Statistics of Shark Attacks on Divers
The data presented above are reflective of the number of sharks that will attack at any given time. The majority of attacks on divers are by solitary sharks (most shark species are solitary).
Last updated: January 29, 2008
The graph above reflects the varying lengths of sharks that attack divers. The greatest percentage of attacks come from sharks that are between 5 and 8 feet in length. This is because the most common sharks in the waters where people dive are in this length range.
Last updated: January 29, 2008
SPECIES OF SHARKS IMPLICATED IN ATTACKS ON DIVERS (N=143)
|
Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Attacks (%) |
Attacks (#) |
|
White |
Carcharodon carcharias |
33.6 |
48 |
|
Tiger |
Galeocerdo cuvier |
15.4 |
22 |
|
Requiem |
Carcharhinus spp. |
5.6 |
8 |
|
Bull |
Carcharhinus leucas |
4.9 |
7 |
|
Sand Tiger |
Carcharias taurus |
3.5 |
5 |
|
Nurse |
Ginglymostoma cirratum |
3.5 |
5 |
|
Grey Reef |
Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos |
4.2 |
6 |
|
Blacktip |
Carcharhinus limbatus |
3.5 |
5 |
|
Oceanic Whitetip |
Carcharhinus longimanus |
2.8 |
4 |
|
Caribbean Reef |
Carcharhinus perezi |
2.8 |
4 |
|
Wobbegong |
Orectolobus spp |
2.1 |
3 |
|
Shortfin Mako |
Isurus oxyrinchus |
2.1 |
3 |
|
Blue |
Prionace glauca |
2.1 |
3 |
|
Lemon |
Negaprion brevirostris |
2.1 |
3 |
|
Silky |
Carcharhinus falciformis |
1.4 |
2 |
|
Blacktip Reef |
Carcharhinus melanopterus |
1.4 |
2 |
|
Sandbar |
Carcharhinus plumbeus |
1.4 |
2 |
|
Broadnose Sevengill |
Notorhynchus cepedianus |
1.4 |
2 |
|
Wobbegong |
Orectolobus maculatus |
0.7 |
1 |
|
Hammerhead |
Sphyrna spp. |
0.7 |
1 |
|
Bronze Whaler |
Carcharhinus brachyurus |
0.7 |
1 |
|
Porbeagle |
Lamna nasus |
0.7 |
1 |
|
Dusky |
Carcharhinus obscurus |
0.7 |
1 |
|
Tope |
Galeorhinus galeus |
0.7 |
1 |
|
Mako |
Isurus spp. |
0.7 |
1 |
|
Whitetip Reef |
Triaenodon obesus |
0.7 |
1 |
|
Leopard |
Triakis semifasciata |
0.7 |
1 |
The above chart indicates the attacking species of sharks that have been identified in shark attacks on divers.
White sharks were identified in the greatest percentage of attacks on divers; the tiger sharks were identified in the
second greatest percentage of attacks on divers. These sharks are easy to identify and therefore are more commonly reported.
Last updated: January 29, 2008
© International Shark Attack File
Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida
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