Marine life profile
Bull Shark
Recorded at 67 dive sitesWhere divers encounter it
Explore Bull Shark around the world
The bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas), also known as the Zambezi shark (informally zambi) in Africa and Lake Nicaragua shark in Nicaragua, is a species of requiem shark commonly found worldwide in warm, shallow waters along coasts and in rivers. Usually purposeful and energy-efficient, it patrols reef edges or open water and changes course when given space.
Meet the species
What to look for
How to Recognize It
Look for a streamlined shark profile, visible gill slits and the fin shape or markings that distinguish this species.
How It Behaves
Usually purposeful and energy-efficient, it patrols reef edges or open water and changes course when given space.
Special Ability
Highly tuned senses help it read vibration, scent and tiny electrical signals hidden in the water.
Dive responsibly
Share the water well
How to Approach
Stay calm, keep the animal in view and let it choose the distance. Never chase, surround or block its route.
Safety
Maintain calm, controlled behavior and follow the guide's briefing. Never bait, chase, crowd or cut across the animal's route.
Worth knowing
The detail you remember
Interesting Facts
It is known for its aggressive nature, and presence mainly in warm, shallow brackish and freshwater systems including estuaries and (usually) lower reaches of rivers.
Where to Find
Look along reef drop-offs, channels, sandy ledges and blue-water edges where currents concentrate food.
Known countries
Sightings map
Bull Shark locations
Plan a dive
Dive sites with reported encounters
Tiger Port
Maldives
Tiger Port is an amazing location where you're able to see a large number of full-grown sharks including Tiger sharks, Bull sharks, Hammerheads, spinner sharks. Divers must have at least Open Water Diver certification to dive at this exciting and unbelievable location, Dive with experienced dive guides to practice safety protocols. SMBs are a must at this dive site as it is a high boat traffic location and safety should be the highest priority. 10 minutes by boat ride from Male' to the dive site.
Amphitheatre
South Africa
Amphitheatre’s name says it all, divers can just observe the living color. Schools of marine life deliver the most brilliant show. Maximum depth is 27m with the top of amphitheatre at 18m.
Aride Bank
Seychelles
Situated north of Praslin island, approximately 30-35 mins by boat, time may vary depending on the weather conditions. The dive sites consists mostly of submerged granitic rocks. The average depth is between 12-22 metres.
Bat Island: Big Scare, Gran Susto
Costa Rica
Bat Islands are considered one of the best bull shark dive sites (Apr - Nov). But only advanced certified divers are allowed due to the depths. “The Big Scare“ is most famous for the chances of seeing the Bull sharks, although during the dive we can also encounter different types of rays including oceanic mantas.
Bullseye
Fiji
Located on the back of Voivoi island only 5 minutes away you can see the island from the beach at Mantaray Island Resort this is a fringing reef.
Delsan Wreck
Philippines
Delsan is considered a top 50 dive destination on the planet. The reef top starts at 5 meters and gently slopes toward the edges of a wall to 23 meters where a crevasse plunging to 40 meters becomes a refuge from the raging current.
Dream House
Fiji
Dream House is a seamount the size of a football field. The northern edge has a drop of from 40ft to 250ft. Currents flowing over the seamount attracts many species of pelagic and brings in nutrients which soft coral and other specie of coral feed off.
El Cantil
Mexico
5 min from the coast by boat just parallel to Playa del Carmen down town we will find El Cantil the amazing deep wall is great for deep diving training.
El Vencedor (Wreck)
Mexico
The Vencedor is a fun wreck dive in Cabo Pulmo. This ship was a tuna trawler that sunk in the early 1980s after hitting the reef. It’s now become a great artificial reef surrounded by sand, schooling fish, and lots of sharks!
Hammerhead Site
Bahamas
Sandy bottom outside Bimini harbor where Hammerhead shark dive is set up. No features on site itself, site location changes slightly based on tides, visibility, and boat traffic.
la caverne d'Albi baba
New Caledonia
Dive into the blue down to 40m to discover the drop-off to the Poindimié trench, from here a huge chimney opens up allowing you to descend into a majestic cavern opening onto the summit ridge of the trench at 60m, the bottom is still a long way off at over 300m.
La Paz
Mexico
Diving in the warm waters of the Sea of Cortez, just outside of La Paz, Mexico is like swimming in an aquarium. Be ready for spectacular backdrops including swim-throughs, caves, caverns, deep pinnacles, and shallow, colorful reefs.
Madi Miyaru Kanmathi
Maldives
5 min from Hulhumale Jetty, an extensive reef. It’s a steep slope starting at 3-5m down to 25m, and then where it has a sandy bottom at 30m+. the further you got away from the the reef the deeper it gets. This dive site normally doesn’t have current. Please use an SMB when ascending as there is alot of boat traffic.
Mama Viña (Wreck)
Mexico
This is a wreck of a ferry-style sunken ship Mama Viña. The wreck itself is not very big and at a depth of 28m; giving us the perfect bottom time for a complete tour.
Margueritte
Brazil
The vessel Marguerite was responsible for collecting sediment from dredgers in the port of Recife. It sank after two explosions in its boilers and sank 50 meters alongside the buoy at the exit of the port of Recife. Its maximum depth is 15m. and the minimum depth 10m. Of the 10 crew members, only two survived.
Msea Hammer
South Africa
Maximum Depth 40 meters. Average Depth 22. Swim Throughs , Caves, Gullies and Crevices. Regular sightings of Scalloped hammerhead Sharks, Oceanic black tip sharks , large grouper and reef structure decorated with a great variety of colourful Nudibranch.
Passe bateau nord
France
The northern boats pass is much appreciated by all divers! Lots of life in the 10-20 meter zone, ideal for divers, the possibility of seeing sharks placed on the bottom of 40 meters; And for confirmed nitrox divers, possibility of reaching the march at 50 meters!
Passe bateau sud
France
The southern boats pass is certainly one of Mayotte’s most impressive. Very subject to date, you will have good chance of crossing “big stuff” on this site. 25 meters, you will find a cave in which you can stay to watch the paradise in front of you ... Impressive!
Pirapama
Location being verified
The reason for the crash between the Pirapama steam and the Bahia steam is still a mystery. It is estimated that this ship sank in 1889. Today it rests between 19 and 23 meters deep. Many pieces can be identified, which brings a great historical value to this shipwreck.
Sand Patch
Fiji
Just a 5 minute boat ride from the Shore and tucked between a gap in the reef is a small “sandpatch“. The dive site sits at 18M and has ropes set out at the bottom of mooring lines at 12m & 18M for divers to hold onto and watch the sharks feed! The surrounding reef is also home to a good mix of Bio diversity.
Servemar X
Brazil
The tugboat Servemar X was sunk in 2002, along with two other tugs, Lupus and Minuano, which are also located in Recife. This wreck is in navigation position and very well maintained. This dive is made between 20 and 25 meters and may have the presence of current.
From the coast of Playa del Carmen, this site is a 5-minute boat ride. This site offers the beautiful experience of having a safe encounter with the amazing pregnant bull sharks.
SS Yongala Wreck
Australia
SS Yongala Wreck - The boat is now an artificial reef with amazing marine life that are supersized compared to seeing them on the Great Barrier Reef. You cannot penetrate or touch the wreck as it is a grave site but this doesn’t take away from this amazing dive. Can have very strong currents.
10 minutes boat ride from Barefoot Kuata, this reef starts shallow at only 3m and slowly descends to 22m with shark feeding stations at both 12m & 22m. The Only dive site in the world where beginners can dive with bull sharks!