Seeing a shark in the wild is an exhilarating experience. As a diver, seeing the distinctive movement of a shark can be a life-changing experience, so it’s no wonder that many divers make sharks their priority when booking dive trips.

Shark diving can be split into several categories. The most well-known is cage diving with Great White Sharks. Scuba divers can also participate in baited shark dives that attract sharks using chum boxes, some of which include shark feeding by experienced guides. Divers looking for a natural underwater encounter can still travel many places around the world to see sharks up close.

We’ve compiled a list of popular shark dives in each category. The list is not all-inclusive but will give you plenty of ideas for planning your next dive trip.

Cage Diving with Great White Sharks

Isla Guadalupe, Mexico

Cage diving with great white sharks ranks high on the dream list of many divers. Every fall, divers can spend several days cage diving as white sharks patrol just meters away. Most operators use a surface cage and a deep cage at about 40ft below the surface. The sharks are attracted by chum and are often brought right up to the shallow cage using large chunks of fish on a line – a thrilling experience.

Gansbaai, South Africa

There are quite a few shark dives in South Africa, but the most famous is cage diving with great whites. Shark dives are available year-round in Gansbaai, the great white shark capital of the world. Dive tour operators conduct these dives as day trips, which provides divers the flexibility to customize their cage diving days with a range of other great diving and land-based activities like safaris.

Baited Shark Dives

Beqa Lagoon, Fiji

This shark dive is one of the most iconic in the shark diving world. Divers can see up to eight different species of shark during one dive, including lemon sharks and bull sharks. Many call this dive the “shark tornado” when the action gets intense. Several very experienced dive operators conduct these shark dives, which can be paired with other spectacular Fiji scuba diving.

Bimini, Bahamas

Every winter many divers make the pilgrimage to Bimini, Bahamas to spend hours diving with great hammerhead sharks. These large sharks are impressive to view, especially as they slowly swim around divers. The clear, shallow water and white sand creates incredible photo opportunities.

Natural Shark Dives

Cocos Island

Cocos Island, located off the coast of Costa Rica, is a shark diving hotspot. Cocos diving is done via liveaboard boat, which gives divers ample opportunity to see a number of different shark species, including large schools of scalloped hammerhead sharks. It’s no wonder that shark researchers have been visiting Cocos for many years.

Fakarava, Fiji

Fakarava, Fiji is home to many different sharks swimming through crystal clear water. In recent years the grouper spawning has become wildly popular since with the grouper come a number of predators, including hundreds of sharks.

Malapascua, Philippines

Monad Shoal in Malapascua, Philippines has earned a unique reputation among divers. On many mornings at dawn, thresher sharks swim to this underwater ledge, offering divers the unique opportunity to view the elusive thresher shark. Viewing a thresher and the movement of its impressive tail leaves an impression you will never forget.

Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos Islands, located off the coast of Ecuador, are home to a wide range of shark species. On any dive, and even snorkel, divers may encounter sharks and other large marine life. One of the highlights is at the top of the island chain near Wolf and Darwin Islands, where divers can see massive schools of scalloped hammerhead sharks and even large whale sharks depending on the season.

Isla Mujeres, Mexico

Whale sharks are the largest shark in the sea and there are many of them around Isla Mujeres during summer months. Local operators run snorkel tours from Isla Mujeres and the mainland near Cancun, where divers can swim with whale sharks in the clear water. Manta rays are often present as well on these tours.

Maldives

The Maldives ranks high on many divers’ vacation lists. Clear water, beautiful coral reefs, and manta rays are all highlights, and the high probability of seeing a whale shark will make any dive one to remember. This is one of the few places with high probability of encountering a whale shark while scuba diving instead of snorkeling.

Oban, Scotland

Divers looking for unusual shark dives will spend time searching for basking sharks off the coast of Scotland. Like whale sharks, these large fish move slowly and filter plankton out of the water. Basking sharks have enormous mouths and gill rakers adapted for filter feeding – a true sight to behold while snorkeling in these temperate waters.

Red Sea, Egypt

The Red Sea offers a wide range of diving opportunities, including reefs, wrecks, dolphins and sharks. Divers may see several different shark species, but the most well known are the oceanic white tips. Liveaboard itineraries visit the famous Brothers Islands, Daedalus Reef, and Elphinstone Reef, where you’ll have the highest probability of shark encounters.

These destinations are a small sample of shark dives you can book as your next scuba or snorkeling trip. Be sure to contact your local dive shop or dive center travel expert for more information and personal recommendations.

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