There are eight known species of sharks in the Cayman Islands. While none of them are ubiquitous in tourist spots, the ones that are closest to shore are the blacktip shark, the lemon shark, the nurse shark, and the Caribbean reef shark. The other species found in deeper waters include the great hammerhead, the oceanic whitetip shark, the silky shark, and the tiger shark.
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List of the Different Types of Sharks in the Cayman Islands
| Species | Maximum Size | Aggressiveness |
| Blacktip Shark | 5-8 feet | Moderately 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 |
| Silky Shark | 7-10 feet | Highly aggressive |
| Tiger Shark | 10-14 feet | Highly aggressive |
FAQs
1. Have there been shark attacks in the Cayman Islands?
There has been only one recorded shark attack in the Cayman Islands. 57-year-old Lea Ann Hughes and her husband had gone diving in the Grand Cayman, where they encountered two Caribbean reef sharks. Suddenly the sharks began to display erratic behavior and attempted to charge them. Thankfully, the sharks left after a brief struggle, and neither of the two suffered any injury.
2. Are the sharks in the Cayman Islands endangered or going extinct?
Sharks in the Cayman Islands are protected as part of the National Conservation Law under a series of Marine Parks.
3. Can you swim with sharks in the Cayman Islands?
Yes, there are options to go swimming and scuba diving with sharks in the Cayman Islands.
4. Do great white sharks live in the Cayman Islands?
There haven’t been any great white sightings in the Cayman Islands.
