Most Common Sharks in Florida
Facts, Fears and Thrills of Florida Sharks
Florida, with its vast coastline and diverse marine ecosystems, is home to a wide variety of shark species. From small and docile to big and aggressive, it’s a good idea to know the most common sharks found in Florida.
Whether you plan to avoid sharks completely, or you’re the adventurous type and want to see them up close and personal… we’ve got the information you’re looking for!
In this guide, we’ll dive in (pun intended!) to some of the most important topics surrounding sharks and interactions with them in Florida, including:
- Florida Shark interactions: info and some stats
- Most Common Sharks in Florida:
– Potentially Aggressive Sharks
– Sharks of Moderate Concern
– Low-risk Sharks - Ideas for best (safe) fun ways to view sharks up close in Florida!
Shark Interactions in Florida
Florida’s waters are teeming with marine life, including a variety of shark species. While shark interactions are relatively common, it’s important to understand the different types of interactions that can occur (“interactions” aren’t normally negative or scary):
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Shark Sightings: These are the most frequent occurrences. Sharks are curious creatures and may approach divers or swimmers out of investigation. Often, you might just glimpse a fin or shadow in the water.
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Shark Encounters: This definition encompasses situations where a shark circles or bumps a person while underwater. These encounters can be startling, but they rarely progress into aggressive behavior.
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Shark Bites: Thankfully, these are uncommon events. Shark bites can be provoked by factors like unusual splashing or mistaken identity (a shark confusing a person for its prey). Unprovoked bites are extremely rare. Statistics show that 2023 only had 16 shark bites in Florida, none were fatal.
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Shark Fatalities: These are the most statistically improbable interactions. Fatalities from shark bites are exceptionally rare in Florida, with statistics showing 2023 had zero fatalities due to a shark interaction.
Knowing these distinctions can help ease anxieties about venturing into Florida’s waters. Remember, sharks play a vital role in maintaining healthy marine ecosystems. And, seeing the actual data can help to understanding these often misunderstood sharks, as well.
The Florida Museum has a great website page dedicated to showing the data surrounding unprovoked shark attacks in Florida since 1882. Broken down by county and shark species, as well as the activity humans were doing when attacked… provides a comprehensive understanding of shark-human interactions along Florida’s coastlines.
Florida Museum – Florida Shark Attacks Data
In the next section, we’ll explore the most common sharks in Florida: aggressive, commonly found around reefs, and the sharks considered to be the “nicer” more docile sharks.
And we’ve got a few ideas coming up if you’re the adventurous type and want to some sharks up close!
Potentially Aggressive Sharks...
Bull Shark (Carcharhinus leucas)
- Appearance: Stout bodies, gray to brownish-gray coloration, and prominent triangular dorsal fins.
- Habitat: Found in both freshwater and saltwater habitats, including rivers, estuaries, and coastal waters.
- Behavior: Known for their aggressive nature and tendency to inhabit shallow waters, making them a potential threat to swimmers.
- Size Range: Adults typically range from 7 to 11 feet in length.
Tiger Shark (Galeocerdo cuvier)
- Appearance: Large, stout bodies with distinct dark stripes along their sides. They also have very distinct teeth.
- Habitat: Prefers coastal waters and coral reefs but can also be found in deeper offshore environments.
- Behavior: Opportunistic feeders known to consume a wide variety of prey, earning them the nickname “garbage cans of the sea.”
- Size Range: Adults can reach lengths of 10 to 14 feet.
Great Hammerhead Shark (Sphyrna mokarran)
- Appearance: Characterized by a distinctive flattened head resembling a hammer, with eyes positioned on the ends. Gray to brownish-gray coloring on the dorsal side and a lighter underside.
- Habitat: Prefers a variety of habitats, including coastal waters, coral reefs, and deep offshore environments. Often spotted near continental shelves and underwater structures. Can be spotted in shallower waters.
- Behavior: Solitary and mostly nocturnal hunters, Great Hammerheads prey on a variety of fish, rays, and occasionally smaller sharks. Known for their curious behavior, they may approach divers but are generally not aggressive towards humans unless provoked or threatened.
- Size Range: Adults typically range from 10 to 20 feet in length, with females generally larger than males.
Mako Shark (Isurus oxyrinchus)
- Appearance: Sleek, spindle-shaped body and metallic blue-gray coloration on the dorsal side with a white underside. Pointed snout and large, powerful caudal fin, ideal for swift movement through the water.
- Habitat: Prefers warmer waters and is commonly found in offshore and deep-sea environments. Highly migratory, Makos roam the open ocean but also venture closer to shore in pursuit of prey such as tuna and mackerel.
- Behavior: The Mako is one of the fastest sharks in the ocean, capable of reaching speeds up to 60 mph. An apex predator, Makos are active hunters, employing bursts of speed to chase down prey.
- Size Range: Adult Makos typically range from 6 to 10 feet in length, with some individuals exceeding lengths of 12 feet. Females tend to be larger than males.
Blacktip Shark (Carcharhinus limbatus)
- Appearance: Slender bodies with distinct black tips on their dorsal and pectoral fins, giving them their name. Typically have a bronze to gray coloring on their dorsal side and a lighter underside.
- Habitat: Often seen near the shore in coastal waters, particularly during the cooler months. They prefer shallow, coastal areas with sandy or reef habitats and are often seen in bays, estuaries and along beaches.
- Behavior: Known for their acrobatic displays, frequently seen leaping out of the water. They primarily feed on small fish and are generally non-aggressive towards humans.
- Size Range: Adults typically range from 4 to 6 feet in length.
Lemon Shark (Negaprion brevirostris)
- Appearance: Yellow-brown to olive-gray coloring with a streamlined body and broad, rounded snout.
- Habitat: Prefers shallow coastal waters, mangrove swamps, and estuaries and nearshore reefs.
- Behavior: Generally docile but can be aggressive when provoked, especially during feeding. They are commonly spotted in coral reefs and mangrove forests but not considered a significant threat to humans.
- Size Range: Adult typically range from 8-10 feet in length.
Sharks of Moderate Concern...
Spinner Shark (Carcharhinus brevipinna)
- Appearance: Slender bodies with long, pointed snouts and distinctive black tips on their pectoral fins.
- Habitat: Often seen in nearshore waters, including bays, estuaries, and along beaches.
- Behavior: Known for their acrobatic spinning leaps out of the water, thought to aid in disorienting prey.
- Size Range: Adults typically range from 6 to 9 feet in length.
Hammerhead Shark (Sphyrnaidae family)
- Appearance: Characterized by their flattened heads with eyes on the outer edges, giving them a hammer-like shape.
- Habitat: Various species of hammerheads inhabit Florida’s coastal waters, with some preferring offshore environments and others found closer to shore.
- Behavior: Often seen in schools, hammerheads are efficient hunters, using their unique head shape to improve sensory perception and locate prey.
- Size Range: Depending on the species, adults can range from 6 to 20 feet in length.
Sandbar Shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus)
- Appearance: Stout bodies with high, triangular dorsal fins and a pronounced notch on their caudal fin. Typically gray to brownish-gray coloring with a lighter underside.
- Habitat: Commonly found in coastal waters, particularly around sandy bottoms and nearshore areas, preferring shallow waters but also can be found in deeper offshore waters.
- Behavior: Typically shy and non-aggressive towards humans but may become defensive if provoked. They typically eat fish, rays and crustaceans and not considered a significant threat to humans.
- Size Range: Adults typically range from 6 to 8 feet in length.
Nurse Shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum)
- Appearance: Stout bodies, brownish-gray in color, with distinctive barbels near their nostrils used to detect prey on the ocean floor.
- Habitat: Primarily found in shallow coastal waters near coral reefs, rocky areas, and sandy bottoms.
- Behavior: Generally docile and nocturnal, resting on the ocean floor during the day and actively foraging at night.
- Size Range: Adults typically range from 7 to 9 feet in length.
Caribbean Reef Shark (Carcharhinus perezi)
- Appearance: Gray to brownish-gray coloring with a streamlined body and rounded snout. They typically have white markings on their fins, and juveniles may have darker markings on their bodies.
- Habitat: Commonly found around coral reefs and rocky outcrops. They prefer shallow coastal waters but can also be seen in deeper offshore environments.
- Behavior: Known social creatures often seen in groups, one of the most common sharks to see snorkeling shallow coral reef habitats, not considered a significant threat to humans.
- Size Range: Adults typically range from 6 to 8 feet in length.
Low-Risk Sharks...
Blacknose Shark (Carcharhinus acronotus)
- Appearance: Gray to bronze coloring with a distinctive black mark on the tip of its snout.
- Habitat: Inhabits coastal waters, including nearshore reefs and sandy bottoms.
- Behavior: Typically shy and non-aggressive, preferring to avoid encounters with humans.
- Size Range: Adults typically range from 3 to 5 feet in length.
Atlantic Sharpnose Shark (Rhizoprionodon terraenovae)
- Appearance: Small, slender bodies with a pointed snout and distinct white spots on their dorsal fins. Typically have a gray to brownish-gray coloring with lighter underside.
- Habitat: Inhabits shallow coastal waters, including bays, estuaries, and nearshore reefs.
- Behavior: Often found in large schools and primarily feeds on small fish and crustaceans. They are generally non-aggressive towards humans and are not considered a significant threat. However, can become defensive if provoked so caution should still be exercised.
- Size Range: Typically range from 2 to 4 feet in length.
Bonnethead Shark (Sphyrna tiburo)
- Appearance: Small to medium-sized shark with a shovel-shaped head resembling a bonnet.
- Habitat: Found in shallow coastal waters, including bays, estuaries, and seagrass beds.
- Behavior: Generally harmless to humans, primarily feeding on crustaceans and small fish.
- Size Range: Adults typically range from 2 to 5 feet in length.
Best Ways to See Sharks in Florida Up Close
Here are the some of the best ways to see the most common sharks in Florida, ranging from underwater cage diving adventures to observing them from the comfort of a boat. Note: most “dive with shark” experiences don’t involve actual “scuba diving”, just use of a mask and snorkel!
- Cage Diving: Observe sharks from inside the safety of a steel cage, a great option for those who aren’t certified divers and want a safer and more relaxed way to see sharks in their natural habitat.
- Open-water Scuba Diving: For certified scuba divers, this is a great way to experience shark viewing in the open ocean where your guides will take you to locations where there’s a known concentration of sharks.
- Shark Boat Tours: Shark viewing boat tours typically go out to locations known to have concentrations of sharks, and will use bait to attract sharks closer to the boat allowing you to see them from a safe distance.
- Attraction “Swim with Sharks”: Though not technically in open water, Discovery Cove in Orlando and Theater of the Sea in the Florida Keys (Islamorada) are two theme park/attractions that offer a controlled “Shark Swim” (see links below).
Ideas for best (safe) fun ways to view sharks up close in Florida!
You don’t need to be scuba certified to dive with sharks. Most shark experiences are done with mask and snorkel where you’ll swim near to the most common sharks in Florida! You’ll need to know how to swim and be comfortable treading water.
If you aren’t a comfortable swimmer but want to get in the water to see sharks up close, check out the “cage diving” experiences.
Here are some Florida shark viewing, swimming, diving, and cage adventure experiences:
Jupiter area:
- Shark Addicts Jupiter: daily boats, snorkel/swim with sharks
- Calypso Dive Charters: cage diving, shark snorkeling, more
- Florida Shark Diving: scuba diving with sharks
Riviera Beach area:
- Shark Tours of Florida: snorkeling, diving
- Palm Beach Shark Diving: snorkeling, diving
Orlando area:
- Discovery Cove: swim/snorkel with sharks in controlled environment
Florida Keys area:
- Keys Shark Diving: viewing-only, snorkeling, cage, more
- Theater of the Sea Swim with Sharks: natural but controlled environment with nurse sharks
Remember, the most common sharks in Florida are more interested in prey such as fish and marine mammals, and they typically avoid humans.
Remember, while shark sightings in Florida are relatively common, serious incidents are very rare.
If you ever find yourself in the water with a shark, the best thing to do is to stay calm and avoid making erratic movements and exit the water.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Are all sharks in Florida dangerous?
A: No, most sharks in Florida are not inherently dangerous to humans. While some species, like the bull shark, may pose a greater risk due to their aggressive nature and habitat preferences, shark attacks are rare.
Q: What should I do if I encounter a shark while swimming?
A: Remain calm and avoid sudden movements. If possible, slowly and calmly exit the water. Do not provoke or antagonize the shark.
Q: Are there measures in place to protect sharks in Florida waters?
A: Yes, Florida has various conservation measures in place to protect shark populations, including regulations on fishing practices and protected areas where shark fishing is prohibited.
Q: Can I go shark diving in Florida?
A: Yes, there are shark diving experiences available in Florida, where certified guides lead controlled encounters with sharks in their natural habitats, providing thrilling yet safe opportunities to observe these magnificent creatures up close.
Exploring Florida’s diverse shark population offers a glimpse into the intricate web of marine life that thrives in its waters. By understanding and respecting these apex predators, we can foster coexistence and appreciation for the vital role sharks play in maintaining healthy ocean ecosystems.
So next time you dip your toes into Florida’s warm waters, remember these most common sharks in Florida and their typical behaviors, and always respect their space.
