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.
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
1. Do shark attacks occur in Aruba?
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.
2.Are there great white sharks in Aruba?
No, there have not been any great white sightings in Aruba.
3. Can you swim with sharks in Aruba?
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.
