Which Types of Sharks Can be Found in the Caribbean Sea?

Perhaps one of the most fascinating, and feared, members of the animal kingdom, sharks are known for lurking in sea waters absolutely everywhere in the world including the Caribbean. While some species of shark are dangerous to humans others are not; however, any type of shark can probably give you the creeps, particularly if you find it hanging out where you’re intending to go for a swim.

Since sharks are found in every sea… and the Caribbean is a sea… yes, there are indeed sharks in the Caribbean. The question is what types of sharks you might encounter. The three most common sharks that inhabit the Caribbean waters are the:

• Caribbean Reef Shark
• Lemon Shark
• Great White Shark

Caribbean Reef Shark

The Caribbean Reef Shark, if the name doesn’t clue you in, is perhaps the most common species of shark to be found in the Caribbean Sea. With an average size of up to 10 feet in length, these are not the largest shark species, but not the smallest either.

While they’re typically indifferent to humans, the influx of human activity in their natural habitat over recent generations has caused these sharks to become somewhat territorial, particularly if they smell food on the premises, and hence they should be considered dangerous by swimmers, snorkelers, and divers.

The Caribbean sea is a popular vacation destination – and for good reason. Warm, tropical, and beautiful, loaded with coral reefs and tropical waves, the Caribbean is a sea belonging to the Atlantic Ocean, and is bounded by both Mexico and Central America.

Lemon Shark

As with the Caribbean Reef Shark, Lemon Sharks are typically indifferent to humans but will often become aggressive if provoked or if feeling threatened.

The uniquely-named Lemon Shark is another Caribbean dweller, with an average size similar to that of the Caribbean Reef Shark at 10 feet long. Typically found in moderate sea depths, the Lemon Shark is one of the best known to humans, simply because they tend to thrive in captivity, so they are easy to study.

Great White Shark

The Great White is carnivorous. To be fair to the shark, however, many attacks on humans done by Great Whites are simply a case of mistaken identity: Great Whites have a habit of biting thing in order to identify them, and in an encounter with a human, this can prove to be quite the disaster.

Finally, to the surprise and consternation of most visitors, the Great White shark is located in parts of the Caribbean Sea. The Great White can reach sizes up to 20 feet in length, and is considered a dangerous species; it is a natural-born predator, both due to its size and its eating habits.

Visit the Caribbean

Be careful, be cautious, and be informed, but be reasonable. As long as you take safety precautions, there’s no reason you can’t enjoy your time in the Caribbean Sea just as much as the sharks do that live there.