According to Shark Foundation, Washington has around 30 shark species, most of which aren’t dangerous to humans save the tiger and great white. Shark attacks in Washington are rare, with only two recorded instances and 0 fatalities. The first attack occurred in 1989, and the second in 2017. Both the incident took place in Grays Harbor along the west coast involving a surfer and a great white. However, the population of great whites in WA is minimal, with rare sightings occurring near the Puget Sound area.
List of the Different Types of Sharks in Washington
| Species | Maximum Size | Aggressiveness |
Great White Shark |
11-16 feet | Highly aggressive |
Tiger Shark |
10-14 feet | Highly aggressive |
Salmon Shark |
8-10 feet | Not aggressive |
Dusky Shark |
9 -12 feet | Not aggressive (until provoked) |
| Spiny Dogfish | 2.5-3.5 feet | Not aggressive (due to their small size) |
Leopard Shark |
6-7 feet | Not aggressive |
| Sand Tiger Shark | 7-10 feet | Not aggressive (due to their small mouths) |
| Blacktip Shark | 5-8 feet | Moderately aggressive |
Blue Shark |
6-11 feet | Not aggressive |
Basking Shark |
23-30 feet | Not aggressive |
| Smooth Hammerhead Shark | 8-12 feet | Not aggressive (but potentially dangerous) |
Thresher Shark |
10-18 feet | Not aggressive |
| Pacific Angel Shark | 4-5 feet | Not aggressive |
| Sand Tiger Shark | 7-10 feet | Not aggressive (due to their small mouths) |
| Scalloped Hammerhead | 9-12 feet | Moderately aggressive |
| Smooth Hammerhead Shark | 8-12 feet | Not aggressive (but potentially dangerous) |
Bonnethead Shark |
4-5 feet | Not aggressive |
| Bluntnose Sixgill Shark | 15-20 feet | Moderately aggressive (rarely target humans, reports of just one provoked attack) |
Broadnose Sevengill Shark |
3.5-7.5 feet | Not aggressive (unless caught) |
| Brown Catshark | 1-2 feet | Not aggressive |
| Common Thresher Shark | 12-18 feet | Not aggressive |
| Soupfin Shark | 5-6 feet | Not aggressive |
| Pacific Sleeper Shark | 12-15 feet | Not aggressive |
FAQs
1. Are bull sharks in Lake Washington?
A 10 feet bull shark was last sighted in Lake Washington close to the Lake Forest Park Civic Club. However, there have been no more sightings after that.
2. Can you cage dive with sharks in Washington?
The Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma, Washington, provides a unique eye-to-eye diving experience with the sharks. One could come across several species like the nurse, zebra, and sandbar shark. The cage accommodates a group of around four people at a time. However, the program is closed now and will resume in 2023 when the aquarium reopens.
