Over the last three decades, Italy has only seen ten shark sightings. Most are deep-sea species, so you will likely avoid running into one while swimming close to the shore. However, some sharks live in the country’s waters, like the basking shark, the porbeagle shark, and the shortfin mako shark.
List of the Different Types of Sharks in Italy
| Species | Maximum Size | Aggressiveness |
Basking Shark |
23-30 feet | Not aggressive |
| Big Eye Thresher Shark | 11-16 feet | Not aggressive |
| Common Thresher Shark | 12-18 feet | Not aggressive |
| Porbeagle Shark | 6-12 feet | Not aggressive |
Sandbar Shark |
5.5-8.5 feet | Not aggressive |
| School Shark | 6-7 feet | Not aggressive |
Shortfin Mako Shark |
6.5-9.5 feet | Highly aggressive |
| Smooth Hammerhead Shark | 8-12 feet | Not aggressive (but are potentially dangerous) |
| Spiny Dogfish | 2.5-3.5 feet | Not aggressive (due to their small size) |
Recent Cases of Shark Attacks in Italy >>
FAQs
1. Have there been shark attacks in Italy?
There have been several reported shark attacks though the authenticity of all these reports has not been verified. The most recent was on 1st Jan 1995 during a non-fatal spearfishing incident.
2. Are there great white sharks in Italy?
While there are great whites in the Mediterranean, this shark species has not been seen near the shores of Italy.
3. Can you go swimming with sharks in Italy?
Yes, the island of Lampione is renowned for its clear waters, where divers swim with sandbar sharks.
4. Are there sharks on the Amalfi coast?
There are no sharks on the Amalfi coast.
