By Courtney Cooper
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Five of the Friendliest Sharks
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It’s true, there are sharks out there that are cute and friendly! Of the over 500 species of sharks, only a handful of them have been known to attack humans and even these attacks are mostly a case of mistaken identity. This blog explores some of the 5 friendliest shark species in the oceans. We also discuss further shark facts that you might be interested in! Apex Predators provides the best great white shark cage diving in Cape Town.
What are the most Friendliest Sharks in the Ocean
1. Whale Shark
This enormous and harmless shark is the biggest fish in the ocean. Their average length is 39 feet; however, they can reach 59 feet and weigh up to 15 tons. When looking at their ginormous physique, you’d imagine that they eat large prey, but these friendly giants are filter feeders and eat plankton and small fish. Whale sharks are not known to show signs of aggression and humans have even been seen riding them!
2. Basking Shark
The Basking Shark is the second largest fish in the world, and like the Whale Shark it is a filter feeder. Their length ranges from 18 to 26 feet long and they can reach up to 4.3 tons.  This shark is unique in that it opens its mouth wide to suck in copepods and zooplankton. Their gills pass an average of 6,000 litres of water per hour. The Basking Shark is a slow and solitary swimmer, and although their jaws open wide enough to fit a human inside, they tend to avoid humans when they see them. Their skin is incredibly rough, so if you do happen to run into one, don’t try and touch it!
3. Nurse Shark
The Nurse Shark is a sluggish bottom feeder and can be found on the ocean floor during the day and mobile at night. They are around 10-13 feet long and weigh up to 120 kilograms. Their prey includes lobsters, crabs, shrimps, and small fish. The Nurse Shark is a favourite amongst diver’s, they can be seen swimming calmy around them without any aggression. That’s not to say that they don’t get aggressive at all, when provoked, they have been documented to bite in self-defence.Â
4. Goblin Shark
Despite their frightening appearance, the Goblin Shark is not dangerous to humans. You can recognise this rare deep-sea shark by their protruding, flat snout and scraggly teeth. They are weighing between 180 to 220 kilograms and measure between 9 and 13 feet long. The Goblin Shark is an ambush predator and feeds on small fishes and crustaceans. Although human interaction is rare, this unique looking shark poses no risk to humans.
5. Angel Shark
You can find the Angel Shark at the bottom of the sandy seabed, camouflaging itself while patiently waiting for its next meal. These sharks are on the smaller side, growing up to only 7 feet long and weighing around 35 kilograms. Due to their size and teeth, a bite from the Angel Shark is not severe. For the most part, they are calm sharks and will only attack when they feel threatened.
So, there we have it, there are indeed perfectly harmless sharks in the world! It’s best not to try and pat them though, after all they are not our pets. Like any wild animal, they will attack if they feel they are under threat. Many of these sharks are endangered and being able to get to a close, yet a safe distance from them, only increases our admiration for them.
If you enjoyed this article, you may also be interested in our other article, where we discuss the lifespan of sharks. Make your new year exciting. Book your Shark cage diving in Gansbaai.
