Grey Reef Sharks

Grey Reef Sharks are the most common type of Reef Sharks in the Indo-Pacific waters. They have been known to travel as far east as Easter Island and as far west as South Africa. They are most often seen in shallow areas. Grey Reef Sharks are extremely fast and efficient swimmers.
As most other species of Reef Sharks, the Grey Reef Sharks have a broad and round snout with large eyes. Their distinguishing features consist of a plain or white-tipped dorsal fin and all other fins are black-tipped. On average, Grey Reef Sharks grow to approximately 6.2 feet long. Compared to other species of sharks, the Grey Reef Shark is not very big, however, what they lack in girth, they make up with their aggressive behavior. Grey Reef Sharks intimidate other species of sharks with their threatening and domineering behavior. They usually have a lifespan of at least 25 years.

Interestingly, Grey Reef Sharks designate a portion of a reef as their home-base, returning back to it every now and then. However, while they have a home-base, they are not territorial--they let other sharks enter and feed in their domain. These are social sharks and generally form groups with as many as 20 other sharks. This is beneficial to the Grey Reef Sharks because due to their relatively small size, they are labeled as 'prey' for larger sharks.

Grey Reef Sharks have an extremely keen sense of smell which allow them to excel at capturing fish in the open seas. They are active throughout the entire day while picking up speed in the evenings.

Scientists estimate that their gestation period is around 9-14 months. These sharks have a low reproduction rate and as such are classified as near-threatened. Some scientists suspect that the growing destruction of reefs and the increased tendencies of Grey Reef Sharks getting caught in fishing nets and becoming victims of shark finning are the reasons why their numbers are dwindling. 

The Grey Reef Sharks were the FIRST species of shark to display a series of behavior indicating that they feel threatened. Before attacking, Grey Reef Sharks give a series of warning signals: they hunch their bodies, dropping their pectoral fin and perform an exaggerated side-to-side swimming motion. Grey Reef Sharks have been known to exhibit this behavior when they encounter divers.

It is obvious that when seeing a Grey Reef Shark exibit this behavior you need to get out of their way. Grey Reef Sharks are often curious about divers at first and may approach quite closely. They can become dangerous in the presence of food and tend to be more aggressive if encountered in open water rather than on or near the reef (it is plausible that this prominent aggressive tendency in open water is because that is the area where they hunt their prey).

Grey Reef Sharks WILL attack if pursued or cornered and divers should IMMEDIATELY RETREAT (SLOWLY AND ALWAYS FACING THE SHARK) if it begins to perform the threat-display behaviors.
Photography should NOT be attempted for the flash from the camera has been known to be an incentive to attack.
As of 2008, the International Shark Attack File has listed 7 unprovoked attacks and 6 provoked attacks...NONE OF WHICH WERE FATAL.

Thankfully, this is one of the few species who provide a series of warning behaviors and if you come across this species of shark and they exhibit threatened behavior PLEASE, SLOWLY AND CALMLY MOVE AWAY...YOU WILL NOT WIN A FIGHT BETWEEN YOU AND A SHARK. ALWAYS REMEMBER, YOU ARE INVADING THEIR TERRITORY AND HOME, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

Basking Sharks

The Basking Shark is the SECOND LARGEST living fish after the Whale Shark. Similar to the Whale Shark, Basking Sharks are filter feeders, having small, thread-like teeth that serve as 'rakers' (i.e. separating their food from the non-food). These sharks are notoriously slow moving and are usually greyish-brown in color. Their teeth are small and are extremely numerous (there are approximately 100 teeth per row).
The Basking Sharks are found all over the world in temperate oceans, generally favoring the warmer waters. Basking Sharks also tend to migrate alone or in small schools. They do NOT hibernate, and remain active year-round.
They are NOT an aggressive breed of shark.

Basking Sharks earned their name because they are known for literally basking in warm waters.They are often seen close to shores and do not retreat as other breeds of sharks do upon a moving boat or ship. They are not attracted to chum as most other breeds of sharks are. Basking Sharks tend to follow migrating plankton concentrations, however, they characteristically migrate according to the seasons.

On average, an adult Basking Shark reaches lengths of approximately 20-26 feet and weigh in around 5.1 tons!! They can be identified by their large, cavernous mouths (which are approximately 3 feet long)!!

Basking Sharks are known to breach as the Great White Sharks do. Scientists believe that while a Great White's purpose of breaching is to stun and kill prey, Basking Sharks perform this breathtaking feat to dislodge annoying parasites off of their bodies. Basking Sharks are social animals and have few predators (do to their intimidating size).
A female's gestation period is approximately 1 year on average, however, it is speculated that it could be as long as 2 or 3 years!
The Basking Sharks reach maturity between 6-13 years.
Unfortunately, the Basking Sharks are fished for their fins and in some areas have completely disappeared. They are considered a vulnerable, threatened species.
Thankfully, it is illegal to hunt these sharks in the UK, Malta, Florida and along the US Gulf. These are harmless sharks and due to overexploitation are being subjected to the cruel and inhumane practices of finning.