Mexico is home to about 85 species of sharks. However, most of them are harmless and do not common into contact with humans. If there have been sightings of sharks in a place close to shore, it is best to avoid going into the water during that time. Sharks explore potential prey by biting them and do not attack humans with the intent to devour them.
List of the Different Types of Sharks in Mexico
| Species | Maximum Size | Aggressiveness |
| Angel Shark | 4-7 feet | Moderately aggressive |
Atlantic Sharpnose Shark |
2-4 feet | Moderately aggressive |
Basking Shark |
23-30 feet | Not aggressive |
Bigeye Thresher Shark |
11-16 feet | Not aggressive |
| Bignose Shark | 8.5-9.5 feet | Highly aggressive (but not dangerous since they are less encountered) |
Blacknose Shark |
3-5 feet | Not aggressive |
| Blacktip Shark | 5-8 feet | Moderately aggressive |
Blue Shark |
6-11 feet | Not aggressive |
Bonnethead Shark |
4-5 feet | Not aggressive |
Bull Shark |
7-12 feet | Highly aggressive |
Caribbean Reef Shark |
8-9 feet | Not aggressive |
| Common Thresher Shark | 12-18 feet | Not aggressive |
Dusky Shark |
9 -12 feet | Not aggressive (until provoked) |
| Finetooth Shark | 5-6 feet | Not aggressive |
| Great Hammerhead Shark | 15-20 feet | Highly aggressive |
Great White Shark |
11-16 feet | Highly aggressive |
Lemon Shark |
9-10 feet | Not aggressive |
Longfin Mako Shark |
12-14 feet | Highly aggressive |
| Narrowfin Smoothhound | 1.6-3.3 feet | Not aggressive |
Nurse Shark |
7-8 feet | Not aggressive |
| Oceanic Whitetip Shark | 10-13 feet | Highly aggressive |
Sandbar Shark |
5.5-8.5 feet | Not 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 |
| Smalltail Shark | 3.5-4.5 feet | Not aggressive |
| Smalleye Hammerhead Shark | 3.9–4.9 feet | Not aggressive |
| Smooth Hammerhead Shark | 8-12 feet | Not aggressive (but are potentially dangerous) |
Spinner Shark |
7 -8 feet | Not aggressive |
Tiger Shark |
10-14 feet | Highly aggressive |
Whale Shark |
18-32 feet | Not aggressive |
Recent Cases of Shark Attacks in Mexico >>
FAQs
1. Have there been shark attacks in Mexico?
Only 40 shark attacks have occurred in the whole of Mexico in the past 450 years.
2. Are there whale sharks in Mexico?
Yes, whale sharks are common in Mexico between October and February.
3. Can you go shark diving in Mexico?
Yes, diving with whale sharks is quite popular in Mexico. Bull shark diving is also an option for the more adventurous.
4. Are there great white sharks in Mexico?
Yes, Guadalupe, a volcanic island about 150 miles off the western coast of Baja California in Mexico, is home to one of the biggest great white shark populations.
