Caribbean reef sharks are the entry level species when it comes to the Big Five. In 2011, the archipelago established itself as one of only four ‘shark sanctuaries’ in the world, which means that all sharks in The Bahamas are now protected by law. Their image is characterised by a large, blunt nose and a thick, girthy body. Nurse sharks, the bottom-dwelling sharks that live in warm, shallow waters of the Bahamas are a friendly bunch. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Nassau & Paradise Island Land Shark Divers With 29 dive destinations, and 1000+ regularly dived sites, unspoiled reefs, a plethora of wrecks, guaranteed shark encounters, the chance to swim with wild dolphins, spectacular walls and blue holes, and fantastic caves, The Bahamas is THE place to head for if you are looking for really exciting diving. The attack is thought to be the first shark-related fatality in the Bahamas for over 10 years. Tiger sharks are the apex predators in The Bahamas and are famous for their tendency to eat – or try to eat – almost anything that comes across their path. The sharks are one of the top Exuma … During daytime hours, lemon sharks are usually found “resting” on the sea floor, allowing small fish to clean parasites off from their body. They are considered a medium sized shark species and generally grow to around 3 metres (10ft) and an average of 160 kilograms (350lbs). An American woman has died of injuries sustained in a shark attack in the Bahamas, the State Department said Thursday. As with most larger shark species, they reproduce via internal fertilization and give birth to fully developed, live young. From December to April, the warm waters of Bimini draw these big-headed, oddly shaped predators all the way from the cold waters of California to their winter home in the Bimini islands. For all the adrenaline lovers, your Nassau Bahamas shore excursions will surely be topped off by the Compass Cay sharks, where wild nature and the sea find pure beauty and the sharks steal the show. var abkw = window.abkw || ''; Filed under bahamas , deaths , shark attack , sharks , 8/8/19 Share this article: Explore a variety of marine life in their habitats. The best time of year to dive with tiger sharks at Tiger Beach is October through January. They feed through suction and swallow their prey whole. The close encounter with these predators makes for amazing underwater photography. A complete list of the shark attacks that have occurred in Bahamas. Just as the Bahamas swimming pigs aren’t the only attraction in the Exuma Cays, the Bahamas swim with sharks isn’t the only thing to see and do at Compass Cay. They have also been found with many human-waste items in their stomachs, including metal, plastic objects and burlap sacks. Typically, when a bull shark does bite a human, it only takes a single exploratory bite and quickly realizes that the person is not it’s preferred prey and then swims away. The Bahamas are densely populated by sharks and have several shark diving locations where feeding the beasts is common practice. Lemon shark’s are viviparous, which means they give birth to live young rather than lay eggs. They tend to favour shallow waters within naturally protected areas like river mouths, bays, reefs and mangroves. Although they thrive in waters around The Bahamas, years of overfishing has had a devastating impact on their global population numbers, and they are currently classified as ‘nearly threatened’ on the IUCN Red list. Cat Island has the largest aggregation of oceanic whitetip sharks in the world. Anyone who has the chance to interact with the Big Five on a shark safari in The Bahamas is in for a stunning and exhilarating underwater experience. Perhaps the most feared of all sharks, the bull shark is a predatory species found in coastal waters that also boasts an incredible ability to move into and live within bodies of freshwater, including rivers and lakes. They are very easy to identity thanks to their yellowish-brown colour, characteristically round heads and barbels – which they use to search for prey – similar to that of a catfish. Lemon sharks are extremely common in the Bahamas, especially at Tiger Beach and across Bimini. They play a primary role in shark feeding frenzies, which are caused when mixed groups of predatory species come together to feed, and are known to have attacked survivors of plane and shipwrecks, floating out at sea. For encounters with these majestic underwater creatures, you’ll need to visit specific islands: Bimini for hammerheads, Cat Island for oceanic whitetips, West End Grand Bahama for tiger sharks, Nassau for Caribbean reef sharks, and Nassau or Andros for silky sharks. Silky sharks are known for their fast reactions and aggressive behaviour and can sometimes be observed displaying threatening body language – by raising their head, arching their back, and lowering their tail. Most visitors will visit on a Bahamas Day Trip from Staniel Cay Exuma. Swim in an area with Caribbean Reef Sharks and watch as they are being fed by the professional guides. At present the bull shark species is not actively fished and their greatest threats are accidental capture, particularly in freshwater rivers, as well as targeted shark culling, which aims to create safer environments for beachgoers in tropical areas. Due to its size, the lemon shark is targeted by commercial and recreational fisheries for their fins, meat and leather and is listed as ‘Near Threatened’ on the IUCN Red List. Over the years, this protection has allowed marine life to thrive and has caused a dramatic impact on the overall number of sharks in the Bahamas. They have also on occasion been seen feeding on seabirds and smaller sharks. Unfortunately, Oceanic whitetip fins are among the most sought after for shark fin soup and they are highly targeted by commercial fishing operations. The endangered great hammerhead shark is the largest of all hammerhead species. Compass Cay is a small island in the Exuma Cays, a short flight away from Nassau Bahamas. Pompano Beach, FL 33060 Copyright © 2015 The Voux, All rights Reserved. Evaluating muscle tissues of 36 individual sharks from six species, the results from this study provide the first account of metal concentrations in sharks sampled in The Bahamas, a relatively pristine marine ecosystem where sharks live risk-free in a large marine protected area. Contact us: info@southernboating.com. Hurricane Dorian – Bahamas floodwaters invaded by SHARKS as dad is forced to throw son, 5, on roof to escape predator circling in streets. On the first dive, you’ll participate in a free swim with the sharks, while on the second dive, watch as a professional shark feeder enters the water with a box of bait. The shark species that divers can encounter here include bull sharks, Caribbean reef sharks, oceanic whitetip, hammerhead sharks, lemon sharks, and of course, tiger sharks. AdButler.ads.push({handler: function(opt){ AdButler.register(169285, 318127, [300,250], 'placement_318127_'+opt.place, opt); }, opt: { place: plc318127++, keywords: abkw, domain: 'servedbyadbutler.com', click:'CLICK_MACRO_PLACEHOLDER' }}); A Day on the Water All aboard the The Bertram…, Bass Pro, Cabela, Tracker Boats Super Bowl Ad Southern Boating…, Mercury Marine Debuts V12 600hp Outboard At an event at…, MAKING THE GRADE Marine electronics haven’t made big strides lately,…, All Aboard the Luxury Express Is the Tiara 43 LE…, 1591 E. Atlantic Blvd, 2nd Floor Here are four of the top shark encounters in the Bahamas. All sharks have a cartilaginous skeleton, made of a lighter and more flexible material than bone. In June, hundreds of these sharks gather not more than 9-10 miles offshore for a breeding ritual that looks like a choreographed dance in an underwater rotunda. Plan your visit to Hibiscus Lagoon during your stay at Atlantis Paradise Island. The lemon shark’s retina is equipped with a specialised “visual streak,” which allows them to see fine details and colour. You can find them on shallow coral reefs, around underwater wrecks and during shark feedings with shark wranglers. The Nurse Shark is one of the most commonly found shark species on coral and rocky reefs throughout the eastern Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, Bass Pro debuts first-ever Super Bowl commercial, The Ultimate Package – Tiara 43 LE Boat Review. This deepwater species has also suffered major population declines internationally due to long-line fishing. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Created by Fuelthemes. Great hammerhead sharks are large, apex predators, found in coastal waters around the world. Although carnivorous and bearing rows of thousands of impressive, serrated teeth, the nurse sharks are – for the most part – harmless to swimmers and snorkelers. Unlike stationary shark dives that take place on the sand bottom, divers drift in some of the deepest waters in the ocean on this shark encounter. The sharks are known to be quite shy and generally don’t bother divers, however do occasionally come in for a closer look, especially around feeding activity. With no natural predators, great hammerheads are only threatened by human overfishing. Oceanic whitetips are constantly on the move as they cannot pump water through their gills in the way that nurse sharks can, and so they need to be endlessly moving forward with their mouths slightly open, allowing water flow and oxygen intake from the water. Their diet primarily consists of bony fish, birds and marine mammals however they are known to eat almost anything they can get their jaws around. This, along with a stocky build, flattened head and short snout, makes the lemon shark a highly skilful predator, preying on bony fish, crustaceans and stingrays. Re: Sharks in Nassau. The Caribbean reef shark is found in the tropical waters of the western Atlantic and Caribbean, from Florida and the Bahamas down to to Brazil. They are a slender-built and medium-sized species, reaching a maximum of up to 346 kilograms (750lbs) and 3.5 metres (11ft) in length. Through satellite tagging, scientists have determined consistent migration patterns among the tiger shark population in The Bahamas. You may have heard that The Bahamas is the shark capital of the world, and if you thought that this was just some marketing slogan, then think again! Jordan Lindsey , 21, died as a result of a shark attack off the coast of Nassau June 26. The oceanic whitetip shark’s diet is made up of a variety of pelagic bony fish like – skipjack tuna, common dolphinfish – and squid. NASSAU, BAHAMAS – A prominent scientist and veteran meteorologist, who believe a certain weather condition may be linked to increased prevalence of sharks and shark attacks near shorelines, have been researching waters around The Bahamas to test their theory and recently expressed confidence that in the future their research could shed light on when sharks … A most interesting article, encountered while checking current shark protection / legislation in Bahamas. They are also one of the most commonly used species for cleaned and dried shark jaws which are sold to tourists visiting tropical countries. This is the third shark attack reported in the Bahamas this year. As underwater shark photographer Andy Murch says, “They’re big; they are not shy.” Lemon sharks, which are a bonus to the Big Five, make regular showings at Tiger Beach. They primarily feed on fish and large marine invertebrates like rays and large crabs, using its highly tuned senses and sensitivity to electric vibration. Despite being the world’s most abundant shark species, the silky shark has a current global status of Vulnerable on the IUCN Redlist. If you actually do see a shark, it will likely be a nurse shark (very docile, pretty much just hang out on the bottom of the ocean), or black tip reef sharks (primarily scavengers, not aggressive predators). If you conquer these experiences, you’ll most likely encounter the honorary members—lemon and bull sharks. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Sometimes even including dolphins, sea turtles and other sharks. On average the species reaches a length of 4 metres (13.1 feet) with the largest great hammerhead ever recorded exceeding 6.1 metres (20 feet). One month after Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources Michael Pintard suggested that it is up for debate whether to continue the full protection of sharks in The Bahamas, or allow for commercial harvesting on a temporary basis, The Bahamas is being praised in international circles for having the healthiest shark population in the region, which … document.write('<'+'div id="placement_318127_'+plc318127+'">'); However they tend to be slightly smaller on average with females ranging between 2.1 to 2.3 metres (7.5ft) in length, and males 1.8 to 2.1 metres (6-7ft). 27 miles off offshore, in 30 feet of water, there is a sandy bottom floor known as Tiger Beach. The name ‘tiger shark’ is derived from the dark, vertical stripes found on the sides of juvenile individuals. This behaviour along with their propensity for favouring shallow waters, brings them into contact with humans more than any other shark species, and they’re therefore responsible for fatally biting more people than any others. "Our full day boat excursion included stops to see star fish, a sunken piano, iguanas, swimming pigs, plane wrecks, sea turtles, amazing sand bars, thunderball grotto, nurse sharks… Nurse sharks are considered a medium species which can grow to around 3 metres (10ft). Glad to have seen this. Their bodies are thick and stocky with long pectoral fins that usually have dark tips, particularly on younger individuals. Embryos develop inside the mother over a period of up to 12 months. They are generally found in tropical, coastal and warm oceanic waters. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The bait crate is suspended in about 30 feet of water. Shark diving is popular in the Bahamas. It is said that they are responsible for the second-most attacks on humans, after Great White Sharks. The Cat Island dive is a three-dimensional experience. Go diving with reef sharks. The Bahamas shark sanctuary was created in July of 2011 by adding an amendment to the Fisheries Resources (Jurisdiction and Conservation) Act (Chapter 244). The best place to spot silky sharks in The Bahamas is the Lost Blue Hole in Nassau but they can also be seen around Andros Island all-year-round. Whilst in the most part harmless to humans, these gracious marine animals have been acclimatised to visitors for many years and are known as pet sharks by the Marina’s owners. If you are looking for nose-to-nose interaction with a reef or nurse shark, then look no further. One of the highlights for divers at Stuart Cove’s is the Extreme Shark Adventure—a two-tank dive trip that takes you on an underwater encounter with Caribbean Reef Sharks. 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