Similan Island Marine Life - Sharks

As part of our ongoing series of Similan Island Marine Life, Wicked Diving presents:

The Similan Islands are blessed with many varieties of sharks. All of which are safe for humans. The only dangers come from fish feeding - so observe don't interact! Please see our page regarding safe diving with Sharks for more insight.

Several of the species are found throughout the year, while others are seasonal. The geology of the Similans make them a great spot for observing some of these incredible species. Located far enough off-shore for great visibility, but still getting enough particulates to feed all the reef dwellers, there is plenty of food for the sharks. In addition, the Similan Islands are located quite close to the continental shelf so migrating species pass by or make themselves at home for a few weeks or months.

The most popular of our Sharks, Whale Sharks appear infrequently year-round, but are most frequently seen February through April. These are a real treat to see and are usually the highlight of most people's diving career. If you would like to help, there are even research trips in March to track these gentle giants.

These are easily spotted by both divers and snorkelers.

Leopard Sharks are seen very frequently. On almost any dive where you can reach the sandy bottom you'll find them. Preferring Benthic treats (crabs and sand fish) they often lay, motionless on the sandy bottoms of several dive sites.

A real treat and very uncommon are Guitar Sharks/Shovelnose Rays. These are the same species and often subject of some argument in the dive bars (bars for divers can still be dives!) about which they actually are. Regardless, they are still something special to behold. Somewhere in that zone where rays turn into sharks or sharks into rays they are strange.

We also frequently see Reef sharks - Black-tip, Grey and White-tip reef sharks. Black-tips are seen in the shallows so easily spotted by snorkelers and divers alike. Greys and White-tips are found at depth on deeper sites

Similan island Marine life - Nurse Sharks are also found, deep in the cracks of sites like Deep Six. You often to have look around to realize they are actually here on the Similans.

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