Sharks of Belize
Sharks of Belize – Whale Shark, Reef, Nurse and Bull Sharks
Lemon Shark
Nurse shark
You can be almost certain of a close encounter with a nurse shark in Belize. In fact, you can expect a nurse shark to follow or even gently bump into you. Often, they hope you’ll feed them a lionfish — the only species divers can spearfish in scuba gear in Belize. This invasive species seriously threatens the reef and marine life, and currently divers are their only predator.
Splash encourages divers to sign up for lionfish hunting on one of our trips. However, at Splash we discourage feeding lionfish to sharks because it modifies natural fish behavior. Instead, we bring the lionfish back to shore, clean them, and let our guests take them to their resorts. Above all, lionfish seriously threaten the marine environment — but they are delicious.
Nurse sharks can be distinguished by the two barbels on the upper lip. These docile species shelter in ledges and caves among rocks and corals who feed on conch, lobster, crabs, and fish . Often they can be found lying on a sandy patch in a channel or a sandy patch surrounded by patch reef which are plentiful near Placencia. With our spur and groove reef formations our expert dive guides will take time to look for these on your scuba dives. Since nurse sharks mate multiple times with different partners, the same litter may have multiple fathers”. Juvenile nurse sharks flourish in the abundant mangrove patches on the hundreds of secluded islets and islands off the Belize reefs where the thick root system provides protection from large predatory fish.
Blacktip Shark
Blacktip sharks have been seen making leaps out of the water to attack schools of small fish. They can easily be identified by the black tips on most of their fins are are often sighted off the walls and reefs around Placencia, Belize. Blacktip sharks are a coastal species rather than ocean going. They spend the first few months of their lives in shallow water and then migrate to deeper water, but most adults are found in water depths of less 100 feet/30 meters.
The reef shark, closely related to the blacktip shark, ranks as one of the most commonly seen sharks in the Belize waters and Caribbean Sea. It usually lives in shallow water on or around coral reefs and is at the drop-offs at the reefs’ outer edges. Reef sharks are usually found in water depths of less than 100 feet/30 meters and hunt more actively at night.
Whale Shark Belize — Gladden Spit
Perhaps of one the most impressive shark of Belize to see, snorkel and scuba dive with, is the whale shark who visits during the months of March to June to feed on the spawn of the cubera, mutton and dog snappers at Gladden Spit, Placencia. Measuring up to 40 feet and weighing up to 15 tons, whale sharks are one of the largest fish of the ocean. Although huge in size, whale sharks are docile and curious. These gentle giants are always a real treat to see and swim with at Gladden Spit off the coast of Placencia, and please see our snorkeling and scuba dive section for the best dates to snorkel and swim with whale sharks. It is common to see other varieties of sharks at Gladden Spit during the spawning aggregation feeding on the snapper.
Bull sharks are also often encountered at Gladden Spit as they also come to feed on the spawn.
Diving with the Sharks of Belize
The hammerhead always amazes scuba divers. Occasionally, you’ll see them during a stay in Placencia while diving the south of Belize. Hammerheads frequent the edge of the continental shelf in the Atlantic, and that shelf cuts into southern Belize near Placencia. No matter how many times you see one, the hammerhead shark’s peculiar head shape — known as the cephalofoil — never stops impressing.
Notably, hammerheads have their eyes on the sides of their T-shaped head. Additionally, this shape gives them lift while swimming. As a result, they can twist and turn easily as they chase prey. Hammerheads hunt near the sea floor for fish, octopus, squid, crabs, and lobster. Moreover, sensors on their head detect electric signals, helping them track their favorite prey — stingrays hiding under the sand.
Every time you scuba or snorkel near Placencia, expect the possibility of a shark encounter. Healthy reef systems stretch across Belize’s coast. Additionally, coral gardens, sandy bottoms, and dramatic reef drop-offs create a colossal aquarium. This living seascape teems with sharks, fish, and other marine life.
All our dive guides and trips follow strict guidelines to ensure the safety of marine animals. Furthermore, Belize leads in marine conservation and management. Sharks appear as species of interest and concern in eight of Belize’s 13 marine protected area management plans. For all these reasons, the sharks of Belize continue to thrive in the country’s healthy reefs.
Before your dive, please review our diver snorkeler code of conduct to help us protect this incredible marine ecosystem. Ready to swim with sharks? Explore our dive and snorkel packages to book your trip.
