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Shark Information
The bull shark - Carcharhinus leucas
The bull shark is so named because of its hulking shape and aggressive manner. Bull sharks are grey in colour with a white underbelly. Bull sharks tend to be found in depths of about 30m (98 feet). Male bull sharks can reach up to 2 meters (6.9 feet) in length and weigh up to 90kg (198 pounds). Females are larger and can reach lengths of up to 3.4 meters (11.5 feet) and weigh up to 318kg (700 pounds). Bull sharks are solitary hunters but are often seen in Playa del Carmen's reefs in pairs. Their diet consists of fish, sea turtles, squid, crustaceans, sea urchins, other sharks and rays.
The winter months seem to be a more common time to be able to spot these amazing animals in Playa's reefs as the water temperature lowers to 26 degrees Celsius (78 degrees Fahrenheit).
The tiger shark - Galeocerdo cuvier
The tiger shark is so named because of stripes on its body (these stripes fade as the shark matures). It is blue to green in colour with a white underbelly. They are also solitary hunters and tend to hunt at night. This shark is nomadic, unlike the bull shark that is territorial. Mature tiger sharks can reach between 3.25m and 4.25m (11 - 14 feet) and weigh between 385kg-900kg (850 - 2000 pounds). Their diet consists of fish, seals, birds, smaller sharks, sea turtles and squid.
Tiger sharks are less common than bull sharks in Playa del Carmen's reefs.
The great hammerhead shark - Sphyrna mokarran
The great hammerhead is so named because of the shape of its head. These sharks tend to be dark brown to light grey with a white underbelly. They are solitary hunters and are particularly fond of stingrays. Other diet items include fish, smaller sharks and squid. The great hammerhead can reach lengths of up to 3.5m (11.5 feet) and weigh up to 230kg (500 pounds). Great hammerheads are considered shy and non- aggressive.
Great hammerheads have been spotted on the cliff (el cantil) that drops into the Cozumel channel and in the sandy flats between the 30m reefs and the cliff.
The nurse shark - Ginglymostoma cirratum
Nurse sharks are nocturnal creatures so it is not uncommon to find them "resting" in an alcove on the reef during the day. They are light yellowish tan to dark brown in colour. They are solitary hunters and do so at night. They feed on fish, crustaceans, mollusks, stingrays and fish. Nurse sharks can reach a length of 2.2 to 2.7m (7.5 - 9 feet) and can weigh up to 75 - 105kg (167 - 223 pounds). They are generally considered to be shy animals however will tolerate a close approach from divers.
A gentle reminder: these are wild animals, please respect them. Do NOT try to touch or feed them!
