What is the most common shark in the Caribbean?

The Caribbean reef shark is the most common shark on or near coral reefs in the Caribbean. It is a tropical inshore, bottom-dwelling species of the continental and insular shelves. Although C. perezi mainly inhabits shallow waters, it has been recorded to reach depths to at least 98 feet (30 m).



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In the Caribbean Sea, tiger, hammerhead, and Caribbean reef sharks are often seen. In the Mid-Atlantic region, sandbar, sand tiger, and smooth dogfish sharks frequent nearshore waters, especially during the summer.

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Some of the most common and notable sharks in the Caribbean include reef sharks, nurse sharks, bull sharks, tiger sharks, lemon sharks and hammerheads, whale sharks.

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Although Caribbean reef sharks are large and do have the potential to injure people, they're generally not considered dangerous.

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1. West End, Grand Bahama Island. If your idea of a relaxing week spend in the sun doesn't include the words “shark infested,” you might want to consider avoiding the West End on Grand Bahama Island: It's one of the most shark-populated beaches in the world.

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Swim only within the designated area
Many Caribbean beaches have no lifeguards, and the swim areas are marked to prevent people from entering dangerous areas. Dangerous areas could include sharp rocks, sudden undertows, rip currents, or harmful sea creatures.

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Jamaica is not well-known for its shark sightings. However, most sharks spotted in this country are on the south or southeast sides of the island. Because most sharks prefer deeper waters, it may be hard to spot them while swimming or from ashore.

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Basking shark: While they don't get quite as large as whale sharks, the largest basking shark ever reliably measured was 12.27 metres long, or just over 40 feet. Tiger Shark: Tiger sharks have been measured at over 7.4 metres, or 24 feet, though they very rarely get that big.

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Best Places to Swim with Sharks in the Caribbean
  • BAHAMAS. Let's start with one of the most popular dive destinations, the Bahamas. ...
  • ROATAN ISLAND, HONDURAS. This island, with its clear waters, is great for shark sightings. ...
  • TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS. ...
  • REMEMBER, SAFETY FIRST. ...
  • GET YOUR SHARK WEEK FIX.


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Somewhere between very few and zero. Cruise ships move far too fast for sharks to follow them. Yes, a shark may have a burst speed that could match a ship, but not one that it could sustain.

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Shark diving in the Bahamas is a thrilling experience that allows you to get up close and personal with these amazing creatures. While some tours feature safety cages, the Bahamas offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to swim safely in open waters with lots of different shark species.

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In the Caribbean, shark populations have been decimated along a number of fronts. Loss of reef habitat and health has driven shark decline. Destructive longline fishing for commercially valuable fish like tuna or swordfish has had a devastating impact on sharks (and sea turtles, seabirds, marine mammals) as bycatch.

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