Unless you are a deep sea diver, you probably stick to the ocean shallows when it comes to exploration and relaxation. There are plenty of sharks, whales, and fish to be found in waters that are not-too-deep and this provides plenty of information to those who research them and plenty of entertainment to those who swim with them.
Those Who Go Deeper
Though there are many shallow water sharks, there are many sharks and sea creatures who dwell in waters so deep than man has had very little experience with them. They are rarely studied unless one of them happens to get caught by a deep sea vessel and they are rarely even seen unless a deep water camera is lucky enough to snap a quick pic. Most of the creatures who dwell in the ocean depths are quite unique in appearance as the lack of sunlight takes a toll on their bodies. Living in such depths means that these sharks and other creatures have adapted and have become quite able to sustain themselves in the deep darkness.
Threats From Fishermen
Sharks who live below 984 feet (300 meters) in depth are considered to be deep sea sharks. Where once these deep creatures were considered to be safer than their top dwelling cousins, advances in deep water technology have made them a bit more susceptible to overfishing in modern times. It is said that these sharks store a lot of oil in their large livers to help with buoyancy, so this makes them very attractive to fishermen who seek to catch them (if they can) and sell them for the oil. Despite their occasional appearances top side, these sharks are still considered creatures of the deep and are some of the most mysterious (and somewhat frightening) creatures in the ocean.
The Goblin Shark
You might know all about sharks that are scary due to their size or reputation, but this one is scary for other reasons. The Goblin Shark is named well as his appearance is the stuff that nightmares are made of! Body color ranges from pinkish grey to carnation pink, but the skin is actually translucent, so the coloring comes from what we see of the Goblin’s blood vessels. He also sports a protruding snout, fearsomely sharp teeth, and a weight that averages 350 lbs. (159 kg) with a length of 11 feet (3.3 meters). You’ll find this scary shark in waters around 4,000 feet, or 1,219 meters.
The Frilled Shark
When it comes to teeth, the Frilled Shark has enough for everyone; 300 of them arranged in 25 neat rows, perfect for chowing down on dinner. Dinner consists of other deep sea dwellers and Frilly can eat creatures more than half the length of his body, often averaging 6 feet (1.83 meters), due to a mouth that distends. The Frilled Shark is long and eel-like and prefers to stay in waters as deep as 4,200 feet (1,280 meters); you’ll rarely find one any shallower. Their consistently deep living has helped them survive and reproduce for a long time and they are considered to be a living fossil.
The Bluntnose Sixgill Shark
If you know all about sharks, you know that most of them have five gills. As the name suggests, this shark has six gills, which are a throwback to his prehistoric ancestors. Though this is a deep water shark who can live in waters up to 6,500 feet (2,000 meters) deep, the Bluntnose Sixgill Shark prefers to hang out in the shallows of 300 feet (94 meters). Believe it or not, some have even been spotted as shallow as 3 feet (.91 meters), but this is typically in the nighttime hours during warmer months. This shark can be found all over the world and his enormous size of 1,300 lbs. (590 kg) with a length of 16 feet (4.8 meters) makes him an intimidating force in any depth of water.
The Greenland Shark
If you are a shark lover, you know by now that the Greenland Shark is one of the largest sharks in the world, topping out at 24 feet in length (7.32 meters) and tipping the scales at 2,000 lbs. (907 kg)! Though large, the Greenland Shark is very timid and non-aggressive. Fortunately, fishermen do not hunt this species, so their population continues on. These are sharks who love the coldest waters they can find, so you will not see them near the surface unless the temperature stays at or around 33 degrees Fahrenheit (.55 Celsius). These large sharks can be found as deep at 7,000 feet, or 2,133 meters, which gives them the deep dwelling record.
The Cookiecutter Shark
The Cookiecutter Shark is on the small side when it comes to size; 19 inches (48.2 cm). But her bite is way bigger than her body eludes to. This shark has no problem taking big bites out of sea dwellers twice her size and she loves to hunt. The bites left behind are very distinctive and often resemble round, cookie-like bites. The Cookiecutter Shark can be found in deep waters all over the world, but often hangs out near Islands to catch a plethora pf prey, from crustaceans to small fish. This shark lives in the vicinity of 3,000 feet (914 meters), but rises to 1,000 feet (304 meters) at nighttime to feed.
There They Stay
Now you know all about sharks who live in the depths of the ocean, though there are other sharks who might dive down deep on occasion; there was a report of a Great White Shark diving down to 3,937 feet (1,199 meters) to capture prey, but he didn’t linger long. These are the sharks who live and breathe (so-to-speak) in deep waters. They’ve adapted to the cold and dark and they’ll continue to do so as long as man continues to live and let live.