Shark
Great White Shark
Carcharodon carcharias
The ocean's largest predatory fish, an infrequent but unmistakable visitor to these waters - noted on only a handful of spots, and always a reason for alertness.
Also known as great white, great-white, white pointer, white shark
- Typical size
- Commonly 3.5-5 m
- Habitat
- Coastal and offshore, often near seal colonies
- Depth
- Surface to ~250 m
The great white needs little introduction: a powerful, warm-blooded predator built for ambushing seals and large fish. On these dive-spot lists it appears rarely and is flagged as a serious safety consideration rather than a routine sighting.
South Africa's coast is classic white-shark habitat, particularly near seal colonies, and the species is protected in South African waters. Encounters while spearfishing are uncommon but demand respect - a speared, struggling fish is exactly the kind of signal that can draw one in, and divers are advised to leave the water if a white is seen.