Diving with Tiger Sharks
Large, Omnivorous Hunters
Tiger sharks are omnivores, having the widest food spectrum of all the sharks, and will eat virtually anything they can fit between their jaws, including fish, rays, seals, sea snakes, even seabirds and turtles. This makes them especially vulnerable to the effects of ocean trash as they will not hesitate to eat garbage like tires, plastic bags, and even car license plates. The special, extremely sharp shape of their teeth allow them to bite through the shells of turtles, crustaceans, and even bones. Their name comes from the dark tiger-like vertical striped bodies of the younger sharks, which fade and are usually absent in adults.
The tiger shark is the fourth largest shark in the world. During the day they retreat into the open sea, returning to coastal areas only at dusk to hunt. It is an extraordinary experience to dive with tiger sharks and witness their raw power and commanding presence. Respect and caution should always be observed when diving with tiger sharks and don’t forget your camera! Click here to find the handful of locations tiger sharks are consistently seen throughout the world.
Dive sites with this animal Show more on map
★★★★☆ Kandooma Thila
This “Thila” is in the middle of the kandooma kandu. From 2000 to 2009 this dive site was ranked world 10th place of shark diving. The top of the reef is full of hard corals. The sides of the “Thila” are covered with soft corals. The currents are strong here and highly recommend for Advanced and Nitrox divers.
★★★★☆ Monad Shoal
Monad Shoal is considered the best dive site in the world to see the rare and timid Thresher Sharks. These sharks normally live in the deep but regularly come here early in the morning for the cleaning station.
★★★★★ Roca Partida
Roca Partida may seem like it is out in the middle of nowhere, sitting approximately 70 miles west of Socorro and 85 miles from San Benedicto, but it is thriving with life. Accessible only by liveaboard, this is an advanced dive on a pinnacle that rises from hundreds of feet of water.
★★★★★ Kimud Shoal
After the tresher sharks disappeared from Monad Shoal for unknown reasons and moved to the Kimud Shoal, this is now one of the best dive sites in the world to see the rare and elusive tresher sharks. These sharks normally live in the deep but regularly come here for the cleaning stations at shallower depths.
★★★★★ Passe de Tiputa
The Tiputa pass originally known as the Hiria pass. It separates Avatoru from the village of Tiputa on Rangiroa atoll. With a length of 900 m and a width of 400 m, it is between 14 and 55 m deep. The currents can be very strong and changeable. The presence of a local guide is therefore recommended.
★★★★★ The BISTRO - Shark Dive AQUATREK
Ten minutes from Pacific Harbour. The site is on the south side of Lake Reef. Sandy/ rubble bottom with feeding site at 18m. Close to the deepwater dropoff of the Beqa passage, which hosts a majority of the fauna that turn up at the site.