As you wait on the ledge of a boat for the sharks to approach, play the Jaws theme song. Your pulse quickens as you catch a glimpse of the ominous silhouettes closing in. The water is just a few feet away from hundreds of sharp fangs. Do you think you're insane enough to jump in? Is there a better way of finding out?
You can even help save sharks by swimming with them ethically. Many shark species are in danger of extinction as a result of overfishing and the practice of shark finning. Sharks are more valuable to tourists when they are alive than when they are cooked, and this can encourage the local community to take action to safeguard sharks. So, whether you're a thrill-seeker or a shark fanatic, here are the top sites in the world to go shark swimming.
1) Oahu, Hawaii
Cage Diving with Sharks in Oahu
Feeling daring? Jump in the waters off the coast of Oahu and cage dive with some of Hawaii’s most dangerous sharks. Galapagos sharks, sandbar sharks, tiger sharks, and scalloped hammerhead sharks commonly inhabit the warm waters of Hawaii along with 36 other species (including great whites). From the safety of a metal cage, see some of these predators up close as they circle—sometimes just inches from the bars. Because the cage floats at the surface, there’s no need for scuba gear. With a snorkel and mask, you can pop down for a look whenever you like. As a bonus to swimming with sharks in Oahu, you may also see spinner dolphins, barracuda, flying fish, or humpback whales during your adventure. If you also want to see sea turtles or snorkel with manta rays, check out the best snorkeling in Hawaii.
2) Isla Mujeres, Mexico
Swimming with Whale Sharks
From June to August, snorkel with the largest fish in the world as you swim with whale sharks near Isla Mujeres, Mexico. Feel dwarfed by these gentle giants, which can grow over 40 feet (12 m) long. No need to dive deep for a good view since whale sharks filter feed on plankton and small fish near the surface of the water. You may see them accompanied by remoras hitching a ride or manta rays sharing the plankton buffet. Even better, a portion of the proceeds from of your whale shark swim goes to support the conservation efforts of The Whale Shark Project to protect these magnificent sea creatures.
3) Jamaica
Touch a Shark in Jamaica
Head to Montego Bay, Jamaica to touch, feed, and swim with a friendly shark. During your encounter, an expert facilitator will introduce you to a gentle nurse shark accustomed to interacting with people. Feel the sandpaper-like skin of this nocturnal predator that feeds mostly on shellfish. Take your photo in the water with the nurse shark, a species that can grow up to 10 feet (3 m) long and weigh up to 330 pounds (150 kg). After your shark experience, don a mask and snorkel with stingrays (a relative of sharks). Then, climb out of the water to meet some local species of birds and reptiles on a jungle nature walk.
4) Cancun, Mexico
Mako Shark Cage Diving
Find yourself inches from a feeding shortfin mako—the fastest species of shark in the world. Drop through a trap door and into an underwater metal cage off the coast of Cancun to swim with mako sharks in April or May. On this heart-pounding encounter, air tubes from the boat allow you to dive unimpeded by a tank. Get up-close views of these powerful predators and their striking metallic blue color. Makos can grow to 12 feet (3.7 m) long, weigh over 1000 pounds (454 kg), and attack with bursts of speed up to 60 mph (97 km/h). It’s a good thing your cage is plenty strong, right?
5) Port Lincoln, Australia
Great White Shark Tour
Rock out with great white sharks off the coast of Port Lincoln, Australia. Adventure Bay Charters attracts sharks to the boat in an environmentally sustainable way—by playing music underwater. What’s a great white shark’s favorite music? The Australian rock band AC/DC, of course. On this shark drive, you don’t even have to get wet to see great whites up close. Climb into the Aqua Sub, a submerged glass chamber, that allows you to stay dry just inches from the thrilling predators. If you want to be thunderstruck by nature, don your wet suit and splash into a traditional cage to go swimming with great white sharks.
6) Belize
Snorkel in Shark Ray Alley
A shiver of enthusiastic nurse sharks greets your boat as you arrive in Shark Ray Alley. Accustomed to being fed fish bits, these sharks are not the least bit shy. Don’t worry, nurse sharks are harmless to humans. So, slip into the crystal clear water to swim with sharks in Belize as you explore lively coral reefs on an all-day snorkeling adventure. Keep an eye out for tropical fish and sea turtles in the marine reserve while you safely swim with the sharks.
7) Nassau, Bahamas
Swimming with Sharks Without a Cage
One of the most famous shark diving places in the world, the Bahamas are home to many species including Caribbean reef sharks, lemon sharks, oceanic whitetip sharks, and tiger sharks. If you’re scuba certified, go for an exhilarating cage-free shark diving experience with a professional shark feeder in Nassau. Take a seat on the ocean floor as your shark-feeding guide dressed in chainmail sets up the bait box. Dozens of hungry 5- to 6-foot (1.5- to 1.8-m) long Caribbean reef sharks stir the waters. Then, your guide holds up a fish head on the end of a long pole. With a burst of speed, an agile shark snaps the bait and the frenzy begins. Don’t be surprised if sharks get very close to you—but don’t worry—you’re not on the menu.
8) Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Snorkeling with Sharks and Stingrays
The warm waters of Bora Bora are so clear you can see marine life over 100 feet (30 m) away, making it a perfect place to go snorkeling with sharks and rays. Float above the coral garden, which houses 700 species of fish. As you explore this underwater paradise, your guide takes you to see blacktip reef sharks and lemon sharks. Blacktip reef sharks are considered small at around 5-feet (1.8-m) long. Lemon sharks, however, can grow twice that size and may live for 27 years. After swimming with the sharks, enjoy an up-close encounter with stingrays as you hand feed them for a unique photo opportunity.
9) Cape Town, South Africa
Great White Shark Cage Diving
From Cape Town, head to the infamously shark-infested waters of Gansbaai, South Africa. Look for a tell-tale fin cutting the water as your boat drifts through Shark Alley—one of the best places for great white shark cage diving in the world. Far from mindless killing machines, great white sharks are naturally curious, highly adapted hunters. They can grow an average of 15 feet (4.5 m) with some individuals measuring over 20 feet (6 m) long. Coming face-to-face with a mouth full of 300 serrated teeth certainly makes cage diving with great white sharks a heart-pounding experience.
10) Kuata Island, Fiji
Swim with Sharks in the Shallows
Board a high-speed catamaran for a shark-filled adventure in the remote Yasawas Islands in Fiji. Both blacktip and whitetip reef sharks call the warm waters of this island paradise home. You’ll find these species cruising the shallow reefs, making them easy to see while snorkelling. On a shark snorkel tour, your experienced guides know the resident school of sharks and closely monitor their behaviour to ensure everyone’s safety. Crystal-clear water and vibrant tropical fish make the islands of Fiji an underwater photographer’s dream. So, make sure to pack an underwater camera for your shark swimming experience.
11) An Aquarium Near You
Swim with Sharks in an Aquarium
One of the best places to swim with sharks may be your local aquarium. Many aquariums around the world offer you the chance to dive, snorkel, or even walk with sharks. You don’t even need previous scuba experience to hop into the shark tank at the SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium in Australia or Sea Life Park Hawaii in Oahu. At the Shark Walker Experience in the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, you don a special helmet that allows you to breathe easy and keep your hair dry as sharks swim outside your cage. If you’re nervous about swimming with sharks in the open ocean, check to see if your local aquarium offers shark dives.
