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Tiger Beach on Grand Bahama has become a shark swimming hotspot as it is a prime location to see tiger sharks. The charter also offers cage diving with great whites. Feel the sandpaper-like skin of this nocturnal predator that feeds mostly on shellfish. Experienced divers who can battle strong currents and intense thermoclines should check out the Bat Islands in the Gulf de Papagayo off the province of Guanacaste, where intimidating bull sharks gather. Motoring around and diving amid the stunning limestone Rock Islands and sapphire waters of Palau, the first country to establish a shark sanctuary, leaves you feeling like you've walked into a screensaver or an old episode of "Survivor." Yes, there are apex predators in this American paradise, too; about 40 different types, to be precise. They feast on large shoals as they swim toward their spawning grounds off the KwaZulu-Natal provinces. If you have moral objections to that practice, do thorough research before booking a trip. Although they can be found elsewhere Monad Shoal is where they are most regularly sighted. We can actually do more harm to the World Wildlife Fund-classified endangered species, so it's important to choose an ethical operator likeV.I.P. Sharks are most plentiful and active in winter (April to September). Anyone exploring Sydney on a superyacht and heading north to Brisbane can easily make a stop at the iconic dive site in New South Wales. Far off the Baja California coast lies a rugged volcanic island that is arguably one of the best places in the world to cage dive with great white sharks thanks to its remote location, excellent visibility, generally calm water conditions, and healthy seal population. Encounters with the sharks usually dont involve scuba diving kit but a full wetsuit is required along with a hood, gloves, mask, fins and snorkel. The site is approximately 80 metres in diameter, with depths ranging from six to more than 30 metres and options for both beginner and expert divers, the latter of which can explore the many overhangs, swim-throughs and caves around the site. At least a hundred species of sharks prowl its waters alongside thousands of types of fish, whales, seals, dolphins, and penguins, and as such, it became the godfather of recreational shark diving, especially when it comes to cage diving with great whites. Galapagos Dive Adventure does and has the added selling point of employing four divemasters/underwater photographers (one for every four passengers), including "Blue Planet II's" whale shark expert Jonathan R. Green. 7 of the Best Dive Destinations in South Africa, Where to Find South Africas Marine Big Five, 8 of the Best Scuba Diving Destinations in Africa, 18 Top Things to Do in South Africas KwaZulu-Natal Province, The Worlds Best Scuba Diving Destinations, 15 Great Natural and Wildlife Adventure Travel Trips, How to Cage Dive with Great White Sharks in South Africa, Here's What It's Like to Work As a Shark Diving Guide in South Africa, The 10 Best Dive Sites in the Egyptian Red Sea, The Top 5 Scuba Diving Sites of Costa Rica, Scuba Diving in Tofo Beach, Mozambique: The Complete Guide, 5 Reasons Travelers Shouldnt Fear Sharks, Where to Snorkel and Dive in the Maldives, The 9 Best Scuba Diving Sites in French Polynesia, The Top 20 Things to Do in San Diego, California. Jones/Shimlock/Secret Sea Visions/Getty Images. Alternatively, head north to an amazing cave dive site, which is home to millions of fish including batfish, parrotfish, anglerfish, dog-toothed tuna, barracuda and lionfish. As they are an integral part of maintaining the delicate balance of the global marine ecosystem, it's important to choose reputable outfitters and tour companies to adventure with. Say "bula" to an assortment of species that call the waters around this nation of archipelagos home. It's nearly impossible to find a crew that doesn't chum to attract the monsters' attention, but not all practitioners are created equal. Touch a Shark in Jamaica. TOPDIVE has operated dive centers in most of these sites since the '90s and offers convenient multi-island passes. Silky sharks are most prevalent from May to July, whereas whale shark season is from July to September. Carrie Bell is a California native who has been covering travel, entertainment, and weddings for more than a decade. Spinner sharks converge on Boca Raton and Delray Beach by the hundreds during winter. Head to Montego Bay, Jamaica to touch, feed, and swim with a friendly shark. They return annually from May to mid-September to hoover up the plankton-plentiful waters off the Riviera Maya coast. If you anchor your superyacht in Moorea it is possible to swim with stingrays and sharks in their natural environment without even using a guide. seven days exploring the Seychelles on a superyacht. Lemons, Caribbean reefs, and blacktips are sighted on almost 100 percent of scuba and snorkel outings, but frequently swimmers get to witness the smooth moves of tiger, bull, oceanic whitetip (most common on deep-water dives), and hammerheads. Bonus, giant manta rays tend to pal around with the spotted colossal creatures. Isla Guadalupe, Mexico. Nurses also winter at 9 Mile Reef. Tiger Beach, Bahamas. Grey reef sharks and small white tips are the most common, but whale and hammerhead sharks can also be spotted drifting over colourful anemones and bush corals in this beautiful spot. The Air-Jaws tour takes off at dawn, when shark breaching is the most common. Sometimes you only have to step off the sand or dock to find pods of nurse sharks. Divers can also hope to spot wobbegong sharks, black rays, giant cuttlefish and black cod within the cave, while moray eels, blue groper and turtles can be seen on the fringes. Far off the Baja California coast lies a rugged volcanic island that is arguably one of the best places in the world to cage dive with great white sharks thanks to its remote location, excellent visibility, generally calm water conditions, and healthy seal population. Drop anchor off Beqa Island and tender to Pacific Harbour to arrange a guided or unguided dive to the Beqa Lagoon with Beqa Adventure Divers. Holbox Experience. Always go on a sunny day with calm water for the best visibility. Between March and July, whale sharks migrate through the east Indian Ocean, specifically the Ningaloo Reef region in Western Australia. The island of Fakarava (which means beautiful), in the Tuamotu Islands, and the ocean surrounding it earned UNESCO biosphere reserve status for its remarkable range of rare, endemic, and protected creatures. Ningaloo is the world's largest fringing reef. And never forget that wild animals can be unpredictable and dangerous, so stay frosty and chose companies with good safety records. March is a good time for hammerhead sharks in Rangiroa. Scientists are still trying to unravel why the 20-footers congregate in this one spot in Costa Rica. Monad Shoal was recently made a marine park in order to try and protect them. Located off the east coast of Australia, the 125 metre long Fish Rock Caveis home to some of the most sought after marine life in the world. Two spots in particular promise both good snorkeling and diving with sharks. Picture courtesy of Ian Scott/Shutterstock.com. Tiger sharks. Thresher sharks normally live in deep water and are nocturnal so can be a difficult spot for divers. The bull sharks share their home with seven other species of shark, including tiger sharks, silvertips and gray reefs, as well as giant groupers and eagle rays. They spend hours feeding themselves on the surface (which is great news for non-scuba divers), paying little attention to the humans bobbing alongside them, trying to keep pace as they swim by. Peak season typically starts in July when feisty males show up and wait for ladies to show up in August and September. The Shark Dive covers a number of different sites and divers can watch a variety of shark species who are accustomedto visitors, making this trip a must for shark fanatics who are looking to discover breathtaking Fiji on a superyacht. A diving experience in Tiger Beach can easily be incorporated into a private cruise or a luxury yacht charter in the North Bahamas. Wolf and Darwin Islands are hot spots for whale sharks, which recent research suggests come to the region to give birth, and hammerheads, so make sure that any liveaboard program you ship out with stops at both. Picture coutesy of Matt9122/Shutterstock.com. These graceful, gentle giants are filter feeders that can't bit or chew. On the edge of the Beqa Lagoon is a section of protected reef known as the Shark Reef Marine Reserve, now home to a bull shark tagging programme that monitors their behaviour and ecology. Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort in Savusavu has nearly daily excursions to Namena and offers certification courses for newbies. Tours also leave from the far more developed but easier to get to Isla Mujeres. As they mean no harm to humans, it's a cool opportunity, especially for people who can't scuba dive or who might be afraid and need to start small. Various spots around French Polynesia host an array of sharks throughout the year. Pick a company like Marine Dynamics that attempts to mitigate its impact on the environment, uses purpose-built cages sans sharp edges, makes it educational, is fair-trade certified, and partakes in research and conservation efforts. The white sandy seabeds and bright sunlit streaming through clear water improve photo quality but be aware that many companies engineer shark encounters here by hiring shark wranglers in chainmail suits, chumming the water, or feeding sharks by hand or on poles. Picture courtesy of Shutterstock.com / Krzysztof Odziomek. With more than 60 dive sites, a national marine park, warm water, and what seems like an unlimited number of colorful species of coral and fish,Curaaohas long been considered a bucket-list destination for serious divers. On Oahu, the best option is to head to the North Shore, where several companies sell cage diving and freediving experiences. Mala Wharf, a hurricane-ravaged wharf on Maui, has created a thriving abode for fish and reef sharks who lurk on the sandy bottom and behind cement slabs. She relies on her extensive knowledge of local territories to find sharks instead of chumming or feeding. By late summer and early fall, there can be thousands. (Be sure to get the night-dive certification!] If you want the opportunity to be involved in helping to protect sharks in the area Miami Fleet is offering a scientific learning expedition on board superyacht Usher.