When it comes to sharks, you can either love them or hate them. If you are a diver, I can guarantee you are in the first bucket, and have had many amazing encounters in your shark dives! The rest of the world can eventually get there, if the scary shark movies and other bad propaganda stops circulating. In fact, sharks are a key element of the marine ecosystems. As one of the top predators and a big species, they often work as umbrella species: meaning that if they are in good shape, many other species under their umbrella are also in good shape. They control prey populations and give stability to the marine ecosystems. Their disappearance or a significant reduction of their population can have severe effects in their ecosystems. Unfortunately, one in four shark and ray species is facing an increased threat of extinction due primarily to overfishing.

Shark dives

One way shark-lovers (or divers as you prefer to call us) can help the shark population is by adding shark dives to your scuba vacation! Divers usually have a bucket-list of experiences, species or places.

Adding sharks to your bucket list can be beneficial for them. Shark dives add value to the wellbeing of the species and encourage their protection from local communities and governments. There are many operators that adhere to scientific guidance on how to dive with sharks and rays in a responsible and sustainable way. These operators understand the importance of using the proper equipment, the time of day to dive with sharks, and the maximum number of divers that should be under the water at any given time.

Where to go?

If you are in the American Continent, you have amazing choices to start scratching shark species from your bucket list. Many PADI bloggers point out how destinations like Costa Rica, Honduras, Belize, México or Ecuador are worldwide top 10 sites to visit for shark dives. You definitely want to add them to your scuba vacation list!

Central America

Costa Rica offers great options on the Pacific side for shark dives: bull sharks in Bat Islands between May and December are common and conditions are usually good. Coco’s Island is a deluxe destination, considered by many as a top 5 diving site in the world! Definitely a great spot for hammerheads. Visit June through November for better wildlife but December through May for better water conditions. If you are already in this beautiful country don’t miss Caño Island for a few dives with giant manta; if you go July through October you will definitely see humpback whales with their calfs!

Honduras in the other hand offers amazing options on the Caribbean side: Roatán and Utila are dreamed destinations for a good aquarium-like dives. You will be diving the Mesoamerican Reef, the second largest in the world, with all its bright colors and abundant marine life. You can add Belize to this category, not that far from the Bay Islands of Honduras, but with the added value of the Blue Hole, for example. Whalesharks are common in Utila in Honduras and Placencia in Belize.

México has too many good diving spots, and of course for shark dives, but we will highlight the Sea of Cortez! Either a Live on Board or just visiting destinations like Cabo Pulmo or La Paz will give you amazing opportunities for marine life watching. July through October is perfect to find whaleshark, hammerheads and black tip sharks. You can add to the mix several species of whales and rays. If you want to upscale your experience, consider a Live On Board to Guadeloupe Islands to get those white sharks out of your bucket list!

North America

South America

Ecuador probably does not need much introduction, other than saying “Galápagos”. There are just too many diving spots, not only for shark dives but for so many unique species and abundant marine wildlife! Don’t miss it if you have the chance to visit!

Don’t forget to Scuba, Travel and Yoga! Have a happy shark dive and let us know where you have had the best experiences with these fantastic and misunderstood creatures!