cage is a possibility for many shark species; however, cage dives allow for a fun introduction to open water and being around sharks.
Oahu, Hawaii
The scuba diving in Hawaii is diverse and there are many different dives from which to explore. There are dives on the beach, divers exploring caves, divers taking a boat out for drift dives along the reef, divers exploring shipwrecks on a dive to see wildlife. Plus the water temperature is always comfortable year-round, so it is a top choice for those who like diving with sharks on their first cage dive.
