The 20 best places in the world to dive with sharks
Diving with sharks is a dream come true for many divers. The feeling of coming face to face with these impressive and often mysterious predators is not only exciting but truly special. All over the world there are numerous places where you can dive with different types of sharks, from the majestic great white shark to the elegant hammerhead and the rarer thresher shark.
In this blog we take you to the 20 best diving destinations where you can meet sharks. Among other things, you will read about places where you can dive with tiger sharks, whale sharks, bull sharks, gray reef sharks and many others.
Table of contents
Aliwal Shoal, South Africa
- Tiger Sharks
- Sand tide sharks (raggies)
- Black tip reef sharks
Aliwal Shoal, just south of Durban, is one of the few places in the world where you can dive with tiger sharks without a cage. These impressive predators are frequent here, especially between November and June. You descend into the open water and watch the sharks swim their rounds curiously but calmly. No feeding circus, but a controlled, natural encounter. Sand tiger sharks (raggies) and blacktip reef sharks are also often seen here. This place is a must for adventurous divers who want to experience real shark diving.
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
- Large schools of hammerhead sharks
- Whale sharks
- Silk sharks
- Galapagos sharks
The Galapagos are without a doubt one of the most spectacular shark destinations in the world. Especially around the islands of Darwin and Wolf, you can dive among huge schools of hammerhead sharks, sometimes hundreds at a time. In addition, you have a chance of encounters with whale sharks (especially between June and November), silky sharks, Galapagos sharks and even orcas or mola mola. The conditions are challenging, with strong currents, depth and sometimes limited visibility, but the rewards are unmatched. Only suitable for advanced divers, but definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Keep in mind that this is primarily for advanced divers. This has everything to do with underwater conditions.
Socorro Islands, Mexico
- Hammerheads
- Silk sharks
- Whale sharks
The Socorro Islands, also called the “little Galapagos of Mexico,” are a remote archipelago in the Pacific Ocean where you can come face to face with hammerhead sharks, silky sharks, whale sharks and basking mantas. The mantas here are especially approachable and curious, a magical experience. The season runs from November to June, with the best chance of whale sharks in the spring. The islands are 400 km offshore and can only be reached by liveaboard, making it extra exclusive. Because of the deep dives, open ocean and currents, this is a destination for advanced divers who are ready for pelagic excellence.
Fuvahmulah, Maldives
- Tiger sharks
- Tresher sharks
- Black and white tip reef sharks
Far away from the typical Maldives resorts lies the island of Fuvahmulah, South Asia’s hotspot for tiger sharks. Here you can dive year-round with these impressive predators, without a cage or bait. The sharks there are seen as part of the ecosystem and behave calmly and curiously. Besides tiger sharks, you also have a chance of seeing thresher sharks, hammerheads, black and white tip reef sharks, and even whale sharks. Due to its location in open ocean, conditions are sometimes challenging, but the diversity and proximity of the sharks make this one of the most spectacular shark dives in the world.
Tiger Beach, Bahamas
- Tiger sharks
- Lemon sharks
- Nurse sharks
Tiger Beach, located off the coast of Grand Bahama, is famous worldwide for diving with tiger sharks in crystal clear, shallow water. Here you can come face to face with several tiger sharks at once at a depth of only 5 to 10 meters. Often without a cage, but under strict supervision of experienced guides. Besides tiger sharks, you can also see lemon sharks, Caribbean reef sharks and occasionally large nurse sharks here. Thanks to good visibility and calm conditions, Tiger Beach is relatively accessible, although some shark diving experience is recommended.
Cocos Island, Costa Rica
- Hammerheads
- Galapagos sharks
- Silk sharks
Cocos Island is a legendary diving destination in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, some 550 km from mainland Costa Rica. The island is known for its spectacular encounters with large schools of hammerhead sharks, Galapagos sharks, silky sharks and the occasional tiger shark. Manta rays, mobula rays and hunting tuna are also no exception here. Conditions are challenging: currents, deep dives and limited visibility are common. Cocos is accessible only by liveaboard and thus requires experience, but for the pelagic enthusiast, this is an absolute dream location.
Elphinstone Reef, Egypt
- Oceanic whitetip sharks (longimanos)
- Fox Sharks
Elphinstone Reef, off the coast of Marsa Alam, is one of the most famous dive sites in the Red Sea. Here you have a chance of encounters with the impressive oceanic whitetip shark, especially during the months of October to December. Thresher sharks are also occasionally spotted here, especially early in the morning on the north side of the reef. The steep drop-offs, currents and depth make this reef suitable for divers with some experience. With a little luck, the sharks will hover just below you during the safety stop, a breathtaking end to your dive.
Palau, Micronesia
- Hammerheads
- Grey reef sharks
Palau is a paradise for shark divers, offering an incredible variety of species and diving environments. Especially at well-known sites like Blue Corner and Ulong Channel, you can regularly see gray reef sharks patrolling the currents, often in groups. Hammerhead sharks are also spotted, especially at sunrise or at greater depths. The impressive drop-offs along the reef give you the feeling of floating above an infinite blue wall. Palau is suitable for divers with some experience in currents, especially during drift dives along the steep walls. Besides sharks, it is also a hotspot for manta rays, napoleon fish and beautiful macro life.
Bimini, Bahamas
- Hammerheads
Bimini is one of the best places in the world to get up close and personal with great hammerheads. Between December and March, these impressive sharks come in shallow, clear water close to shore, often several at a time. The dives are usually conducted on sandy bottoms around 10 meters deep, which makes for great visibility and photo opportunities.
Although they are often feeding dives, the encounters are calm and controlled.
Malapascua, Philippines
- Tresher sharks
Malapascua is the unique place in the world where you are almost guaranteed to spot thresher sharks. These elegant sharks come here daily along the deeper steep walls at Monad Shoal, especially in the early morning hours. It is one of the few places where these mysterious sharks can be seen relatively close and at shallow depths. Keep in mind that the dives you do here often have a lot of currents and are relatively deep as well.
Rangiroa and Fakarava, French Polynesia
- Grey reef sharks
In the atoll reefs of Rangiroa and Fakarava in French Polynesia, you dive among impressive numbers of gray reef sharks. Especially during drift dives along the vast channels, you often see large schools of these sharks, making for a magical and intense shark diving moment. The reefs are clear, colorful and relatively protected, making them suitable even for divers with average experience. In addition to gray reef sharks, the area is rich in other marine life, including manta rays and tropical fish.
La Paz, Mexico
- Whale sharks
La Paz Bay is a place where nature is at its best. Between October and April it is bursting with plankton here, and that attracts big visitors: whale sharks. These gentle giants – sometimes up to 12 meters long – come here just off the coast to eat peacefully. You can snorkel among the whale sharks here during these months. In addition, it is also a great location for diving. There are sea lions swimming curiously around you and in an overlapping period with the whale sharks, there is also the spectacular sardine run.
Azores, Portugal
- Blue sharks
The Azores offer a unique opportunity to see blue sharks while diving in the open ocean. Especially at Pico and Faial, in the right season (July-September) you can descend into the deep blue under guidance, where these elegant predators circle around. A spectacular experience for experienced divers looking for something different from reef or wreck diving.
Bahama Banks, Bahamas
- Lemon sharks
- Caribbean reef sharks
The vast Bahama Banks are ideal for diving with lemon sharks and Caribbean reef sharks. In the shallow, warm waters, you can often spot these sharks as they swim peacefully among sandbars and coral reefs. Good visibility and calm conditions make it an accessible site for both beginners and advanced divers.
In addition to sharks, the area is rich in colorful coral and tropical marine life, making every dive here a special experience.
Beqa Lagoon, Fiji
- Bull sharks
- Tiger sharks
- Reef sharks
In Beqa Lagoon you will find a unique combination of sharks: bull sharks, tiger sharks and various reef sharks often swim together around one dive site here. This vibrant lagoon is famous for its feeding campaigns, where sharks are naturally attracted, making for spectacular and safe encounters. The dives are accessible to divers with some experience and offer one of the best chances to see multiple shark species in one dive.
Tofo Beach, Mozambique
- Tiger sharks
- Hammerheads
- Reef sharks
Mozambique is an emerging hotspot for shark diving, particularly around Tofo Beach and the Bazaruto Archipelago. Here you can dive with a variety of species, including tiger sharks, hammerhead sharks, reef sharks and sometimes even whale sharks. The warmer waters and pristine coral reefs make it a unique place for adventurous divers who love biodiversity.
The dives range from shallow reefs to deeper open water spots, often with currents. Mozambique combines impressive shark encounters with an authentic African atmosphere and fewer crowds than other popular destinations.
Tubbataha Reef, Philippines
- White tip reef sharks
- Grey reef sharks
- Whale sharks
Tubbataha Reef is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most pristine coral reefs in the world. It is known for its enormous biodiversity and spectacular sharks, with white tip reef sharks, gray reef sharks, and sometimes even whale sharks swimming around in these remote and protected waters, among others. Because of its remote location, Tubbataha is only accessible via liveaboards, which makes for exclusive diving in clear waters full of life. It is a destination for experienced divers seeking top quality and pristine nature.
Okinawa and Yonaguni, Japan
- Hammerheads
From January to March, the spectacular migration of hammerhead sharks takes place at Okinawa. A unique experience where you can see as many as 200 hammerhead sharks during one dive! Okinawa is also known as the “Hawaii of Japan” and consists of more than 160 islands, each with beautiful coral reefs and a rich underwater world. In addition to hammerhead sharks, you can also encounter black reef sharks, gray reef sharks and other pelagic species here. The combination of impressive sharks, clear waters and beautiful natural surroundings makes Okinawa a must-visit destination for any shark lover.
Raja Ampat, Indonesia
- Wobbegong
- Reef sharks
- Whale sharks
Raja Ampat is known as one of the most biodiverse dive sites in the world and is an absolute top destination for shark spotting. Visibility can vary, but is normally around 25 to 30 meters. Here you can see many different types of sharks, such as white-tip and black-tip reef sharks, whale sharks and even more rare species such as the wobbegong. The wobbegong is also known as the carpet shark, in the photo you can clearly see why. The vast coral reefs and deep drop-offs provide ideal habitats for these impressive predators. Diving in Raja Ampat can be done from liveaboards or day trips and is suitable for divers of varying experience levels. It is a magical place where you can enjoy an incredible diversity of marine life in addition to sharks.
Isla Guadalupe, Mexico
- Great white sharks
Although this dive site is closed, Isla Guadalupe cannot be missing from the list. It is a very famous destination where you can dive with great white sharks in crystal clear water. The dives are in cages, giving you protected close-up views of the impressive white sharks as they circle around the cage. The seasons run from August to November, when visibility is often optimal. If and when Isla Guadalupe will reopen for tourism is not known. The closure would allow wildlife to live “without changes such as noise, boat traffic, human interaction with fauna or the introduction of invasive species.”
Seeing sharks with EWDR
Ready to hit the water? Check out our trips to the above destinations here or request a trip proposal.
