While sharks are uncommon in the Dominican Republic – the entire beaches of places like Punta Cana have coral reefs where large sharks rarely enter – they are not absent from the country’s waters. However, shark sightings are rare, and attacks are even rarer.
The most commonly seen species is the nurse shark, which can be found around the reefs of the Dominican Republic. Other sharks occasionally observed include the bull shark, the whale shark, and certain species of hammerhead and reef sharks.
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List of the Different Types of Sharks in the Dominican Republic
| Species | Maximum
Size |
Aggressiveness |
| Blacktip Shark | 5-8 feet | Moderately aggressive |
| Blue Shark | 6-11 feet | Not aggressive |
| Bull Shark | 7-12 feet | Highly aggressive |
| Caribbean Reef Shark | 8-9 feet | Not aggressive |
| Great Hammerhead Shark | 15-20 feet | Highly aggressive |
| Lemon Shark | 9-10 feet | Not aggressive |
| Nurse Shark | 7-8 feet | Not aggressive |
| Oceanic Whitetip Shark | 10-13 feet | Highly aggressive |
| Scalloped Hammerhead Shark | 9-12 feet | Moderately aggressive |
| Shortfin Mako Shark | 6.5-9.5 feet | Highly aggressive |
| Silky Shark | 7-10 feet | Highly aggressive |
| Thresher Shark | 10-18 feet | Not aggressive |
| Tiger Shark | 10-14 feet | Highly aggressive |
| Whale Shark | 18-32 feet | Not aggressive |
Recent Cases of Shark Attacks in Dominican Republic >>
FAQs
1. Have there been shark attacks in the Dominican Republic?
Shark attacks rarely take place in the Dominican Republic. The most recent attack was on 12th February 2016 during a wading incident.
2. Are the sharks in the Dominican Republic endangered or going extinct?
As shark sightings are becoming more infrequent in the Dominican Republic, it can be assumed that several of these species are now at risk.
3. Can you go swimming with sharks in the Dominican Republic?
Yes, there are places in Punta Cana where one can go snorkeling with nurse sharks.
4. Are there great whites in the Dominican Republic?
Great white sharks have not been seen in the Dominican Republic.
