Sharks in Aruba

Aruba is not only popular for its year-round warm climate and clear waters; it also advertises itself as a place where there are no sharks. While sharks in this region tend to avoid shallow parts of the ocean close to the shore, venturing to the depths might lead to encounters with sharks like the whale shark, the nurse shark and several species of reef and hammerhead sharks.

Sharks in Aruba

List of the Different Types of Sharks in Aruba

Species Maximum Size Aggressiveness
Blacktip Reef Shark 3-4 feet Moderately aggressive (if provoked)
Bonnethead Shark 4-5 feet Not aggressive
Bull Shark 7-12 feet Highly aggressive
Caribbean Reef Shark 8-9 feet Not aggressive
Caribbean Sharpnose Shark 3-4 feet Highly aggressive
Great Hammerhead Shark 15-20 feet Highly aggressive
Lemon Shark 9-10 feet Not aggressive
Nurse Shark 7-8 feet Not aggressive
Scalloped Hammerhead Shark 9-12 feet Moderately aggressive
Smooth Hammerhead Shark 8-12 feet Not aggressive (but are potentially dangerous)
Tiger Shark 10-14 feet Highly aggressive
Whale Shark 18-32 feet Not aggressive

FAQs

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Shark attacks are very rare in Aruba as they live in waters where people generally do not tread. The only recorded instance of a shark attack was a Venezuelan man in 2015 whose boat had capsized.

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No, there have not been any great white sightings in Aruba.

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Aruba is usually marketed as a place where people can go swimming without fear of sharks. However, there are certain places like Boca Catalina and Colorado Point, where one can encounter a Caribbean reef shark or a hammerhead while snorkelling or swimming.

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