Guaranteed to thrill and amaze: diving with sharks is an unforgettable experience that is attracting more and more thrill-seekers and marine wildlife enthusiasts. From the great white shark to the peaceful whale shark, these impressive encounters offer a unique perspective on these often misunderstood predators. But where can you go to dive with sharks and experience this adventure in the best possible conditions? Whether you're a beginner or an experienced diver, many destinations around the world offer unforgettable encounters with these majestic predators. From the crystal-clear waters of the Bahamas to the mysterious depths of South Africa, Petit Futé takes you on a world tour of the best spots for a shark encounter. Follow the guide!
Where to go shark diving? From the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean
shark diving in Egypt is an unforgettable experience, offering encounters with a variety of species in the crystal-clear waters of the Red Sea. Near Marsa Alam, Elphinstone Reef is famous for its longiman sharks and spectacular drop-offs. Dives here are accessible to experienced divers due to the sometimes strong currents. We also encountered schools of hammerheads and thresher sharks at Daedalus Reef during a cruise. Grey, longfin and hammerhead sharks were also spotted around the Brothers Islands. Also near Marsa Alam, one of the most beautiful places to visit in Egypt, Abu Dabbab is ideal for divers of all levels. The spot is renowned for its seagrass beds, home to dugongs, giant tortoises and the occasional whale shark. The best time to dive with sharks in Egypt is from April to November.
Located about two hours' drive from Cape Town, the coastal village of Gansbaai, one of South Africa's must-see spots, is renowned for its cage dives offering incredible encounters with sharks... especially great white sharks! The best time to maximize your chances of seeing these majestic predators is between May and September. Despite often chilly water temperatures of no more than 16°C, the excitement of the adventure and the adrenalin of being close to the sharks more than compensate for the cool ambient temperatures. Gansbaai has become a must-see destination for thrill-seekers, and is one of the highlights of any trip to South Africa! At False Bay, near Cape Town, 3 to 4-hour excursions also allow you to observe great white sharks from a cage, mainly from May to October. Mossel Bay offers year-round cage diving, with fast access to sites and underwater visibility of 5 to 10 meters. For experienced divers, Protea Banks and Aliwal Shoal, south of Durban, offer cage-free diving with a variety of shark species in demanding conditions.
Also read: Visit South Africa in 15 days: the best itinerary for 2025
Shark diving on Reunion Island, with its many must-sees, is a rare but possible experience, offering encounters with a variety of species in the crystal-clear waters of the Indian Ocean. Although shark sightings are infrequent, some species, such as hammerheads, can be spotted on deep dives. If you want to try your hand at this, you'll need to take your flippers to the spot at La Cheminée, to the west of the island, or to Passe de l'Ermitage. The best time to dive on Reunion Island is from April to November, when sea conditions are optimal. Advanced Open Water certification and previous current diving experience are recommended to take full advantage of these sites.
West, from the Caribbean to the Pacific
To dive with sharks in the Bahamas, we took advantage of an experience that was both spectacular and supervised. Since 1973, controlled feeding has been practiced at sites such as New Providence, Freeport, Long Island and Andros, a must-see in the Bahamas. Guided by professionals, you can observe reef, lemon, hammerhead or bull sharks in safe conditions. The feeder, equipped with chain mail, attracts the sharks with bait, triggering an impressive ballet. For those preferring more natural encounters, no-feeder dives are available at Nassau, Grand Bahama, Bimini, Cat Island and Andros. In these crystal-clear waters, sharks roam freely, offering unforgettable moments of observation!
Where to go shark diving? In Colombia, we headed for Malpelo Island, a vast marine park listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the world's best dive sites. Malpelo is renowned for its impressive schools of hammerhead sharks, sometimes numbering in the hundreds, as well as the frequent presence of silky sharks, Galapagos sharks, whale sharks in season and the very rare ferocious shark. Dive sites such as "El Bajo del Monstruo" and "La Nevera" offer spectacular encounters with these species. Access to Malpelo is exclusively by liveaboard, departing from the port of Buenaventura and taking around 40 hours! With strong currents and often demanding conditions, Malpelo is a paradise for experienced divers!
See also: What to do in Colombia The 18 most beautiful places to visit in 2025
For shark encounters in the Galapagos Islands, a natural sanctuary par excellence anchored oppositeEcuador in the Pacific Ocean, the Darwin and Wolf Islands are home to vast shoals of scalloped hammerheads, Galapagos sharks, silky sharks and, in season (July to December), whale sharks. These sites are only accessible by liveaboard. An excellent level of diving is required! Otherwise, for day dives, we head for sites such as Gordon Rocks on Santa Cruz Island and Kicker Rock on San Cristóbal Island, must-sees on the Galápagos Islands. These spots offer the chance to observe white-tip and black-tip reef sharks, as well as Galapagos sharks and the occasional hammerhead. In all, the Galapagos is home to over thirty species of shark, making the archipelago a sanctuary for these marine predators. The best time to dive is from January to June.
Where to go shark diving? In Asia, in search of whale sharks
Where to go to dive with sharks? In the Philippines, where there are countless beautiful places to visit, to meet our future shark friends, we headed for Malapascua. This small island north of Cebu is renowned for its thresher shark dives, a species of shark endemic to the region, at the famous Monad Shoal site at 25 m depth. The dive takes place in the early hours of the morning, at around 5 a.m., the best time of day to catch a glimpse of the shark as it grooms! South of Cebu, at Oslob, it's also possible to swim with whale sharks. However, this activity is subject to debate due to the practice of feeding, which can influence the natural behavior of these marine giants. So be careful who you ask to organize your excursion, or head for Donsol, in the province of Sorsogon, between November and June. This delightful little town suddenly became famous in January 1998, when a certain Romir Aglugub (a PADI instructor) discovered that the large fish that populated the waters offshore were not dangerous, as the locals thought, but harmless whale sharks... Since then, Donsol has proclaimed itself the "whale shark-watching capital of the world".
In Thailand, adventure is accessible to divers of all levels. The country's tropical waters are home to a variety of species, including whale sharks, leopard sharks and blacktip sharks. In the Land of Smiles, we took our flippers to the Chumphon Pinnacle and Sail Rock spots on the famous diving island of Koh Tao, one of the most beautiful places to visit in Thailand for whale shark watching (the best time is between March and May). Or try your luck on Shark Island in the south-east of the island. Near Koh Phi Phi, the aptly named Shark Point is known for its harmless leopard sharks. Blacktip sharks can also be seen at Loh Samah Bay and Palong Bay. Finally, the Similan archipelago and Richelieu Roc, accessible from Phuket or Khao Lak, are world-renowned sites for whale sharks.
Where to go shark diving? Oceania, unique experiences
Where to go shark diving? In French Polynesia, shark diving is accessible to divers of all levels. The crystal-clear waters of this archipelago are home to a wide variety of sharks, including grey reef, blacktip, lemon, silky and even the impressive hammerhead and tiger sharks. Among the most famous spots, the Fakarava atoll, classified as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO, offers a unique spectacle in the southern pass of Tumakohua, where hundreds of grey sharks regularly gather. In Rangiroa, we can observe a multitude of species, including hammerhead and silky sharks. Tikehau atoll is home to great hammerheads and tiger sharks. For those who prefer snorkeling, sites such as Bora Bora and Moorea offer the chance to observe blacktip sharks in shallow lagoons.
Also read: 21-day trip to French Polynesia: the best circuit
Last but not least, shark diving in Queensland, Australia- here's our advice on how to plan your trip- is an unforgettable adventure in the crystal-clear waters of the Coral Sea! Wolf Rock, about 3 hours north of Brisbane, is renowned for its deep dives (20 to 30 meters) with bull sharks, provided you are a certified Advanced Open Water diver. We then head for Osprey Reef, after a cruise from Cairns, to discover this isolated volcanic atoll offering spectacular dives with grey reef sharks, hammerheads and silky sharks, at depths of between 20 and 40 meters. The wreck of the SS Yongala, sunk in 1911, has become an artificial reef that regularly welcomes bull and leopard sharks. Experienced divers beware!
Also read: Top 10 unusual activities to do on a trip... Will you try number 1?
