Are There Great White Sharks In The Bahamas?

great white shark

Sharks are always an interest to scuba divers and in fact to just about everyone. The Caribbean is a place where you have a good chance to encounter a wide range of species of shark. So, are there great white sharks in the Bahamas?

No, there are no great white sharks in the Bahamas. Great white sharks prefer waters that have a cooler temperature of around 11°C to 23°C. Where Caribbean waters have a temperature of 27°C. There have been a few sightings of great white in the Bahamas but it is believed they are going or leaving the Gulf of Mexico.

In today’s post, we will go through in more detail there great white sharks in the Bahamas, so let’s get started!

Read more on common questions asked by divers

Are There Great White Sharks In The Bahamas?

No, there are no great white sharks in the Bahamas. There have been a few sightings of great white in the Bahamas but it is believed they are going or leaving the Gulf of Mexico.

Great whites prefer waters that have a cooler temperature of around 12°C to 23°C. Where Caribbean waters have an average temperature of 27°C.

sharks in the water

Do Great White Sharks Come Close To Shore?

They can. Sharks generally go where their food source goes. So, simply all species of sharks may come close to shore to feed. But you should avoid swimming if there has been a very recent sighting, especially if the sighting was a great white shark. In case a shark attacks out of mistaken identity.

Can You Free Swim With Great White Sharks?

No, you should not swim with great white sharks. They account for most fatal attacks on humans and great whites are inherently dangerous. Not to mention their powerful size and teeth.

Are There Sharks In The Bahama Waters?

There are many sharks in the area that call it home. These are as follows.

  • Hammerhead Sharks.
  • Tiger Sharks.
  • Bull Sharks.
  • Lemon Sharks.
  • Reef Sharks.
  • White Tip Sharks.
  • Nurse Sharks.
  • And there is more.
sharks swimming

Is Shark Diving In Bahamas Safe?

Shark diving in the Bahamas is safe but you need to use reputable shark dive operators. This is because they will follow all the safety procedures when coming into close contact with sharks.

What Do You Do If You See A Shark Diving?

You should for starters keep your distance from the shark. And then calmly leave the water especially if it is one of the more dangerous sharks like a great white.

Certainly do not try and take a selfie, harass, or provoke a shark. There are dangerous predators.

sharks in water

Tips To Avoid A Shark Attack​​

There are a number of tips to avoid a shark attack other than not going into the sea. These are as follows.

  • If you see a shark, stay calm and then calmly paddle away avoiding any jerky, splashing motions and leave the water. And warn others.
  • Do not bleed in the water as this will attract the sharks to you. If you have a cut get out.
  • Do not enter the water in places where sharks are known to be.
  • You should wear dark colors when scuba diving, surfing, or swimming as the bright colors may attract sharks.
  • You should avoid swimming at night since you will not see the shark but it will see you.
  • Avoid bringing any shiny accessories as they might be mistaken as shiny fish scales.

Wrapping Up

Finally, there are no great white sharks in the Bahamas. There have been a few sightings of great white sharks in the Bahamas but it is believed they are going or leaving the Gulf of Mexico.

Great white sharks prefer waters that have a cooler temperature of around 12°C to 23°C. Where Caribbean waters have a temperature of 27°C.

And that’s it for now! I’d love to know if this guide on are there great white sharks in the Bahamas has helped you. Let me know if you have any questions and let me know if there is more to add.

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Are There Great White Sharks In The Bahamas

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