Guam is home to several species of sharks – or as they are referred to in the local CHamoru dialect – halu’u. Common species include the blacktip shark, the whitetip reef shark, and the tawny nurse shark.
List of the Different Types of Sharks in Guam
| Species | Maximum Size | Aggressiveness |
| Blacktip Shark | 5-8 feet | Moderately aggressive |
| Blacktip Reef Shark | 3-4 feet | Moderately aggressive (if provoked) |
| Blue Shark | 6-11 feet | Not aggressive |
| Bluntnose Sixgill Shark | 15-18 feet | Not aggressive (unless provoked) |
| Bull Shark | 7-12 feet | Highly aggressive |
| Galapagos Shark | 9.8-12 feet | Highly aggressive |
| Gray Reef Shark | 4-5 feet | Highly aggressive |
| Leopard Shark | 6-7 feet | Not aggressive |
| Oceanic Whitetip Shark | 5-8 feet | Highly aggressive |
| Pelagic Thresher Shark | 13-18 feet | Not aggressive |
| Scalloped Hammerhead Shark | 9-12 feet | Moderately aggressive |
| Shortfin Mako Shark | 6.5-9.5 feet | Highly aggressive |
| Shortspine Spurdog | 1.5-3.5 feet | Moderately aggressive |
| Silky Shark | 7-10 feet | Highly aggressive |
| Silvertip Shark | 6.6-9.8 feet | Moderately aggressive |
| Smooth Lantern Shark | 1-1.5 feet | Not aggressive |
| Tawny Nurse Shark | 9.6-10 feet | Not aggressive |
| Tiger Shark | 10-14 feet | Highly aggressive |
| Whale Shark | 18-32 feet | Not aggressive |
| Whitetip Reef Shark | 3-5.5 feet | Moderately aggressive (only when provoked) |
Recent Cases of Shark Attacks in Guam >>
FAQs
1. Have there been shark attacks in Guam?
While there have been several non-fatal incidents involving sharks in Guam, the most recent attack was fatal. On 13th April 2013, 40-year-old Korean tourist Nae Deok Kim died from drowning, but an autopsy revealed that a shark had attacked him before it happened.
2. Are there great white sharks in Guam?
While great whites have not been reported in Guam yet, their migratory patterns also encompass the island nation, and the shark could appear in Guamanian waters.
3. Are there sharks in Shark Cove, Guam?
Sharks are not commonly seen in Shark Cove or its surrounding beaches.
