The Gambia is the smallest African nation, surrounded by Senegal, except for the west coast. Sharks commonly seen here include the blacktip shark, the milk shark, and the scalloped hammerhead shark.
List of the Different Types of Sharks in the Gambia
Species | Maximum Size | Aggressiveness |
Blacktip Shark | 5-8 feet | Moderately aggressive |
Dusky Shark | 9 -12 feet | Not aggressive (until provoked) |
Lemon Shark | 9-10 feet | Not aggressive |
Milk Shark | 3.6-3.7 feet | Not aggressive |
Night Shark | 5-6 feet | Not aggressive |
Nurse Shark | 7-8 feet | Not aggressive |
Oceanic Whitetip Shark | 10-13 feet | Highly Aggressive |
Portuguese Dogfish | 3-3.3 feet | Not aggressive |
Sand Tiger Shark | 7-10 feet | Not aggressive (due to their small mouths) |
Sandbar Shark | 5.5-8.5 feet | Not aggressive |
Scalloped Hammerhead Shark | 9-12 feet | Moderately aggressive |
Sharpnose Sevengill Shark | 2-4.6 feet | Moderately aggressive |
Shortfin Mako Shark | 6.5-9.5 feet | Highly aggressive |
Silky Shark | 7-10 feet | Highly aggressive |
Whale Shark | 18-32 feet | Not aggressive |
FAQs
1. Can I go diving with sharks in the Gambia?
Diving isn’t quite established in the Gambia yet; however, you might encounter nurse sharks while snorkeling.
2. Have there been shark attacks in the Gambia?
There haven’t been any recorded shark attacks in the Gambia yet.