0 m
ISC DIVER
Sharks

Sand Tiger Shark

Carcharias taurus

© malcolmnobbs.com
Rank
Species
Dive sites
3 sites
A sand tiger shark (Carcharias taurus) swims with its mouth open, displaying its distinctive protruding teeth, above a rocky reef in clear blue water.
© malcolmnobbs.com
Multiple grey reef sharks cruise over a coral reef, with the closest individual swimming directly toward the camera against a deep blue open-water background.
© B Coleman
A grey nurse shark approaches the camera head-on with its mouth open, revealing multiple rows of teeth, while a school of small fish hovers in the blue water behind it near a reef structure.
Multiple sand tiger sharks swim upward through a massive bait ball of small schooling fish in clear open water, with the lead shark displaying its open mouth and distinctive jagged teeth.
© malcolmnobbs.com

The sand tiger shark is a stocky, grey-brown predator that grows to around 3.3 m and is most often encountered in coastal waters, rocky reefs, and sandy bottom habitats. It has a distinctive pointed snout, prominent gill slits, and ragged, protruding teeth that give it a fearsome appearance despite its generally docile nature toward divers. Sand tigers are slow-moving hunters that often rest on the seabed or hover motionless in caves and ledges during the day, becoming more active at dusk. The species is critically endangered and has declined sharply due to fishing pressure and slow reproduction.

Recorded here

Dive sites where this species has actually been logged.

Most likely to be seen at

Sites where its range and habitat make it likely — not yet confirmed by a logged sighting.