By Courtney Cooper
Top 4 Shark Hotspots around the World
Sharks can be found all over the world in all oceans. They play a vital role in balancing the ecosystem by eliminating weak and sick marine animals and balancing seal and other fish populations. Sharks are also important to the survival of reefs. In the absence of sharks in the coral reef ecosystem, predatory fish (hypercarnivorous fish) become the new top predator and feed on the herbivores. The reduction in herbivores results in the expansion of macroalgae and coral struggles to keep up. Coral is vital to healthy reefs and as they decrease algae, it would start to dominate the waters, risking the reef’s sustainability. This blog explores some of the most sharkiest waters in the world. We also discuss further shark facts that you might be interested in! Apex Shark Expeditions provides the best great white shark cage diving in Cape Town.
Some of the Sharkiest Waters in the World
Gansbaai, South Africa
Once, the capital of the Great White Shark and the great white shark cage diving industry, the famous Shark Alley which is a stretch of water between the two Islands of Dyer Island and Geyser Rock was home to a large number of Great White Sharks who navigated the channel to and around the Islands that are inhabited by Cape Fur seals. The largest Great White Shark that was caught in South Africa was 5.9m in length. The shark was caught off Danger Point, Ganbaai. Great White numbers have decreased over the last decade and sights have become sporadic due to overfishing and Orca activity. Now you can see the new star of the show, The Bronze Whaler Shark also known as the Copper Shark.
Bondi Beach, Australia
The vibey Bondi Beach is a must-do when travelling to Australia. Golden sandy beaches and blue waters invite surfers and swimmers every day. The Grey Nurse Sharks, also known as Ragged Tooth Sharks call the waters near Bondi Beach home. They are known to be relatively harmless to humans and have lived in the area for thousands of years. Other sharks species that frequent nearby are the Bull Shark and Tiger Shark.
Reunion Island, Indian Ocean
Reunion Island, near Madagascar, is situated in what some call the “shark highway” which is located between the shark-infested waters of Australia and South Africa. The island’s waters provide a wealth of coral reefs and a diverse aquatic ecosystem for sharks such as the Tiger and Bull Shark to enjoy. Due to the large population of sharks, swimming, diving and water sports are forbidden within a perimeter of 300 m around the Island coastlines.
Bolinas, California
Based in Northern California, Bolinas is popular amongst surfers and makes up the “Red Triangle”. The Red Triangle is named after the shape of the area that includes Bodega Bay, Big Sur and the Farallon Islands. These waters are populated by an array of marine animals and are known to be a Great White Shark hot spot.
We’ve explored some of the famous shark-infested waters, from Shark Alley to Shark Highway and the Red Triangle. Sharks are essential to a healthy and balanced ecosystem. Without them, reefs and hundreds of fish are at risk of extinction. We also explore the fascinating world of extinct sharks.
