PADI names 12 world-beating shark-dive websites

It’s Shark Week, the annual Discovery Channel TV-streaming extravaganza that divides shark fanatics. There are some (usually divers) who take into account the idea dangerously sensationalist, and plenty of others who really feel that something that engages and educates the general public about sharks is in the end useful.

You recognize that one thing is amiss with the world when 15% of 1,000 YouGov survey respondents had been reported to have claimed not too long ago that they’d “comply with be attacked by a shark for the cool story (In the event that they knew they’d survive with out long-term injury or ill-effects)”.

The titles inform not less than a part of the story: Shark Week started on 23 July with Stomach of the Beast: Feeding Frenzy, with a promised 20 hours of programming offered by Aquaman (Jason Momoa) that features Shark vs Snake: Battle of the Bites, Nice White Battle Membership, Monster Mako: Contemporary Blood and Serial Killer: Purple Sea Feeding Frenzy.

Cocaine Sharks is already drawing loads of preview consideration, in fact: “Shark professional Tom Hird travels to the Florida Keys to analyze what occurs with sharks who are available in to contact with essentially the most infamous drug on the planet.”

PADI tends to take the constructive view of shark media publicity on this lavish scale, with numerous its ambassadors collaborating in Shark Week and hoping to maintain the tone on the precise aspect of constructive. To mark the extravaganza, the diver coaching company has issued its personal suggestions for the world’s finest websites for shark diving, within the hope that extra folks will set off to expertise the fact for themselves.

“There are 440 recognized species of shark all over the world, from wobbegongs to whale sharks and silvers to silkies, so it’s straightforward to see why so many scuba divers turn out to be hooked on seeing them,” says PADI. “That is why many people plan holidays and dives round viewing these magnificent animals.

“If this sounds such as you, make sure you add these wonderful shark diving websites to your must-dive checklist for the most effective shark encounters on this planet.”

Bajo Alcyone – Cocos Island, Costa Rica

Far faraway from the Costa Rican mainland, Cocos Island is constantly ranked one of many high locations on this planet for hammerhead shark diving. Solely accessible by liveaboard, you’ll undoubtedly dive a number of world-class websites throughout a visit to Cocos Island, however the sharkiest dive of all of them is Bajo Alcyone.

This seamount rises to 25m and attracts seasonal education hammerhead sharks. All you must do is dive to the highest of the mount, wedge right into a protected space and take within the motion throughout you.

• Dive Sort: Seamount
• Really useful Stage: Superior because of the depth and present
• Featured Shark: Scalloped hammerhead
• When to Go: June-November for finest marine life, December-Might for finest water circumstances.

Monad Shoal – Malapascua, Philippines

With greater than 7,000 islands, the Philippines has a whole lot of shark dives, showcasing whale sharks, reef sharks and zebra sharks. Nevertheless, shark fanatics will know the Philippines for one dive particularly – Monad Shoal off the tiny island of Malapascua. This website is essentially the most constant on this planet for thresher shark sightings. At 30m, divers watch for the threshers to return for his or her each day cleansing classes.

• Dive Sort: Ridge
• Really useful Stage: Superior
• Featured Shark: Thresher shark
• When to Go: November-June for the most effective thresher shark motion

Gordon Rocks – Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

The Galapagos Islands is certainly one of three locations that make up the legendary “Shark Triangle”, the others being Cocos Island and Malpelo. Very like the opposite locations, the Galapagos are dwelling to varsities of hammerhead sharks and one website, particularly, is named a shark-diving mecca.

Sturdy currents at Gordon Rocks, an eroded crater close to Santa Cruz Island, appeal to dozens of hammerheads right into a confined space. The currents convey plankton, which in flip ends in excessive fish numbers, attracting the hammerheads. Divers can safely get pretty near the sharks, however this dive-site must be tried solely by divers with expertise of diving in currents.

• Dive Sort: Drift
• Really useful Stage: Intermediate to Superior – expertise in present advantageous
• Featured Sharks: Scalloped, nice and clean hammerheads
• When to Go: June-November

Tiger Seaside – Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas

The Bahamas is named the world’s finest shark-diving vacation spot, in accordance with PADI. You may swim with reef sharks, hammerheads and oceanic whitetips across the islands however among the finest websites is Tiger Seaside, the place you’re “practically assured” a protected encounter with tiger sharks.

A number of of those fierce sharks seem day by day to be seen by native divers. Divers wait in teams on the sandy backside because the sharks circle round for a number of minutes. As an added bonus, you may additionally see nurse, lemon and Caribbean reef sharks whereas diving at Tiger Seaside.

• Dive Sort: Sandy backside
• Really useful Stage: Newbie
• Featured Shark: Tiger shark
• When to Go: October-January

Pipín – Jardines de la Reina, Cuba

The Gardens of the Queen (aka Jardines de la Reina) is shortly changing into among the finest shark-diving locations on this planet. Accessible solely by liveaboard, this protected space boasts a number of unbelievable sharky dive-sites, says PADI.

At Pipín, divers can swim alongside as much as 30 silkies and Caribbean reef sharks in only one dive. After years of safety by the Cuban authorities that’s evident beneath water, these sharks are extra inquisitive about than afraid of divers, approaching them at will.

• Dive Sort: Wall
• Really useful Stage: Newbie
• Featured Creatures: Caribbean reef and silky sharks
• When to Go: December-April

Shark Dive – Beqa Lagoon, Fiji

Billed regionally because the “finest shark dive on this planet”, this a part of Beqa Lagoon close to the southern coast of Viti Levu in Fiji has lengthy been the location of shark-diving. On a median day, about 50 sharks present up. Bull sharks are the principle attraction, however you’ll additionally see nurse, lemon, whitetip, blacktip, silvertip, gray and possibly even tiger sharks – the variability is a part of the attraction!

• Dive Sort: Reef
• Really useful Stage: Newbie
• Featured Shark: Bull shark

Gladden Spit Whale Shark Dive – Placencia, Belize

When you’re searching for a extra laid-back shark, strive diving with mighty whale sharks in Belize. Gladden Spit close to Placencia is thought for encounters with these light, filter-feeding giants, who’re drawn to the world by the scrumptious fish-eggs produced by spawning snapper. The most effective probability of seeing a whale shark throughout a dive happens simply earlier than and after full moon, when there are larger plankton ranges within the water.

• Dive Sort: Open-ocean
• Really useful Stage: Intermediate
• Featured Shark: Whale shark
• When to Go: March-June and round a full moon

The Canyons – Rangiroa, French Polynesia

Inside Tiputa Move, the Canyons is certainly one of many nice shark dive-sites in French Polynesia. Throughout an incoming present, divers start within the mouth of the move, discovering shelter in an underwater cavern and ready for gray reef sharks to seem.

The dive continues by way of the move, pausing in a number of canyons alongside the best way for shark remark. Sturdy present attracts upwards of 200 gray reef sharks from June to July and a smaller variety of nice hammerheads in the beginning of the 12 months.

• Dive Sort: Drift
• Really useful Stage: Superior with drift-diving expertise
• Featured Shark: Nice hammerheads and gray reef sharks
• When to Go: January-March for excellent hammerheads; June and July for gray reef sharks

Pyramid Rock – False Bay, South Africa

South Africa could be well-known for its nice white shark diving and sardine migration, nevertheless it’s additionally certainly one of two locations on this planet to dive with the prehistoric-looking cow (aka seven-gill) sharks. The probabilities of encountering this not often seen shark are excessive within the shallow kelp forest. Actually, as much as 18 seven-gills could be seen without delay, due to their behaviour as social feeders.

You’ll want a 7mm wetsuit or drysuit to benefit from the dive, says PADI however, regardless of the cooler waters, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime expertise.

• Dive Sort: Kelp forest
• Really useful Stage: Newbie
• Featured Shark: Cow shark
• When to Go: Might-August

Open Water – San Diego, California, USA

Southern California is among the finest spots on this planet to catch a glimpse of lightning-fast shortfin mako sharks, open-ocean hunters that comply with their prey to the San Diego coast from June to November. They’re usually noticed alongside modern blue sharks, so divers can go diving with no cage with each of those lovely pelagic predators concurrently.

• Dive Sort: Kelp forest
• Really useful Stage: Newbie
• Featured Shark: Shortfin mako & modern blue shark
• When to Go: June-November

Osprey Reef – North Queensland, Australia

This world-renowned reef is globally recognised. Among the best shark-spots on Australia’s Nice Barrier Reef is Osprey Reef, the place you possibly can spot gray reef sharks, silvertips, wobbegongs (aka carpet sharks) and way more. Liveaboards are a good way to benefit from your time on this spectacularly busy reef ecosystem, says the coaching company. Prime season is any time from June to August.

• Dive Sort: Coral reef
• Really useful Stage: Newbie
• Featured Shark: Gray reef sharks, silvertips and wobbegongs
• When to Go: June-August

Lemon Drops – Jupiter, Florida, USA

Jupiter has turn out to be world-famous for the annual migration of lemon sharks through the winter months. The yellow-tinged sharks congregate round wrecks and deeper ledges from Jupiter to Palm Seaside. Yearly from December to late March these lemon sharks, which might develop longer than 4m, comply with the nutrient-rich Gulf Stream. Yr-round shark encounters, together with with bull sharks, makes Jupiter a high choose for thrilling encounters!

• Dive Sort: Wrecks / deep ledges
• Really useful Stage: Newbie
• Featured Shark: Lemon sharks
• When to Go: December to late March

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