Many divers dream of one day swimming with sharks. Whether it is shallow water snorkeling among Reef Sharks or an exhilarating cage dive with Great Whites, there are very few nature experiences as exhilarating as swimming with these majestic animals. What better way to learn about these amazing creatures, then to go directly to where sharks live. Here is a list of the best places in the world to swim with sharks, so the next time you are planning a vacation you can experience this one of a kind adventure.
Best Place To Swim With Great Whites: Gansbaai, South Africa
South Africa is the Great White Shark capital of the world. Gansbaai is a small town located right along shark alley, which is a massive hunting ground for a whole variety of sharks, but mostly Great White Sharks. Gansbaai is the number one place to go for cage diving with great whites and the only place where you can dive year round. The White Shark Diving Company is an experienced local company, that will take you on a cage dive with great whites. They are open seven days a week and can accommodate up to twenty divers at a time.
Best Place To Swim With Basking Sharks: Oban, Scotland
Basking Sharks are gentle giants and are a wonderful shark to meet in person. These peaceful sharks are found off the Scottish coast between the months of May and September. Since Basking Sharks swim close to the surface, you do not have to be an experienced diver to swim with them. Instead most adventures are offered for snorkelers. A local company Basking Shark Sightings offer a variety of tour packages to take you out to swim with these beauties. What’s wonderful about their company is they are focused on conservation so that they have strict rules about how to interact with these amazing shark without disturbing them. On any tour you can see up to 130 Basking Sharks, so it is a wonderful experience.
Best Place To Swim With Hammerhead Sharks: Cocos Island, Costa Rica
Cocos Island is a small uninhabited island located 300 miles of the coast of Costa Rica. Cocos island is the best place in the world to swim with large schools of Hammerhead Sharks which are attracted to the warm volcanic waters in the summer. Every year schools of hundreds of hammerheads surround the island and offer a once in a lifetime adventure. Dive the World offers diving tours at eight different sites where hammerheads are known to congregate. However diving in Cocos Island is very difficult and only recommended for experience, adventurous divers. So make sure before you book, you have enough diving experience under your belt.
Best Place To Swim With Nurse Sharks: Ambergris Caye, Belize
Ambergris Caye, Belize is right off shark alley where thousands of docile Nurse Sharks and stingrays congregate. With super clear depths of 8 to 30 feet deep, this is a great place to swim with sharks if you are a beginner and nervous about your first interaction. The best way to book a trip to Ambergris Caye is with the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. The Hol Chan Marine Reserve is only ten minutes by boat from the Caye, so it is a wonderful adventure for people who are interested in spending just a few hours with these amazing creatures.
Best Place To Swim With Thresher Sharks: Monad Shoal, Philippines
Thresher Sharks are a truly unique species. They are shy and difficult to spot in the wild. Luckily in Monad Shoal off the coast of Philippines thresher sharks congregate. The dives usually happen very early in the morning, around 4:00 am and are done in very small groups as larger groups scare away these timid sharks. This is a difficult deep dive and is not for inexperienced divers. However if you are an experienced diver, looking for a truly unique adventure and a chance to swim with these incredible sharks Sea Explorers offers guided dives into the Monad Shoal.
Best Place To Swim With Reef Sharks: New Providence Island, Bahamas
Diving with Caribbean Reef Sharks is a freediving experience that is great for beginners. It is one of the most known dives in the world and truly an exhilarating experience because it is as close to a wild shark encounter as you can get. These tours are done by Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas and are lead by experienced shark handlers. This tour includes a professional shark feeding so you can watch these amazing predators in action. Though this tour is great for beginners, watching these predators feed is truly an exciting and heart pounding experience for anyone who goes.
Best Place To Swim With Whale Sharks: Gladden Spit, Belize
Whale Shark dives are incredibly popular. Though they are the largest known shark, Whale Sharks are docile and even friendly filter fish. You can snorkel or dive with these amazing creatures and many times they will interact and play with you. The best time to swim with these sharks is during April and May, when the sharks are attracted to the delicious eggs produced by spawning snappers. Splash Dive Center offers a variety of unique packages from boating excursions to snorkeling to guided dives that will bring you up close and personal with these amazing sharks. Splash Dive Center also works to ensure that your encounter does not disturb these beautiful creatures and has rules against touching and flash photography.
So if you really want a truly unique experience and to learn more about these amazing species of sharks why not take your next vacation right to where sharks live. There are so many different variety of shark encounters for beginners all the way to experts, with a diverse range of unique shark species. So what are you waiting for? Why not book your dream trip?
