Shark Species in Hawaii

When you think of a shark, you likely imagine JAWS, a behemoth that appears out of nowhere and eats anything in site. Though that is a great movie, it is a bit of make believe. Yes, there are sharks that bite people, but for the most part, sharks are not interested in us, and are only going about their shark business, swimming in their home, looking for their next meal. The waters of Hawaii are filled with a variety of shark species, from small reef sharks to larger sharks that can be dangerous. The good news is that they are rarely seen and are not likely to pose any threat.

The shark species that you will encounter on a Shark Cage Tour are of the smaller variety, tending to leave people alone while they are on the hunt for their next meal. Some are quite small, and other do posses intimidating size, but these sharks are not really interested in people, and are only gathering in the area because they know that fishing boats are passing through and they might grab a snack that falls overboard.  

The more common species of sharks on a Shark Cage Tour are simply incredible to see, and though the site of them will make your heart skip a beat, you’ll be in awe of their size and beauty while they swim around you.

Common sharks in Hawaii include:

• White Tipped Reef Shark
• Grey Reef Shark
• Black Tip Reef Shark
• Sandbar Shark
• Hammerhead Shark

The sharks that we commonly encounter are considered reef sharks, and away from the reefs and shallower waters, sharks get bigger and tend to be more aggressive.  It is important to remember and understand that we are in their domain, and it is nearly impossible for sharks to determine what they are seeing Sharks have poor eye sight, though their sense of smell is impeccable. Larger sharks live in deeper waters and come in close to shore in search of food. The more common offshore sharks include:

• Oceanic White Tip Shark
• Blue Shark

While encountering sharks is not always a welcome activity, a Shark Cage Tours allows you to get a close up view of them in their habitat, and remain safe in doing so.  This is an incredible experience and the chance to get in the water with sharks should not be missed..

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